Paradise Lost

Against unequal armes to fight in paine, 
Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil 
Ruin must needs ensue; for what availes 
Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain 
Which all subdues, and makes remiss 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 perfet miserie, the worst 
Of evils, and excessive, overturnes 
All patience.  He who therefore can invent 
With what more forcible we may offend 
Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme 
Our selves with like defence, to mee deserves 
No less then for deliverance what we owe. 
  Whereto with look compos'd SATAN repli'd. 
Not uninvented that, which thou aright 
Beleivst so main to our success, I bring; 
Which of us who beholds the bright surface 
Of this Ethereous mould whereon we stand, 
This continent of spacious Heav'n, adornd 
With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold, 
Whose Eye so superficially surveyes 
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow 
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, 
Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht 
With Heav'ns ray, and temperd they shoot forth 
So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light. 
These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep 
Shall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame, 
Which into hallow Engins long and round 
Thick-rammd, at th' other bore with touch of fire 
Dilated and infuriate shall send forth 
From far with thundring noise among our foes 
Such implements of mischief as shall dash 
To pieces, and orewhelm whatever stands 
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd 
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. 
Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne, 
Effect shall end our wish.  Mean while revive; 
Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joind 
Think nothing hard, much less to be despaird. 
He ended, and his words thir drooping chere 
Enlightn'd, and thir languisht hope reviv'd. 
Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how hee 
To be th' inventer miss'd, so easie it seemd 
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 
Impossible: yet haply of thy Race 
In future dayes, if Malice should abound, 
Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd 
With dev'lish machination might devise 
Like instrument to plague the Sons of men 
For sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent. 
Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, 
None arguing stood, innumerable hands 
Were ready, in a moment up they turnd 
Wide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath 
Th' originals of Nature in thir crude 
Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame 
They found, they mingl'd, and with suttle Art, 
Concocted and adusted they reduc'd 
To blackest grain, and into store conveyd: 
Part hidd'n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth 
Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone, 
Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls 
Of missive ruin; part incentive reed 
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 
So all ere day spring, under conscious Night 
Secret they finish'd, and in order set, 
With silent circumspection unespi'd. 
Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd 
Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms 
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 descrie the distant foe, 
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, 
In motion or in alt: him soon they met 
Under spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow 
But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail 
ZEPHIEL, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, 
Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd. 
  Arme, Warriours, 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 settl'd in his face I see 
Sad resolution and secure: let each 
His Adamantine coat gird 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, 
But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire. 
So warnd he them aware themselves, and soon 
In order, quit of all impediment; 
Instant without disturb they took Allarm, 
And onward move Embattelld; when behold 
Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe 
Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube 
Training his devilish Enginrie, impal'd