Paradise Lost

by John Milton

Army against army numberless to raise

  Dreadful combustion225 warring, and disturb,

  Though not destroy, their happy native seat;

  Had not th’ Eternal King omnipotent

  From his stronghold of Heav’n high overruled

  And limited their might; though numbered229 such

  As each divided legion might have seemed

  A numerous host, in strength each armèd hand

  A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed

  Each warrior single as in chief, expert

  When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

  Of battle, open when, and when to close

  The ridges236 of grim war; no thought of flight,

  None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

  That argued fear; each on himself relied,

  As only in his arm the moment239 lay

  Of victory; deeds of eternal fame

  Were done, but infinite: for wide was spread

  That war and various; sometimes on firm ground

  A standing fight, then soaring on main243 wing

  Tormented244 all the air; all air seemed then

  Conflicting fire: long time in even scale

  The battle hung; till Satan, who that day

  Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms

  No equal248, ranging through the dire attack

  Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length

  Saw where the sword of Michael250 smote, and felled

  Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway

  Brandished aloft the horrid edge came down

  Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand

  He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb254

  Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield

  A vast circumference: at his approach

  The great archangel from his warlike toil

  Surceased, and glad as hoping here to end

  Intestine war259 in Heav’n, the arch-foe subdued

  Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown

  And visage all enflamed first thus began.

  “ ‘Author262 of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

  Unnamed in Heav’n, now plenteous, as thou seest

  These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

  Though heaviest by just measure on thyself

  And thy adherents: how hast thou disturbed

  Heav’n’s blessèd peace, and into nature brought

  Misery, uncreated till the crime

  Of thy rebellion? How hast thou instilled

  Thy malice into thousands, once upright

  And faithful, now proved false? But think not here

  To trouble holy rest; Heav’n casts thee out

  From all her confines. Heav’n the seat of bliss

  Brooks not the works of violence and war.

  Hence then, and evil go with thee along

  Thy offspring276, to the place of evil, Hell,

  Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils,

  Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom,

  Or some more sudden vengeance winged from God

  Precipitate thee with augmented pain.’

  “So spake the prince of angels; to whom thus

  The Adversary282. ‘Nor think thou with wind

  Of airy threats to awe whom yet with deeds

  Thou canst not. Hast thou284 turned the least of these

  To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise

  Unvanquished, easier to transact with me

  That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats

  To chase me hence? Err not that288 so shall end

  The strife which thou call’st evil, but we style

  The strife of glory290: which we mean to win,

  Or turn this Heav’n itself into the Hell

  Thou fablest, here however to dwell free,

  If not to reign: meanwhile thy utmost force,

  And join him named Almighty to thy aid,

  I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.’

  “They ended parle296, and both addressed for fight

  Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue297

  Of angels, can relate, or to what things

  Liken on Earth conspicuous299, that may lift

  Human imagination to such highth

  Of godlike power: for likest gods they seemed,

  Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms

  Fit to decide the empire303 of great Heav’n.

  Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air

  Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields

  Blazed opposite, while expectation stood306

  In horror306; from each hand with speed retired

  Where erst was thickest fight, th’ angelic throng,

  And left large field, unsafe within the wind

  Of such commotion,310 such as to set forth

  Great things by small, if nature’s concord broke,

  Among the constellations war were sprung,

  Two planets rushing from aspect malign

  Of fiercest opposition in mid sky,

  Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.

  Together both with next to almighty arm,

  Uplifted imminent one stroke they aimed

  That might determine, and not need repeat,318

  As not of power, at once318; nor odds appeared

  In might or swift prevention320; but the sword

  Of Michael from the armory of God321

  Was giv’n him tempered so, that neither keen

  Nor solid might323 resist that edge: it met

  The sword of Satan with steep force to smite

  Descending, and in half cut sheer, nor stayed,

  But with swift wheel reverse, deep ent’ring shared

  All his right side; then Satan first knew pain,

  And writhed him to and fro convolved328; so sore

  The griding329 sword with discontinuous wound

  Passed through him, but th’ ethereal substance closed

  Not long divisible, and from the gash

  A stream of nectarous332 humor issuing flowed

  Sanguine, such as celestial spirits may bleed,

  And all his armor stained erewhile so bright.

  Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run335

  By angels335 many and strong, who interposed

  Defense, while others bore him on their shields

  Back to his chariot, where it stood retired

  From off the files of war; there they him laid

  Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame

  To find himself not matchless, and his pride

  Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath

  His confidence to equal God in power.

  Yet soon he healed; for spirits that live throughout

  Vital in every345 part, not as frail man

  In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins346,

  Cannot but by annihilating347 die;

  Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound

  Receive, no more than can the fluid air:

  All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,

  All intellect, all sense, and as they please,

  They limb themselves, and color, shape or size

  Assume, as likes353 them best, condense or rare.

  “Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserved

  Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,

  And with fierce ensigns356 pierced the deep array

  Of Moloch357 furious king, who him defied,

  And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound

  Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heav’n

  Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon

  Down clov’n to the waste, with shattered arms

  And uncouth362 pain fled bellowing. On each wing

  Uriel and Raphael363 his vaunting foe,

  Though huge, and in a rock of diamond364 armed,

  Vanquished Adrame
lec, and Asmadai365,

  Two potent Thrones, that to be less than gods

  Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight,

  Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.

  Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

  The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow

  Ariel and Arioch371, and the violence

  Of Ramiel scorched and blasted overthrew.

  I might373 relate of thousands, and their names

  Eternize here on Earth; but those elect

  Angels contented with their fame in Heav’n

  Seek not the praise of men: the other sort

  In might though wondrous and in acts of war,

  Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom

  Cancelled from Heav’n and sacred memory,

  Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.

  For strength from truth divided and from just,

  Illaudable382, naught merits but dispraise

  And ignominy, yet to glory aspires

  Vainglorious, and through infamy seeks fame:

  Therefore eternal silence be their doom.

  “And now their mightiest quelled, the battle386 swerved,

  With many an inroad gored; deformèd rout

  Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground

  With shivered armor strown, and on a heap

  Chariot and charioteer lay overturned

  And fiery foaming steeds; what391 stood, recoiled

  O’erwearied, through the faint Satanic host

  Defensive scarce393, or with pale fear surprised,

  Then first with fear surprised and sense of pain

  Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

  By sin of disobedience, till that hour

  Not liable to fear or flight or pain.

  Far otherwise th’ inviolable saints

  In cubic phalanx399 firm advanced entire,

  Invulnerable, impenetrably armed:

  Such high advantages their innocence

  Gave them above their foes, not to have sinned,

  Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood

  Unwearied, unobnoxious404 to be pained

  By wound, though from their place by violence moved.

  “Now night her course began, and over Heav’n

  Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,

  And silence on the odious din of war:

  Under her cloudy covert both retired,

  Victor and Vanquished: on the foughten field410

  Michael and his angels prevalent411

  Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,

  Cherubic waving fires413: on th’ other part

  Satan with his rebellious disappeared,

  Far in the dark dislodged415, and void of rest,

  His potentates416 to council called by night;

  And in the midst thus undismayed began.

  “ ‘O now in danger tried, now known in arms

  Not to be overpowered, companions dear,

  Found worthy not of liberty alone,

  Too mean pretense421, but what we more affect,

  Honor, dominion, glory, and renown,

  Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight423,

  (And if one day, why not eternal days?)

  What Heaven’s Lord had powerfullest to send

  Against us from about his throne, and judged

  Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

  But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,

  Of future429 we may deem him, though till now

  Omniscient thought430. True is, less firmly armed,

  Some disadvantage we endured and pain,

  Till now not known, but known as soon contemned432,

  Since now we find this our empyreal form

  Incapable of mortal injury

  Imperishable, and though pierced with wound,

  Soon closing, and by native vigor healed.

