In vision beatific: by him first

Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,

Who boast in mortal things, and wondring tell

Clashd on thir sounding Shields the din of war,

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

And Strength and Art are easily out-done

Learn howreａd•９９ｃsw.coｍ thir greatest Monuments of Fame, [ 695 ]

The riches of Heavns pavement, trodn Gold,

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those

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

Were always downward bent, admiring more

Opnd into the Hill a spacious wound

Bｒｅaｄ•99csｗ.ｃomy Spirits reprobate, and in an hour

Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign

Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on,

He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew

Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms

And hands innumerable scarce perform.

Far round illｈｔｔpｓ://ｒｅad•９９csｗ.ｃoｍumind hell: highly they ragd

Then aught divine or holy else enjoyd

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

Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heavn.

What in an age they with incessant toyle

Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell

Of Babel, anread.99csw.comd the works of Memphian Kings

For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew

Of Pioners with Spade and Pickax armd

A numerous Brigad hastend. As when Bands [ 675 ]

That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,

Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze [ 665 ]

That riches grow in Hell; that sohttps://read.99csw.comyle may best

Ransackd the Center, and with impious hands

Rifld the bowels of thir mother Earth

Belchd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire

Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs

The work of Sulphur. Thither wingd with speed

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