The Poetry Corner

Paradise Lost - Book VI

By John Milton

All night the dreadless Angel unpursud Through Heavns wide Champain held his way, till Morn, Wakt by the circling Hours, with rosie hand Unbarrd the gates of Light. There is a Cave Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heavn Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night; Light issues forth, and at the other dore Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre To veile the Heavn, though darkness there might well Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn Such as in highest Heavn, arrayd in Gold Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night, Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright, Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: Warr he perceavd, warr in procinct, and found Already known what he for news had thought To have reported: gladly then he mixt Among those friendly Powers who him receavd With joy and acclamations loud, that one That of so many Myriads falln, yet one Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill They led him high applauded, and present Before the seat supream; from whence a voice From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard. Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintaind Against revolted multitudes the Cause Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes; And for the testimonie of Truth hast born Universal reproach, far worse to beare Then violence: for this was all thy care To stand approvd in sight of God, though Worlds Judgd thee perverse: the easier conquest now Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue By force, who reason for thir Law refuse, Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns. Go Michael of Celestial Armies Prince, And thou in Military prowess next Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints By Thousands and by Millions rangd for fight; Equal in number to that Godless crew Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heavn Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss, Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall. So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the signe Of wrauth awakt: nor with less dread the loud Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: At which command the Powers Militant, That stood for Heavn, in mighty Quadrate joynd Of Union irresistible, movd on In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound Of instrumental Harmonie that breathd Heroic Ardor to adventrous deeds Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause Of God and his Messiah. On they move Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill, Nor streitning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind Of Birds in orderly array on wing Came summond over Eden to receive Thir names of thee; so over many a tract Of Heavn they marchd, and many a Province wide Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last Farr in th Horizon to the North appeerd From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht In battailous aspect, and neerer view Bristld with upright beams innumerable Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throngd, and Shields Various, with boastful Argument portraid, The banded Powers of Satan hasting on With furious expedition; for they weend That self same day by fight, or by surprize To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne To set the envier of his State, the proud Aspirer, but thir thoughts provd fond and vain In the mid way: though strange to us it seemd At first, that Angel should with Angel warr, And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet So oft in Festivals of joy and love Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire Hymning th Eternal Father: but the shout Of Battel now began, and rushing sound Of onset ended soon each milder thought. High in the midst exalted as a God Th Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate Idol of Majestie Divine, enclosd With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields; Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval, and Front to Front Presented stood in terrible array Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van, On the rough edge of battel ere it joynd, Satan with vast and haughtie strides advanct, Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; Abdiel that sight endurd not, where he stood Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, And thus his own undaunted heart explores. O Heavn! that such resemblance of the Highest Should yet remain, where faith and realtie Remain not; wherfore should not strength and might There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable? His puissance, trusting in th Almighties aide, I mean to try, whose Reason I have trid Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, That he who in debate of Truth hath won, Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike Victor; though brutish that contest and foule, When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so Most reason is that Reason overcome. So pondering, and from his armed Peers Forth stepping opposite, half way he met His daring foe, at this prevention more Incenst, and thus securely him defid. Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht The highth of thy aspiring unopposd, The Throne of God unguarded, and his side Abandond at the terror of thy Power Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain Against th Omnipotent to rise in Arms; Who out of smallest things could without end Have raisd incessant Armies to defeat Thy folly; or with solitarie hand Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmd Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then To thee not visible, when I alone Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late How few somtimes may know, when thousands err. Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst From flight, seditious Angel, to receave Thy merited reward, the first assay Of this right hand provokt, since first that tongue Inspird with contradiction durst oppose A third part of the Gods, in Synod met Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel Vigour Divine within them, can allow Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst Before thy fellows, ambitious to win From me som Plume, that thy success may show Destruction to the rest: this pause between (Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know; At first I thought that Libertie and Heavn To heavnly Soules had bin all one; but now I see that most through sloth had rather serve, Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song; Such hast thou armd, the Minstrelsie of Heavn, Servilitie with freedom to contend, As both thir deeds compard this day shall prove. To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replid. Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find Of erring, from the path of truth remote: Unjustly thou depravst it with the name Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains, Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same, When he who rules is worthiest, and excells Them whom he governs. This is servitude, To serve th unwise, or him who hath rebelld Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thy self not free, but to thy self enthralld; Yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid. Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve In Heavn God ever blessed, and his Divine Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyd, Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, This greeting on thy impious Crest receive. So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell On the proud Crest of Satan, that no sight, Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee His massie Spear upstaid; as if on Earth Winds under ground or waters forcing way Sidelong, had pusht a Mountain from his seat Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seisd The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see Thus foild thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout, Presage of Victorie and fierce desire Of Battel: whereat Michael bid sound Th Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heavn It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joynd The horrid shock: now storming furie rose, And clamour such as heard in Heavn till now Was never, Arms on Armour clashing brayd Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles Of brazen Chariots ragd; dire was the noise Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew, And flying vaulted either Host with fire. So under fierie Cope together rushd Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage; all Heavn Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought On either side, the least of whom could weild These Elements, and arm him with the force Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power Armie against Armie numberless to raise Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, Though not destroy, thir happie Native seat; Had not th Eternal King Omnipotent From his strong hold of Heavn high over-ruld And limited thir might; though numberd such As each divided Legion might have seemd A numerous Host, in strength each armed hand A Legion; led in fight, yet Leader seemd Each Warriour single as in Chief, expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of Battel, open when, and when to close The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight, None of retreat, no unbecoming deed That argud fear; each on himself relid, As onely in his arm the moment lay Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame Were don, but infinite: for wide was spred That Warr and various; somtimes on firm ground A standing fight, then soaring on main wing Tormented all the Air; all Air seemd then Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Armes No equal, raunging through the dire attack Of fighting Seraphim confusd, at length Saw where the Sword of Michael smote, and felld Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand He hasted, and opposd the rockie Orb Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield A vast circumference: At his approach The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile Surceasd, and glad as hoping here to end Intestine War in Heavn, the arch foe subdud Or Captive dragd in Chains, with hostile frown And visage all enflamd first thus began. Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, Unnamd in Heavn, now plenteous, as thou seest These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, Though heaviest by just measure on thy self And thy adherents: how hast thou disturbd Heavns blessed peace, and into Nature brought Miserie, uncreated till the crime Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instilld Thy malice into thousands, once upright And faithful, now provd false. But think not here To trouble Holy Rest; Heavn casts thee out From all her Confines. Heavn the seat of bliss Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. Hence then, and evil go with thee along Thy ofspring, to the place of evil, Hell, Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles, Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome, Or som more sudden vengeance wingd from God Precipitate thee with augmented paine. So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats To chase me hence? erre not that so shall end The strife which thou callst evil, but wee style The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win, Or turn this Heavn it self into the Hell Thou fablest, here however to dwell free, If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force, And join him namd Almightie to thy aid, I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh. They ended parle, and both addrest for fight Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift Human imagination to such highth Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd, Stood they or movd, in stature, motion, arms Fit to decide the Empire of great Heavn. Now wavd thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields Blazd opposite, while expectation stood In horror; from each hand with speed retird Where erst was thickest fight, th Angelic throng, And left large field, unsafe within the wind Of such commotion, such as to set forth Great things by small, If Natures concord broke, Among the Constellations warr were sprung, Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie, Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound. Together both with next to Almightie Arme, Uplifted imminent one stroke they aimd That might determine, and not need repeate, As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd In might or swift prevention; but the sword Of Michael from the Armorie of God Was givn him temperd so, that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge: it met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shard All his right side; then Satan first knew pain, And writhd him to and fro convolvd; so sore The griding sword with discontinuous wound Passd through him, but th Ethereal substance closd Not long divisible, and from the gash A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flowd Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed, And all his Armour staind ere while so bright. Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run By Angels many and strong, who interposd Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields Back to his Chariot; where it stood retird From off the files of warr; there they him laid Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame To find himself not matchless, and his pride Humbld by such rebuke, so farr beneath His confidence to equal God in power. Yet soon he heald; for Spirits that live throughout Vital in every part, not as frail man In Entrailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines, Cannot but by annihilating die; Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound Receive, no more then can the fluid Aire: All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please, They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, And with fierce Ensignes piercd the deep array Of Moloc furious King, who him defid, And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound Threatnd, nor from the Holie One of Heavn Refreind his tongue blasphemous; but anon Down clovn to the waste, with shatterd Armes And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe, Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd, Vanquishd Adramelec, and Asmadai, Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods Disdaind, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight, Mangld with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy The Atheist crew, but with redoubld blow Ariel and Arioc, and the violence Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew. I might relate of thousands, and thir names Eternize here on Earth; but those elect Angels contented with thir fame in Heavn Seek not the praise of men: the other sort