  Of evil then so small as easy think

  The remedy; perhaps more valid arms,

  Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

  May serve to better us, and worse440 our foes,

  Or equal what between us made the odds,

  In nature none: if other hidden cause

  Left them superior, while we can preserve

  Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,

  Due search and consultation will disclose.’

  “He sat; and in th’ assembly next upstood

  Nisroch447, of Principalities the prime;

  As one he stood escaped from cruel fight,

  Sore toiled, his riven arms to havoc hewn449,

  And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake.

  ‘Deliverer from new lords, leader to free

  Enjoyment of our right as gods; yet hard

  For gods, and too unequal work we find

  Against unequal arms to fight in pain,

  Against unpained, impassive455; from which evil

  Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails

  Valor or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain

  Which all subdues, and makes remiss458 the hands

  Of mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well

  Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,

  But live content, which is the calmest life:

  But pain is perfect misery, the worst

  Of evils, and excessive, overturns

  All patience. He who464 therefore can invent

  With what more forcible we may offend465

  Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm

  Ourselves with like defense, to me deserves467

  No less than for deliverance what we owe467.’

  “Whereto with look composed Satan replied.

  ‘Not uninvented that, which thou aright

  Believ’st so main471 to our success, I bring;

  Which of us472 who beholds the bright surface

  Of this ethereous473 mold whereon we stand,

  This continent of spacious Heav’n, adorned

  With plant, fruit, flow’r 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 crude478,

  Of spiritous479 and fiery spume, till touched

  With Heav’n’s ray, and tempered they shoot forth

  So beauteous, op’ning to the ambient light.

  These in their dark nativity the deep

  Shall yield us pregnant with infernal483 flame,

  Which into hollow engines484 long and round

  Thick-rammed, at th’ other bore485 with touch of fire

  Dilated and infuriate shall send forth

  From far with thund’ring 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 disarmed

  The thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.

  Nor long shall be our labor, yet ere dawn,

  Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive;

  Abandon fear; to strength and counsel494 joined

  Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired.’

  He ended, and his words their drooping cheer496

  Enlightened, and their languished hope revived.

  Th’ invention all admired498, and each, how he

  To be th’ inventor missed, so easy it seemed

  Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought

  Impossible: yet haply of thy race

  In future days, if malice should abound,

  Some one intent on mischief, or inspired

  With dev’lish 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,507

  None arguing stood, innumerable hands

  Were re
ady, in a moment up they turned

  Wide the510 celestial soil, and saw beneath

  Th’ originals of nature in their crude

  Conception; sulfurous and nitrous foam512

  They found, they mingled, and with subtle art,

  Concocted and adusted514 they reduced

  To blackest grain515, and into store conveyed:

  Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this Earth

  Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,

  Whereof to found518 their engines and their balls

  Of missive519 ruin; part incentive reed

  Provide, pernicious520 with one touch to fire.

  So all ere day-spring, under conscious521 night

  Secret they finished, and in order set,

  With silent circumspection unespied.

  Now when fair morn orient in Heav’n 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-armèd scour,

  Each quarter, to descry the distant foe,

  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

  Zophiel535, 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

  Sad541 resolution and secure: let each

  His adamantine coat gird well, and each

  Fit well his helm, grip fast his orbèd shield,

  Borne ev’n or high544, for this day will pour down,

  If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower,

  But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.’

  So warned he them aware themselves547, and soon

  In order, quit of all impediment548;

  Instant549 without disturb they took alarm,

  And onward move embattled550; when behold

  Not distant far with heavy pace the foe

  Approaching gross and huge; in hollow cube

  Training553 his devilish enginery, impaled

  On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,

  To hide the fraud. At interview555 both stood

  A while, but suddenly at head appeared

  Satan: and thus was heard commanding loud.

  “ ‘Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold;

  That all may see who hate us, how we seek

  Peace and composure560, and with open breast

  Stand ready to receive them, if they like

  Our overture562, and turn not back perverse;