12

Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark

Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief:

As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds

Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, Orespread

Heavns chearful face, the lowring Element [ 490 ]

Scowls ore the darknd lantskip Snow, or showre;

If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet

Extend his evning beam, the fields revive,

The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds

Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings. [ 495 ]

O shame to men! Devil with Devil damnd

Firm concord holds, men onely disagree

Of Creatures rational, though under hope

Of heavenly Grace; and God proclaiming peace,

Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife [ 500 ]

Among themselves, and levie cruel warres,

Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy:

As if (which might induce us to accord)

Man had not hellish foes anow besides,

That day and night for his destruction waite. [ 505 ]

The Stygian Counsel thus dissolvd; and forth

In order came the grand infernal Peers:

Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemd

Alone th Antagonist of Heavn, nor less

Than Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream, [ 510 ]

And God-like imitated State; him round

A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclosd

With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms.

Then of thir Session ended they bid cry

With Trumpets regal sound the great result: [ 515 ]

Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim

Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie

By Haralds voice explaind: the hollow Abyss

Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell

With deafning shout, returnd them loud acclaim. [ 520 ]

Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat raisd

By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers

Disband, and wandring, each his several way

Pursues, as inclination or sad choice

Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find [ 525 ]

Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain

The irksom hours, till his great Chief return.