Incapable of mortal injury, Imperishable; and though pierc'd with wound, 'He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood 435 440 445 450 Against unpain'd, impassive; from which evil 455 Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails Valour or strength, though matchless, quell'd with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 460 But live content, which is the calmest life : But pain is perfet misery, the worst 465 'Whereto, with look compos'd, Satan repli'd. "Not uninvented that, which thou aright Believ'st so main to our success, I bring. 470 Which of us who beholds the bright surface With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold, These things, as not to mind from whence they grow, 475 With Heav'ns ray, and temper'd they shoot forth 480 These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame, Thick-ramm'd, at th' other bore with touch of fire 485 490 495 'He ended; and his words their drooping cheer Enlight'nd, and their languisht hope reviv'd. To be th' inventor miss'd; so easy it seem'd, Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought Impossible: yet haply of thy race 501 In future days, if malice should abound, 505 Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath 510 Th' originals of nature in their crude To blackest grain, and into store convey'd: 515 Part hidd'n veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth Of missive ruin; part incentive reed Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 520 So all ere day-spring, under conscious night Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter, to descry the distant foe, 530 Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion, or in halt: him soon they met 535 Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit He comes; and settl'd in his face I see Sad resolution and secure : let each 540 His adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, Borne ev'n or high, for this day will pour down, If I conjecture aught, no drizzling show'r, 545 But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire." 'So warn'd he them aware themselves, and soon In order, quit of all impediment; On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, 6.66 Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; 550 555 560 565 570 Which to our eyes discover'd new and strange, On wheels, (for like to pillars most they seem'd, With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell’d;' 575 Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, 580 But soon obscur'd with smoke, all Heav'n appear'd, 585 From those deep-throated engines belcht, whose roar And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail Of iron globes, which on the victor host 590 Levell'd, with such impetuous fury smote, That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell By thousands, angel on archangel roll'd; The sooner for their arms, unarm'd they might 595 By quick contraction or remove; but now Foul dissipation follow'd and forc't rout; What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse 600 Doubl'd, would render them yet more despis'd, And to their foes a laughter; for in view 605 Of thunder: back defeated to return They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their plight, 666 ""O friends, why come not on these victors proud? Erewhile they fierce were coming, and when we, To entertain them fair with open front 610 And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms As they would dance, yet for a dance they seem'd 615 Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps We should compel them to a quick result." 'To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood. "Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight, Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home, Such as we might perceive amus'd them all, 620 |