In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr, Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome Canceld from Heavn and sacred memorie, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. For strength from Truth divided and from Just, Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame: Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome. And now thir mightiest quelld, the battel swervd, With many an inrode gord; deformed rout Enterd, and foul disorder; all the ground With shiverd armour strown, and on a heap Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host Defensive scarse, or with pale fear surprisd, Then first with fear surprisd and sense of paine Fled ignominious, to such evil brought By sinne of disobedience, till that hour Not liable to fear or flight or paine. Far otherwise th inviolable Saints In Cubic Phalanx firm advanct entire, Invulnerable, impenitrably armd: Such high advantages thir innocence Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinnd, Not to have disobeid; in fight they stood Unwearied, unobnoxious to be paind By wound, though from thir place by violence movd. Now Night her course began, and over Heavn Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposd, And silence on the odious dinn of Warr: Under her Cloudie covert both retird, Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field Michael and his Angels prevalent Encamping, placd in Guard thir Watches round, Cherubic waving fires: on th other part Satan with his rebellious disappeerd, Far in the dark dislodgd, and void of rest, His Potentates to Councel calld by night; And in the midst thus undismaid began. O now in danger trid, now known in Armes Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare, Found worthy not of Libertie alone, Too mean pretense, but what we more affect, Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne, Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight, (And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?) What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send Against us from about his Throne, and judgd Sufficient to subdue us to his will, But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, Of future we may deem him, though till now Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armd, Some disadvantage we endurd and paine, Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd, Since now we find this our Empyreal forme Incapable of mortal injurie Imperishable, and though peircd with wound, Soon closing, and by native vigour heald. Of evil then so small as easie think The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes, Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us, and worse our foes, Or equal what between us made the odds, In Nature none: if other hidden cause Left them Superiour, while we can preserve Unhurt our mindes, and understanding sound, Due search and consultation will disclose. He sat; and in th assembly next upstood Nisroc, of Principalities the prime; As one he stood escapt from cruel fight, Sore toild, his rivn Armes to havoc hewn, And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake. Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard For Gods, and too unequal work we find Against unequal armes to fight in paine, Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil Ruin must needs ensue; for what availes Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, But live content, which is the calmest life: But pain is perfet miserie, the worst Of evils, and excessive, overturnes All patience. He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme Our selves with like defence, to me deserves No less then for deliverance what we owe. Whereto with look composd Satan replid. Not uninvented that, which thou aright Beleivst so main to our success, I bring; Which of us who beholds the bright surface Of this Ethereous mould whereon we stand, This continent of spacious Heavn, adornd With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms and Gold, Whose Eye so superficially surveyes These things, as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht With Heavns ray, and temperd they shoot forth So beauteous, opning to the ambient light. These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep Shall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame, Which into hallow Engins long and round Thick-rammd, at th other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate shall send forth From far with thundring noise among our foes Such implements of mischief as shall dash To pieces, and orewhelm whatever stands Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne, Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joind Think nothing hard, much less to be despaird. He ended, and his words thir drooping chere Enlightnd, and thir languisht hope revivd. Th invention all admird, and each, how hee To be th inventer missd, so easie it seemd Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought Impossible: yet haply of thy Race In future dayes, if Malice should abound, Some one intent on mischief, or inspird With devlish machination might devise Like instrument to plague the Sons of men For sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent. Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, None arguing stood, innumerable hands Were ready, in a moment up they turnd Wide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath Th originals of Nature in thir crude Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame They found, they mingld, and with suttle Art, Concocted and adusted they reducd To blackest grain, and into store conveyd: Part hiddn veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone, Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin; part incentive reed Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. So all ere day spring, under conscious Night Secret they finishd, and in order set, With silent circumspection unespid. Now when fair Morn Orient in Heavn appeerd Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host, Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure, Each quarter, to descrie the distant foe, Where lodgd, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in alt: him soon they met Under spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail Zephiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus crid. Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit This day, fear not his flight; so thick a Cloud He comes, and settld in his face I see Sad resolution and secure: let each His Adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield, Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down, If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr, But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire. So warnd he them aware themselves, and soon In order, quit of all impediment; Instant without disturb they took Allarm, And onward move Embattelld; when behold Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube Training his devilish Enginrie, impald On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both stood A while, but suddenly at head appeerd Satan: And thus was heard Commanding loud. Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould; That all may see who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure, and with open brest Stand readie to receive them, if they like Our overture, and turn not back perverse; But that I doubt, however witness Heaven, Heavn witness thou anon, while we discharge Freely our part: yee who appointed stand Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch What we propound, and loud that all may hear. So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front Divided, and to either Flank retird. Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange, A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seemd Or hollowd bodies made of Oak or Firr With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain felld) Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes With hideous orifice gapt on us wide, Portending hollow truce; at each behind A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, Collected stood within our thoughts amusd, Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent applid With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, But soon obscurd with smoak, all Heavn appeerd, From those deep-throated Engins belcht, whose roar Emboweld with outragious noise the Air, And all her entrails tore, disgorging foule Thir devillish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail Of Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host Leveld, with such impetuous furie smote, That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand, Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowld; The sooner for thir Arms, unarmd they might Have easily as Spirits evaded swift By quick contraction or remove; but now Foule dissipation followd and forct rout; Nor servd it to relax thir serried files. What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse Repeated, and indecent overthrow Doubld, would render them yet more despisd, And to thir foes a laughter; for in view Stood rankt of Seraphim another row In posture to displode thir second tire Of Thunder: back defeated to return They worse abhorrd. Satan beheld thir plight, And to his Mates thus in derision calld. O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud? Ere while they fierce were coming, and when wee, To entertain them fair with open Front And Brest, (what could we more?) propounded terms Of composition, strait they changd thir minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, As they would dance, yet for a dance they seemd Somwhat extravagant and wilde, perhaps For joy of offerd peace: but I suppose If our proposals once again were heard We should compel them to a quick result. To whom thus Belial in like gamesom mood. Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight, Of hard contents, and full of force urgd home, Such as we might perceive amusd them all, And stumbld many, who receives them right, Had need from head to foot well understand; Not understood, this gift they have besides, They shew us when our foes walk not upright. So they among themselves in pleasant veine Stood scoffing, highthnd in thir thoughts beyond All doubt of Victorie, eternal might To match with thir inventions they presumd So easie, and of his Thunder made a scorn, And all his Host derided, while they stood A while in trouble; but they stood not long, Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power Which God hath in his mighty Angels placd) Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills (For Earth hath this variety from Heavn Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale) Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew, From thir foundations loosning to and fro They pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load, Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze, Be sure, and terrour seisd the rebel Host, When coming towards them so dread they saw The bottom of the Mountains upward turnd, Till on those cursed Engins triple-row They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidence Under the weight of Mountains buried deep, Themselves invaded next, and on thir heads Main Promontories flung, which in the Air Came shadowing, and opprest whole Legions armd, Thir armor helpd thir harm, crusht in and brusd Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, Long strugling underneath, ere they could wind Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. The rest in imitation to like Armes Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore; So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills Hurld to and fro with jaculation dire, That under ground they fought in dismal shade; Infernal noise; Warr seemd a civil Game To this uproar; horrid confusion heapt Upon confusion rose: and now all Heavn Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspred, Had not th Almightie Father where he sits Shrind in his Sanctuarie of Heavn secure, Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen This tumult, and permitted all, advisd: That his great purpose he might so fulfill, To honour his Anointed Son avengd Upon his enemies, and to declare All power on him transferrd: whence to his Son Th Assessor of his Throne he thus began. Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belovd, Son in whose face invisible is beheld Visibly, what by Deitie I am, And in whose hand what by Decree I doe, Second Omnipotence, two dayes are past, Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heavn, Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame These disobedient; sore hath been thir fight, As likeliest was, when two such Foes met armd; For to themselves I left them, and thou knowst, Equal in their Creation they were formd, Save what sin hath impaird, which yet hath wrought Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom; Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last Endless, and no solution will be found: Warr wearied hath performd what Warr can do, And to disorderd rage let loose the reines, With Mountains as with Weapons armd, which makes Wild work in Heavn, and dangerous to the maine. Two dayes are therefore past, the third is thine; For thee I have ordaind it, and thus farr Have sufferd, that the Glorie may be thine Of ending this great Warr, since none but Thou Can end it. Into thee such Vertue and Grace Immense I have transfusd, that all may know In Heavn and Hell thy Power above compare, And this perverse Commotion governd thus, To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir Of all things, to be Heir and to be King By Sacred Unction, thy deserved right. Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might, Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles That shake Heavns basis, bring forth all my Warr, My Bow and Thunder, my Almightie Arms Gird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh; Pursue these sons of Darkness, drive them out From all Heavns bounds into the utter Deep: There let them learn, as likes them, to despise God and Messiah his anointed King. He said, and on his Son with Rayes direct Shon full, he all his Father full exprest Ineffably into his face receivd, And thus the filial Godhead answering spake. O Father, O Supream of heavnly Thrones, First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou alwayes seekst To glorifie thy Son, I alwayes thee, As is most just; this I my Glorie account, My exaltation, and my whole delight, That thou in me well pleasd, declarst thy will Fulfilld, which to fulfil is all my bliss. Scepter and Power, thy giving, I assume, And gladlier shall resign, when in the end Thou shalt be All in All, and I in thee For ever, and in mee all whom thou lovst: But whom thou hatst, I hate, and can put on Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on, Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, Armd with thy might, rid heavn of these rebelld, To thir prepard ill Mansion driven down To chains of Darkness, and th