Then aught divine or holy else enjoyd

Were always downward bent, admiring more

There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top [ 670 ]

Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell

That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,

Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame, [ 695 ]

Belchdread.99csw.com fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire

Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms

Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,

For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew

Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on,

The work of Sulphur. Thither winhttps://read.99csw.comgd with speed

A numerous Brigad hastend. As when Bands [ 675 ]

That riches grow in Hell; that soyle may best

Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign

By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour

In vision beatific: by him first

He spake: and to confirm his words, ou九*九*藏*書t-flew

The riches of Heavns pavement, trodn Gold,

Rifld the bowels of thir mother Earth

Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heavn.

And hands innumerable scarce perform.

Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs

Clashd on thir sounding Shields the din of war,

Ransacｒｅａd•9９ｃsｗ•ｃoｍkd the Center, and with impious hands

Opnd into the Hill a spacious wound

Far round illumind hell: highly they ragd

And Strength and Art are easily out-done

From heavn, for evn in heavn his looks and thoughts [ 680 ]

Of Pioners with Spade and Pickax armd

Of mighty Cherubim; the sudhttps://read.99csw.comden blaze [ 665 ]

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those

What in an age they with incessant toyle

Who boast in mortal things, and wondring tell

And digd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire [ 690 ]

Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings

Men also, and by his suggestion taught, [ 685 ]