He spake: and to confirm 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 defiance toward 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. Mammon led them 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 vision beatific: by him first
Men also, and by his suggestion taught, [ 685 ]
Ransackd the Center, 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 wondring tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings
Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame, [ 695 ]
And Strength and Art are easily out-done
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they with incessant toyle
And hands innumerable scarce perform.