BOOK SIXTH
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��Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves No less than for deliverance what we owe.' " Whereto, with look composed, Satau replied: 469
- Not uninvented that, which thou aright
Believ'st so main to our success, I bring. Which of us who beholds the bright sur- face' Of this ethereous mould whereon we
stand
This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems
and gold
Whose eye so superficially surveys These things as not to mind from whence
they grow Deep under ground: materials dark and
crude,
Of spiritous and fiery spume, till, touched With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth 480
So beauteous, opening to the ambient light ? These in their dark nativity the Deep Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal
flame ;
Which, into hollow engines long and round Thick-rammed, at the other bore with touch
of fire
Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth From far, with thundering noise, among
our foes
Such implements of mischief as shall dash To pieces and o'erwhelm whatever stands Adverse, that they shall fear we have dis- armed 490 The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere
dawn Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile re-
��Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined
Think nothing hard, much less to be de- spaired.'
" He ended ; and his words their droop- ing cheer
Enlightened, and their languished hope re- vived.
The invention all admired, and each how lie
To be the inventor missed; so easy it seemed,
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 500
��Impossible ! Yet, haply, of thy race, In future days, if malice should abound, Some one, intent on mischief, or inspired With devilish machination, might devise Like instrument to plague the sons of men For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. Forthwith from council to the work they
flew;
None arguing stood; innumerable hands Were ready; in a moment up they turned Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath 510 The originals of Nature in their crude Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam They found, they mingled, and, with subtle
art
Concocted and adusted, they reduced To blackest grain, and into store conveyed. Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this
Earth
Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, Whereof to found their engines and their
balls
Of missive ruin; part incentive reed 519 Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. So all ere day - spring, under conscious
Night, _
Secret they finished, and in order set, With silent circumspection, unespied. " Now, when fair Morn orient in Heaven
appeared,
Up rose the victor Angels, and to arms The matin trumpet sung. In arms they
stood
Of golden panoply, refulgent host, Soon banded; others from the dawning
hills
Looked round, and scouts each coast light- armed scour,
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe, 530 Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for
fight,
In motion or in halt. Him soon they met Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion: back with speediest
sail
Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus
cried: " ' Arm, Warriors, arm for fight ! The
foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will save us long
pursuit This day; fear not his flight; so thick a
cloud He comes, and settled in his face I see 540
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