Or equal what between us made the odds,
In nature none: if other hidden caufe
Left them fuperior, while we can preserve
Unhurt our minds and understanding found,
Due fearch and confultation will disclose.

He fat; and in th'affembly next upstood
Nifroch, of Principalities the prime;
As one he flood escap'd from cruel fight,
Sore toil'd, his riven arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudy in afpéct thus, anfw'ring fpake.
Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard
For Gods, and too unequal work we find,
Against unequal arms to fight in pain,
Against unpain'd, impaffive; from which evil

Ruin muft needs enfue; for what avails

445

450

455

Valor or strength, though matchless, quell'd with pain

Which

Ti av colors, & Dave & The Seventy call him Meferach in μορσιμον ; Thyer.

447. Nifroch,] A God of the Affyrians, in whofe temple at Niniveh Sennacherib was kill'd by his two fons, 2 Kings XIX. 37. and Ifaiah XXXVII. 37. 'Tis not known who this God Nifrech was.

Kings, and Nafarach in Ifaiah; Jofephus calls him Arafkes. He muft have been a principal idol, being worshipped by fo great a prince, and at the capital city Niniveh; which may juftify Milton in calling him of Principalities the prime.

462.-the

Which all fubdues, and makes remifs the hands
Of mightiest? Senfe of pleasure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
But live content, which is the calmeft life:
But pain is perfect mifery, the worst
Of evils, and exceffive, overturns

All patience. He who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm
Ourselves with like defenfe, to me deferves
No lefs than for deliverance what we owe.
Whereto with look compos'd Satan reply'd.

Not uninvented that, which thou aright
Believ'ft so main to our fuccefs, I bring.

460

465

470

Which of us who beholds the bright surface
Of this ethercous mold whereon we ftand,
This continent of spacious Heav'n, adorn'd

With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrofial, gems and gold;
Whofe eye fo fuperficially furveys

476

These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of spiritous and fiery fpume, till touch'd

With Heaven's ray, and temper'd they shoot forth
So beauteous, opening to the ambient light?
These in their dark nativity the deep

Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame;
Which into hollow engins long and round

481

Thick-ramm'd, at th' other bore with touch of fire 485

not as it is commonly pronounc'd, for Milton would hardly use a trochaic foot at the end of the verse. Dr. Bentley reads likewise this ethereal mold; and it is true Milton commonly uses the word ethereal, but that is no reason why he may not fay likewise ethereous which is nearer the Latin athereus. The conftruction of this fentence is, Which of us who beholds &c fo fuperficially furveys these things: but as the nominative cafe which of us is mention'd fo many lines before the verb furveys, he throws in another nominative cafe,

490

Dilated and infuriate, fhall fend forth
From far with thund'ring noise among our foes
Such implements of mifchief, as fhall dash
To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands
Adverfe, that they fhall fear we have difarm'd
The Thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be our labor; yet ere dawn,
Effect shall end our with. Mean while revive;
Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd
Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd. 495
He ended, and his words their drooping chear
Inlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd.

478. Thefe ver. 482. the deep fhall yield, which into hollow engins ramm'd, with touch of fire fhall fend forth &c. Hollow engins, great guns, the first invention whereof is very properly afcribed to the author of all evil. And Ariofto has defcribed them in the fame manner in his Orlando Furioso, Cant. 9. St. 28. or 24. of Harrington's tranflation; and attributes the invention to the Devil.

Un ferro bugio, &c.

A trunk of iron hollow made within,

And there he puts powder and pellet in.

25. All clofed fave a little hole behind,

Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he
To be th' inventor mifs'd; fo eafy' it seem'd

Once found, which yet unfound most would have

thought

Impoffible: yet haply of thy race

In future days, if malice fhould abound,
Some one intent on mifchief, or infpir'd
With devilish machination, might devise
Like inftrument to plague the fons of men
For fin, on war and mutual flaughter bent.
Forthwith from council to the work they flew;
None arguing stood; innumerable hands

And Spenfer has the fame thought,
Fairy Queen, B. 1. Cant. 7. St. 13.

As when that devilish iron engin

wrought In deepest Hell, and fram'd by

Furies skill, With windy nitre and quick fulphur fraught,

And ramm'd with bullet round,

ordain'd to kill &c.

But tho' the poets have agreed to attribute the invention to the Devil from a notion of its being fo destructive to mankind, yet many authors have obferved, that fince the ufe of artillery there has less flaughter been made in battels than was before, when the engagements "were closer and lafted longer.

500,

505

Were

502. In future days - Some one in

tent, &c.] This speaking great dignity to poetry. It is in in the fpirit of prophecy adds the fame fpirit that Dido makes the imprecation, Virg. En. IV. 625.

Exoriare aliquis noftris ex offibus ultor &c.

This here very properly comes from the mouth of an Angel.

507. Forthwith from council to

the work they flew ; &c. ] This and the two following lines are admirably contriv'd to exprefs the hurry of the Angels; and confift therefore of fhort periods, without any particles to connect them.