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 There went a fame in Heav'n, that hee ere long Intended to create, and therein plant A generation, whom his choice regard Should favour equall to the sonns of Heaven: Thither, if but to prie, shall be perhaps [ ]r first eruption; thither or else where: For this infernal pit shall never hold Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abysse Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts Full counsell must mature: peace is despair'd, For who can think submission? warr then, warr Op'n or understood must be resolv'd. He spake: and to confirm his words, out flew Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze Farr round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm's Clash'd on thir sounding shields the din of warr, Hurling defiance toward the vault of heav'n. There stood a hill not farr whose griesly top Belch'd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire Shon with a glossie scurf, undoubted signe That in his woomb was hid metallic Ore, The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed