Chapter 16 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 situation in Hill and Dale) Light as the Lightning glimpses 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 terror seisd the rebel Host, When coming towards them so dread they saw The bottom of the Mountains upward turn,

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 oppress whole Legions armd, [ 655 ] Thir armor helped thir harm, crushed in and bruisd Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, Long struggling 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 neighboring Hills uptore; So Hills amid the Air encountered Hills Hurld to and fro with jaculation dire, [ 665 ] That under ground, they fought in dismal shade; Infernal noise; Warr seemed 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 Sanctuary of Heavn secure, Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen This tumult, and permitted all, advises: That his great purpose he might so fulfill, [ 675 ] To honor 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.