undying Worm, That from thy just obedience could revolt, Whom to obey is happiness entire. Then shall thy Saints unmixt, and from th impure Farr separate, circling thy holy Mount Unfained Halleluiahs to thee sing, Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief. So said, he ore his Scepter bowing, rose From the right hand of Glorie where he sate, And the third sacred Morn began to shine Dawning through Heavn: forth rushd with whirlwind sound The Chariot of Paternal Deitie, Flashing thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn, It self instinct with Spirit, but convoyd By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each Had wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all And Wings were set with Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels Of Beril, and careering Fires between; Over thir heads a chrystal Firmament, Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid with pure Amber, and colours of the showrie Arch. Hee in Celestial Panoplie all armd Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, Ascended, at his right hand Victorie Sate Eagle-wingd, beside him hung his Bow And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stord, And from about him fierce Effusion rowld Of smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire; Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, He onward came, farr off his coming shon, And twentie thousand (I thir number heard) Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen: Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime On the Crystallin Skie, in Saphir Thrond. Illustrious farr and wide, but by his own First seen, them unexpected joy surprizd, When the great Ensign of Messiah blazd Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heavn: Under whose Conduct Michael soon reducd His Armie, circumfusd on either Wing, Under thir Head imbodied all in one. Before him Power Divine his way prepard; At his command the uprooted Hills retird Each to his place, they heard his voice and went Obsequious, Heavn his wonted face renewd, And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smild. This saw his hapless Foes, but stood obdurd, And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. In heavnly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? But to convince the proud what Signs availe, Or Wonders move th obdurate to relent? They hardnd more by what might most reclame, Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sight Took envie, and aspiring to his highth, Stood reimbattelld fierce, by force or fraud Weening to prosper, and at length prevaile Against God and Messiah, or to fall In universal ruin last, and now To final Battel drew, disdaining flight, Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God To all his Host on either hand thus spake. Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand Ye Angels armd, this day from Battel rest; Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of God Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause, And as ye have receivd, so have ye don Invincibly; but of this cursed crew The punishment to other hand belongs, Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints; Number to this dayes work is not ordaind Nor multitude, stand onely and behold Gods indignation on these Godless pourd By mee; not you but mee they have despisd, Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage, Because the Father, t whom in Heavn supream Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains, Hath honourd me according to his will. Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assignd; That they may have thir wish, to trie with mee In Battel which the stronger proves, they all, Or I alone against them, since by strength They measure all, of other excellence Not emulous, nor care who them excells; Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe. So spake the Son, and into terrour changd His countnance too severe to be beheld And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies. At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove, Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheeles The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout, All but the Throne it self of God. Full soon Among them he arrivd; in his right hand Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent Before him, such as in thir Soules infixd Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost, All courage; down thir idle weapons dropd; Ore Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, That wishd the Mountains now might be again Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire. Nor less on either side tempestuous fell His arrows, from the fourfold-visagd Foure, Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels, Distinct alike with multitude of eyes, One Spirit in them ruld, and every eye Glard lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among th accurst, that witherd all thir strength, And of thir wonted vigour left them draind, Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, falln. Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checkd His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant Not to destroy, but root them out of Heavn: The overthrown he raisd, and as a Heard Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursud With terrors and with furies to the bounds And Chrystall wall of Heavn, which opning wide, Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclosd Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight Strook them with horror backward, but far worse Urgd them behind; headlong themselvs they threw Down from the verge of Heavn, Eternal wrauth Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. Hell heard th unsufferable noise, Hell saw Heavn ruining from Heavn and would have fled Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard, And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last Yawning receavd them whole, and on them closd, Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine. Disburdnd Heavn rejoicd, and soon repaird Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld. Sole Victor from th expulsion of his Foes Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd: To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts, With Jubilie advancd; and as they went, Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright, Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King, Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion givn, Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode Triumphant through mid Heavn, into the Courts And Temple of his mightie Father Thrond On high; who into Glorie him receavd, Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. Thus measuring things in Heavn by things on Earth At thy request, and that thou maist beware By what is past, to thee I have reveald What might have else to human Race bin hid; The discord which befel, and Warr in Heavn Among th Angelic Powers, and the deep fall Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld With Satan, hee who envies now thy state, Who now is plotting how he may seduce Thee also from obedience, that with him Bereavd of happiness thou maist partake His punishment, Eternal miserie; Which would be all his solace and revenge, As a despite don against the most High, Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe. But listn not to his Temptations, warne Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard By terrible Example the reward Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.