Paradise Lost - Book VI

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.