Consent or custome, and his Regal StatePut forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd,Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.Henceforth his might we know, and know our ownSo as not either to provoke, or dreadNew warr, provok't; our better part remainsTo work in close design, by fraud or guileWhat force effected not: that he no lessAt length from us may find, who overcomesBy force, hath overcome but half his foe.
[650]
Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rifeThere went a fame in Heav'n that he ere longIntended to create, and therein plantA generation, whom his choice regardShould favour equal to the Sons of Heaven:Thither, if but to prie, shall be perhapsOur first eruption, thither or elsewhere:For this Infernal Pit shall never holdCælestial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' AbysseLong under darkness cover. But these thoughts
[660]
Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird,For who can think Submission? Warr then, WarrOpen or understood must be resolv'd.He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flewMillions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighsOf mighty Cherubim; the sudden blazeFar round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'dAgainst the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm'sClash'd on their sounding shields the din of war,Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.
[670]
There stood a Hill not far whose griesly topBelch'd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entireShon with a glossie scurff, undoubted signThat in his womb was hid metallic Ore,The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speedA numerous Brigad hasten'd. As when bandsOf Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe arm'dForerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on,Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell
[680]
From heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks & thoughtsWere always downward bent, admiring moreThe riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold,Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'dIn vision beatific: by him firstMen also, and by his suggestion taught,Ransack'd the Center, and with impious handsRifl'd the bowels of thir mother EarthFor Treasures better hid. Soon had his crewOp'nd into the Hill a spacious wound
[690]
And dig'd out ribs of Gold. Let none admireThat riches grow in Hell; that soyle may bestDeserve the pretious bane. And here let thoseWho boast in mortal things, and wondring tellOf Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings,Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame,And Strength and Art are easily outdoneBy Spirits reprobate, and in an hourWhat in an age they with incessant toyleAnd hands innumerable scarce perform
[700]
Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepar'd,That underneath had veins of liquid fire