He spake: and to firm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze [ 665 ]
Far round illumind hell: highly they ragd
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms
Clashd on thir sounding Shields the din of war,
Hurling defiaoward the vault of Heavn.
There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top [ 670 ]
Belchd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire
Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign
That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,
The work of Sulphur. Thither wingd with speed
A numerous Brigad hastend. As when Bands [ 675 ]
Of Pioners with Spade and Pickax armd
Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,
Or cast a Rampart. Mammohem on,
Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell
From heavn, for evn in heavn his looks and thoughts [ 680 ]
Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heavns pavement, trodn Gold,
Then aught divine or holy else enjoyd
In visioific: by him first
Men also, and by his suggestion taught, [ 685 ]
Ransackd the ter, and with impious hands
Rifld the bowels of thir mother Earth
For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Opnd into the Hill a spacious wound
And digd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire [ 690 ]
That riches grow in Hell; that soyle may best
Deserve the precious bane. And here let those
Who boast in mortal things, and w tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings
Learn how thir greatest Mos of Fame, [ 695 ]
And Strength and Art are easily out-done
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in ahey with incessant toyle
And hands innumerable scarce perform.