15

Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power

Which God hath in his mighty Angels placd)

Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills

(For Earth hath this variety from Heavn [ 640 ]

Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale)

Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew,

From thir foundations loosning to and fro

They pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load,

Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops [ 645 ]

Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze,

Be sure, and terrour seisd the rebel Host,

When coming towards them so dread they saw

The bottom of the Mountains upward turnd,

Till on those cursed Engins triple-row [ 650 ]

They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidence

Under the weight of Mountains buried deep,

Themselves invaded next, and on thir heads

Main Promontories flung, which in the Air

Came shadowing, and opprest whole Legions armd, [ 655 ]

Thir armor helpd thir harm, crusht in and bruisd

Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain

Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,

Long strugling underneath, ere they could wind

Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, [ 660 ]

Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.

The rest in imitation to like Armes

Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore;

So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills

Hurld to and fro with jaculation dire, [ 665 ]

That under ground, they fought in dismal shade;

Infernal noise; Warr seemd a civil Game

To this uproar; horrid confusion heapt

Upon confusion rose: and now all Heavn

Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspred, [ 670 ]

Had not th Almightie Father where he sits

Shrind in his Sanctuarie of Heavn secure,

Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen

This tumult, and permitted all, advisd:

That his great purpose he might so fulfill, [ 675 ]

To honour his Anointed Son avengd

Upon his enemies, and to declare

All power on him transferrd: whence to his Son

Th Assessor of his Throne he thus began.