Chapter 13 12

Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, None arguing stood, innumerable hands Were ready, in a moment up they turn Wide the Celestial soil, and saw beneath [ 510 ] Th originals of Nature in thir crude Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foam They found, they mingld, and with suttle Art, Concocted and adusted they reduced To blackest grain, and into store conveyed: [ 515 ] Part hiddn veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone, Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of missing ruin; part incentive reed Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. [ 520 ]

So all ere day-spring, under conscious Night Secret they finished, and in order set, With silent circumspection unespid. Now when fair Morn Orient in Heavn appeerd Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms [ 525 ] The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host, Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure, Each quarter, to describe the distant foe, [ 530 ] Where lodgd, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in alt: him soon they met Under spred Ensignes moving night, in slow But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail

Zophil, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, [ 535 ] Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus crid. Arme, Warriors, Arme 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 settld in his face I see [ 540 ] Sad resolution and secure: let each His Adamantine coat grid well, and each Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield, Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down, If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr, [ 545 ] But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire.