Book VI

All night the dreadles Angel unpuru’d Through Heav’ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn, Wak’t by the circling Hours, with roie hand Unbarr’d the gates of Light. There is a Cave Within the Mount of God, fat by his Throne, Where light and darknes in perpetual round Lodge and dilodge by turns, which makes through Heav’n Grateful viciitude, like Day and Night; Light iues forth, and at the other dore 10Obequious darknes enters, till her houre To veile the Heav’n, though darknes there might well Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn Such as in highet Heav’n, arrayd in Gold Empyreal, from before her vaniht Night, Shot through with orient Beam: when all the Plain Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright, Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze, firt met his view: Warr he perceav’d, warr in procinct, and found 20Already known what he for news had thought To have reported: gladly then he mixt Among thoe friendly Powers who him receav’d With joy and acclamations loud, that one That of o many Myriads fall’n, yet one Returnd not lot: On to the acred hill They led him high applauded, and preent Before the eat upream; from whence a voice From midt a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard. Servant of God, well done, well hat thou fought 30The better fight, who ingle hat maintaind Againt revolted multitudes the Caue Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes; And for the tetimonie of Truth hat born Univeral reproach, far wore to beare Then violence: for this was all thy care To tand approv’d in ight of God, though Worlds Judg’d thee pervere: the eaier conquet now Remains thee, aided by this hot of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return 40Then cornd thou didt depart, and to ubdue By force, who reaon for thir Law refue, Right reaon for thir Law, and for thir King Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns. Goe Michael of Celetial Armies Prince, And thou in Military prowes next Gabriel, lead forth to Battel thee my Sons Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints By Thouands and by Millions rang’d for fight; Equal in number to that Godles crew 50Rebellious, them with Fire and hotile Arms Fearles aault, and to the brow of Heav’n Puruing drive them out from God and blis, Into thir place of punihment, the Gulf Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall. So pake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began To darken all the Hill, and moak to rowl In dukie wreathes, reluctant flames, the igne Of wrauth awak’t: nor with les dread the loud 60Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: At which command the Powers Militant, That tood for Heav’n, in mighty Quadrate joyn’d Of Union irreitible, mov’d on In ilence thir bright Legions, to the ound Of intrumental Harmonie that breath’d Heroic Ardor to advent’rous deeds Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Caue Of God and his Messiah. On they move Indiolubly firm; nor obvious Hill, 70Nor treit’ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground Thir march was, and the paive Air upbore Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind Of Birds in orderly array on wing Came ummond over Eden to receive Thir names of thee; o over many a tract Of Heav’n they march’d, and many a Province wide Tenfold the length of this terrene: at lat Farr in th’ Horizon to the North appeer’d 80From kirt to kirt a fierie Region, tretcht In battailous apect, and neerer view Britl’d with upright beams innumerable Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throng’d, and Shields Various, with boatful Argument portraid, The banded Powers of Satan hating on With furious expedition; for they weend That elf ame day by fight, or by urprize To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne To et the envier of his State, the proud 90Apirer, but thir thoughts prov’d fond and vain In the mid way: though trange to us it eemd At firt, that Angel hould with Angel warr, And in fierce hoting meet, who wont to meet So oft in Fetivals of joy and love Unanimous, as ons of one great Sire Hymning th’ Eternal Father: but the hout Of Battel now began, and ruhing ound Of onet ended oon each milder thought. High in the midt exalted as a God 100Th’ Apotat in his Sun-bright Chariot ate Idol of Majetie Divine, enclo’d With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields; Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now ’Twixt Hot and Hot but narrow pace was left, A dreadful interval, and Front to Front Preented tood in terrible array Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van, On the rough edge of battel ere it joyn’d, Satan with vat and haughtie trides advanc’t, 110Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; Abdiel that ight endur’d not, where he tood Among the mightiet, bent on highet deeds, And thus his own undaunted heart explores. O Heav’n! that uch reemblance of the Highet Should yet remain, where faith and realtie Remain not; wherfore hould not trength & might There fail where Vertue fails, or weaket prove Where boldet; though to ight unconquerable? His puiance, truting in th’ Almightie’s aide, 120I mean to try, whoe Reaon I have tri’d Unound and fale; nor is it aught but jut, That he who in debate of Truth hath won, Should win in Arms, in both diputes alike Victor; though brutih that contet and foule, When Reaon hath to deal with force, yet o Mot reaon is that Reaon overcome. So pondering, and from his armed Peers Forth tepping oppoite, half way he met His daring foe, at this prevention more 130Incen’t, and thus ecurely him defi’d. Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht The highth of thy apiring unoppo’d, The Throne of God unguarded, and his ide Abandond at the terror of thy Power Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain Againt th’ Omnipotent to rie in Arms; Who out of mallet things could without end Have rai’d inceant Armies to defeat Thy folly; or with olitarie hand 140Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow Unaided could have finiht thee, and whelmd Thy Legions under darknes; but thou eet All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then To thee not viible, when I alone Seemd in thy World erroneous to dient From all: my Sect thou eet, now learn too late How few omtimes may know, when thouands err. Whom the grand foe with cornful eye akance 150Thus anwerd. Ill for thee, but in wiht houre Of my revenge, firt ought for thou returnt From flight, editious Angel, to receave Thy merited reward, the firt aay Of this right hand provok’t, ince firt that tongue Inpir’d with contradiction durt oppoe A third part of the Gods, in Synod met Thir Deities to aert, who while they feel Vigour Divine within them, can allow Omnipotence to none. But well thou comt 160Before thy fellows, ambitious to win From me om Plume, that thy ucces may how Detruction to the ret: this paue between (Unanwerd leat thou boat) to let thee know; At firt I thought that Libertie and Heav’n To heav’nly Soules had bin all one; but now I ee that mot through loth had rather erve, Minitring Spirits, traind up in Feat and Song; Such hat thou arm’d, the Mintrelie of Heav’n, Servilitie with freedom to contend, 170As both thir deeds compar’d this day hall prove. To whom in brief thus Abdiel tern repli’d. Apotat, till thou errt, nor end wilt find Of erring, from the path of truth remote: Unjutly thou deprav’t it with the name Of Servitude to erve whom God ordains, Or Nature; God and Nature bid the ame, When he who rules is worthiet, and excells Them whom he governs. This is ervitude, To erve th’ unwie, or him who hath rebelld 180Againt his worthier, as thine now erve thee, Thy elf not free, but to thy elf enthrall’d; Yet leudly dar’t our minitring upbraid. Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee erve In Heav’n God ever bleed, and his Divine Behets obey, worthiet to be obey’d, Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while From mee returnd, as ert thou aidt, from flight, This greeting on thy impious Cret receive. So aying, a noble troke he lifted high, 190Which hung not, but o wift with tempet fell On the proud Cret of Satan, that no ight, Nor motion of wift thought, les could his Shield Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee His maie Spear uptaid; as if on Earth Winds under ground or waters forcing way Sidelong, had puh’t a Mountain from his eat Half unk with all his Pines. Amazement ei’d The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to ee 200Thus foil’d thir mightiet, ours joy filld, and hout, Preage of Victorie and fierce deire Of Battel: whereat Michael bid ound Th’ Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vat of Heav’n It ounded, and the faithful Armies rung Hoanna to the Highet: nor tood at gaze The advere Legions, nor les hideous joyn’d The horrid hock: now torming furie roe, And clamour uch as heard in Heav’n till now Was never, Arms on Armour clahing bray’d 210Horrible dicord, and the madding Wheeles Of brazen Chariots rag’d; dire was the noie Of conflict; over head the dimal his Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew, And flying vaulted either Hot with fire. Sounder fierie Cope together ruh’d Both Battels maine, with ruinous aault And inextinguihable rage; all Heav’n Reounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth Had to her Center hook. What wonder? when 220Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought On either ide, the leat of whom could weild Thee Elements, and arm him with the force Of all thir Region: how much more of Power Armie againt Armie numberles to raie Dreadful combution warring, and diturb, Though not detroy, thir happie Native eat; Had not th’ Eternal King Omnipotent From his trong hold of Heav’n high over-rul’d And limited thir might; though numberd uch 230As each divided Legion might have eemd A numerous Hot, in trength each armed hand A Legion; led in fight, yet Leader eemd Each Warriour ingle as in Chief, expert When to advance, or tand, or turn the way Of Battel, open when, and when to cloe The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight, None of retreat, no unbecoming deed That argu’d fear; each on himelf reli’d, As onely in his arm the moment lay 240Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame Were don, but infinite: for wide was pred That Warr and various; omtimes on firm ground A tanding fight, then oaring on main wing Tormented all the Air; all Air eemd then Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven cale The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day Prodigious power had hewn, and met in Armes No equal, raunging through the dire attack Of fighting Seraphim confu’d, at length 250Saw where the Sword of Michael mote, and fell’d Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed way Brandiht aloft the horrid edge came down Wide wating; uch detruction to withtand He hated, and oppo’d the rockie Orb Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield A vat circumference: At his approach The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile Surcea’d, and glad as hoping here to end Intetine War in Heav’n, the arch foe ubdu’d 260Or Captive drag’d in Chains, with hotile frown And viage all enflam’d firt thus began. Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, Unnam’d in Heav’n, now plenteous, as thou eet Thee Acts of hateful trife, hateful to all, Though heaviet by jut meaure on thy elf And thy adherent: how hat thou diturb’d Heav’ns bleed peace, and into Nature brought Mierie, uncreated till the crime Of thy Rebellion? how hat thou intill’d 270Thy malice into thouands, once upright And faithful, now prov’d fale. But think not here To trouble Holy Ret; Heav’n cats thee out From all her Confines. Heav’n the eat of blis Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. Hence then, and evil go with thee along Thy ofpring, to the place of evil, Hell, Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles, Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome, Or om more udden vengeance wing’d from God 280Precipitate thee with augmented paine. So pake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus The Adverarie. Nor think thou with wind Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds Thou cant not. Hat thou turnd the leat of thee To flight, or if to fall, but that they rie Unvanquiht, eaier to tranact with mee That thou houldt hope, imperious, & with threats To chae me hence? erre not that o hall end The trife which thou call’t evil, but wee tyle 290The trife of Glorie: which we mean to win, Or turn this Heav’n it elf into the Hell Thou fablet, here however to dwell free, If not to reign: mean while thy utmot force, And join him nam’d Almightie to thy aid, I flie not, but have ought thee farr and nigh. They ended parle, and both addret for fight Unpeakable; for who, though with the tongue Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on Earth conpicuous, that may lift 300Human imagination to uch highth Of Godlike Power: for liket Gods they eemd, Stood they or mov’d, in tature, motion, arms Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav’n. Now wav’d thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields Blaz’d oppoite, while expectation tood In horror; from each hand with peed retir’d Where ert was thicket fight, th’ Angelic throng, And left large field, unafe within the wind 310Of uch commotion, uch as to et forth Great things by mall, If Natures concord broke, Among the Contellations warr were prung, Two Planets ruhing from apect maligne Of fiercet oppoition in mid Skie, Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound. Together both with next to Almightie Arme, Uplifted imminent one troke they aim’d That might determine, and not need repeate, As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd 320In might or wift prevention; but the word Of Michael from the Armorie of God Was giv’n him temperd o, that neither keen Nor olid might reit that edge: it met The word of Satan with teep force to mite Decending, and in half cut heere, nor taid, But with wift wheele revere, deep entring har’d All his right ide; then Satan firt knew pain, And writh’d him to and fro convolv’d; o ore The griding word with dicontinuous wound 330Pa’d through him, but th’ Ethereal ubtance clo’d Not long diviible, and from the gah A tream of Nectarous humor iuing flow’d Sanguin, uch as Celetial Spirits may bleed, And all his Armour taind ere while o bright. Forthwith on all ides to his aide was run By Angels many and trong, who interpo’d Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields Back to his Chariot; where it tood retir’d From off the files of warr; there they him laid 340Gnahing for anguih and depite and hame To find himelf not matchles, and his pride Humbl’d by uch rebuke, o farr beneath His confidence to equal God in power. Yet oon he heal’d; 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: 350All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, All Intellect, all Sene, and as they pleae, They Limb themelves, and colour, hape or ize Aume, as likes them bet, condene or rare. Mean while in other parts like deeds deervd Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, And with fierce Enignes pierc’d the deep array Of Moloc furious King, who him defi’d, And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound Threatn’d, nor from the Holie One of Heav’n 360Refrein’d his tongue blaphemous; but anon Down clov’n to the wate, with hatterd Armes And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe, Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd, Vanquih’d Adramelec, and Asmadai, Two potent Thrones, that to be les then Gods Didain’d, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight, Mangl’d with gatly wounds through Plate and Maile. Nor tood unmindful Abdiel to annoy 370The Atheit crew, but with redoubl’d blow Ariel and Arioc, and the violence Of Ramiel corcht and blated overthrew. I might relate of thouands, and thir names Eternize here on Earth; but thoe elect Angels contented with thir fame in Heav’n Seek not the praie of men: the other ort In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr, Nor of Renown les eager, yet by doome Canceld from Heav’n and acred memorie, 380Nameles in dark oblivion let them dwell. For trength from Truth divided and from Jut, Illaudable, naught merits but dipraie And ignominie, yet to glorie apires Vain glorious, and through infamie eeks fame: Therfore Eternal ilence be thir doome. And now thir mightiet quelld, the battel werv’d, With many an inrode gor’d; deformed rout Enter’d, and foul diorder; all the ground With hiverd armour trow’n, and on a heap 390Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd And fierie foaming Steeds; what tood, recoyld Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Hot Defenive care, or with pale fear urpri’d, Then firt with fear urpri’d and ene of paine Fled ignominious, to uch evil brought By inne of diobedience, till that hour Not liable to fear or flight or paine. Far otherwie th’ inviolable Saints In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc’t entire, 400Invulnerable, impenitrably arm’d: Such high advantages thir innocence Gave them above thir foes, not to have innd, Not to have diobei’d; in fight they tood Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain’d By wound, though from thir place by violence mov’d. Now Night her coure began, and over Heav’n Inducing darknes, grateful truce impo’d, And ilence on the odious dinn of Warr: Under her Cloudie covert both retir’d, 410Victor and Vanquiht: on the foughten field Michael and his Angels prevalent Encamping, plac’d in Guard thir Watches round, Cherubic waving fire: on th’ other part Satan with his rebellious diappeerd, Far in the dark dilodg’d, and void of ret, His Potentates to Councel call’d by night; And in the midt thus undimai’d began. O now in danger tri’d, now known in Armes Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare, 420Found worthy not of Libertie alone, Too mean pretene, but what we more affect, Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne, Who have utaind one day in doubtful fight, (And if one day, why not Eternal daye?) What Heavens Lord had powerfullet to end Againt us from about his Throne, and judg’d Sufficient to ubdue us to his will, But proves not o: then fallible, it eems, Of future we may deem him, though till now 430Omnicient thought. True is, les firmly arm’d, Some diadvantage we endur’d and paine, Till now not known, but known as oon contemnd, Since now we find this our Empyreal forme Incapable of mortal injurie Imperihable, and though peirc’d with wound, Soon cloing, and by native vigour heal’d. Of evil then o mall as eaie think The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes, Weapons more violent, when next we meet, 440May erve to better us, and wore our foes, Or equal what between us made the odds, In Nature none: if other hidden caue Left them Superiour, while we can preerve Unhurt our mindes, and undertanding ound, Due earch and conultation will dicloe. He at; and in th’ aembly next uptood Nisroc, of Principalities the prime; As one he tood ecap’t from cruel fight, Sore toild, his riv’n Armes to havoc hewn, 450And cloudie in apect thus anwering pake. Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard For Gods, and too unequal work we find Againt unequal armes to fight in paine, Againt unpaind, impaive; from which evil Ruin mut needs enue; for what availes Valour or trength, though matchles, quelld with pain Which all ubdues, and makes remis the hands Of Mightiet. Sene of pleaure we may well 460Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, But live content, which is the calmet life: But pain is perfet mierie, the wort Of evils, and exceive, overturnes All patience. He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme Our elves with like defence, to mee deerves No les then for deliverance what we owe. Whereto with look compo’d Satan repli’d. 470Not uninvented that, which thou aright Beleivt o main to our ucces, I bring; Which of us who beholds the bright urface Of this Ethereous mould whereon we tand, This continent of pacious Heav’n, adornd With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambroial, Gemms & Gold, Whoe Eye o uperficially urveyes Thee things, as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Of piritous and fierie pume, till toucht 480With Heav’ns ray, and temperd they hoot forth So beauteous, op’ning to the ambient light. Thee 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 hall end forth From far with thundring noie among our foes Such implements of michief as hall dah To pieces, and orewhelm whatever tands 490Advere, that they hall fear we have diarmd The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. Nor long hall be our labour, yet ere dawne, Effect hall end our wih. Mean while revive; Abandon fear; to trength and counel joind Think nothing hard, much les to be depaird. He ended, and his words thir drooping chere Enlightn’d, and thir languiht hope reviv’d. Th’ invention all admir’d, and each, how hee To be th’ inventer mi’d, o eaie it eemd 500Once found, which yet unfound mot would have thought Impoible: yet haply of thy Race In future dayes, if Malice hould abound, Some one intent on michief, or inpir’d With dev’lih machination might devie Like intrument to plague the Sons of men For in, on warr and mutual laughter bent. Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, None arguing tood, innumerable hands Were ready, in a moment up they turnd 510Wide the Celetial oile, and aw beneath Th’ originals of Nature in thir crude Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame They found, they mingl’d, and with uttle Art, Concocted and aduted they reduc’d To blacket grain, and into tore conveyd: Part hidd’n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone, Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of miive ruin; part incentive reed 520Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. So all ere day pring, under concious Night Secret they finih’d, and in order et, With ilent circumpection unepi’d. Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav’n appeerd Up roe the Victor Angels, and to Arms The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they tood Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Hot, Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills Lookd round, and Scouts each Coat light-armed coure, 530Each quarter, to decrie the ditant foe, Where lodg’d, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in alt: him oon they met Under pred Enignes moving nigh, in low But firm Battalion; back with peediet Sail Zephiel, of Cherubim the wiftet wing, Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri’d. Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will ave us long puruit This day, fear not his flight; o thick a Cloud 540He comes, and ettl’d in his face I ee Sad reolution and ecure: let each His Adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his Helme, gripe fat his orbed Shield, Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down, If I conjecture aught, no drizling howr, But ratling torm of Arrows barbd with fire. So warnd he them aware themelves, and oon In order, quit of all impediment; Intant without diturb they took Allarm, 550And onward move Embattelld; when behold Not ditant far with heavie pace the Foe Approaching gros and huge; in hollow Cube Training his devilih Enginrie, impal’d On every ide with haddowing Squadrons Deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both tood A while, but uddenly at head appeerd Satan: And thus was heard Commanding loud. Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould; That all may ee who hate us, how we eek 560Peace and compoure, and with open bret Stand readie to receive them, if they like Our overture, and turn not back pervere; But that I doubt, however witnes Heaven, Heav’n witnes thou anon, while we dicharge Freely our part: yee who appointed tand Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch What we propound, and loud that all may hear. So coffing in ambiguous words, he carce Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front 570Divided, and to either Flank retir’d. Which to our eyes dicoverd new and trange, A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid On Wheels (for like to Pillars mot they eem’d Or hollow’d bodies made of Oak or Firr With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell’d) Bras, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes With hideous orifice gap’t on us wide, Portending hollow truce; at each behind A Seraph tood, and in his hand a Reed 580Stood waving tipt with fire; while we upene, Collected tood within our thoughts amu’d, Not long, for udden all at once thir Reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli’d With nicet touch. Immediate in a flame, But oon obcur’d with moak, all Heav’n appeerd, From thoe deep-throated Engins belcht, whoe roar Emboweld with outragious noie the Air, And all her entrails tore, digorging foule Thir devillih glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail 590Of Iron Globes, which on the Victor Hot Level’d, with uch impetuous furie mote, That whom they hit, none on thir feet might tand, Though tanding ele as Rocks, but down they fell By thouands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl’d; The ooner for thir Arms, unarm’d they might Have eaily as Spirits evaded wift By quick contraction or remove; but now Foule diipation follow’d and forc’t rout; Nor erv’d it to relax thir erried files. 600What hould they do? if on they ruht, repule Repeated, and indecent overthrow Doubl’d, would render them yet more depi’d, And to thir foes a laughter; for in view Stood rankt of Seraphim another row In poture to diplode thir econd tire Of Thunder: back defeated to return They wore abhorr’d. Satan beheld thir plight, And to his Mates thus in deriion call’d. O Friends, why come not on thee Victors proud? 610Ere while they fierce were coming, and when wee, To entertain them fair with open Front And Bret, (what could we more?) propounded terms Of compoition, trait they chang’d thir minds, Flew off, and into trange vagaries fell, As they would dance, yet for a dance they eemd Somwhat extravagant and wilde, perhaps For joy of offerd peace: but I uppoe If our propoals once again were heard We hould compel them to a quick reult. 620 To whom thus Belial in like gameom mood. Leader, the terms we ent were terms of weight, Of hard contents, and full of force urg’d home, Such as we might perceive amu’d them all, And tumbl’d many, who receives them right, Had need from head to foot well undertand; Not undertood, this gift they have beides, They hew us when our foes walk not upright. So they among themelves in pleaant veine Stood coffing, highthn’d in thir thoughts beyond 630All doubt of Victorie, eternal might To match with thir inventions they preum’d So eaie, and of his Thunder made a corn, And all his Hot derided, while they tood A while in trouble; but they tood not long, Rage prompted them at length, & found them arms Againt uch hellih michief fit to oppoe. Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac’d) Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills 640(For Earth hath this variety from Heav’n Of pleaure ituate in Hill and Dale) Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew, From thir foundations looning to and fro They pluckt the eated Hills with all thir load, Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the haggie tops Up lifting bore them in thir hand: Amaze, Be ure, and terrour ei’d the rebel Hot, When coming towards them o dread they aw The bottom of the Mountains upward turn’d, 650Till on thoe cured Engins triple-row They aw them whelmd, and all thir confidence Under the weight of Mountains buried deep, Themelves invaded next, and on thir heads Main Promontories flung, which in the Air Came hadowing, and oppret whole Legions arm’d, Thir armor help’d thir harm, cruh’t in and bru’d Into thir ubtance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, Long trugling underneath, ere they could wind 660Out of uch prion, though Spirits of puret light, Puret at firt, now gros by inning grown. The ret in imitation to like Armes Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore; So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills Hurl’d to and fro with jaculation dire, That under ground they fought in dimal hade; Infernal noie; Warr eem’d a civil Game To this uproar; horrid confuion heapt Upon confuion roe: and now all Heav’n 670Had gone to wrack, with ruin overpred, Had not th’ Almightie Father where he its Shrin’d in his Sanctuarie of Heav’n ecure, Conulting on the um of things, foreeen This tumult, and permitted all, advi’d: That his great purpoe he might o fulfill, To honour his Anointed Son aveng’d Upon his enemies, and to declare All power on him tranferr’d: whence to his Son Th’ Aeor of his Throne he thus began. 680 Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov’d, Son in whoe face inviible is beheld Viibly, what by Deitie I am, And in whoe hand what by Decree I doe, Second Omnipotence, two dayes are pat, Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav’n, Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame Thee diobedient; ore hath been thir fight, As likeliet was, when two uch Foes met arm’d; For to themelves I left them, and thou knowt, 690Equal in their Creation they were form’d, Save what in hath impaird, which yet hath wrought Inenibly, for I upend thir doom; Whence in perpetual fight they needs mut lat Endles, and no olution will be found: Warr wearied hath perform’d what Warr can do, And to diorder’d rage let looe the reines, With Mountains as with Weapons arm’d, which makes Wild work in Heav’n, and dangerous to the maine. Two dayes are therefore pat, the third is thine; 700For thee I have ordain’d it, and thus farr Have ufferd, that the Glorie may be thine Of ending this great Warr, ince none but Thou Can end it. Into thee uch Vertue and Grace Immene I have tranfu’d, that all may know In Heav’n and Hell thy Power above compare, And this pervere Commotion governd thus, To manifet thee worthiet to be Heir Of all things, to be Heir and to be King By Sacred Unction, thy deerved right. 710Go then thou Mightiet in thy Fathers might, Acend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles That hake Heav’ns bais, bring forth all my Warr, My Bow and Thunder, my Almightie Arms Gird on, and Sword upon thy puiant Thigh; Purue thee ons of Darknes, drive them out From all Heav’ns bounds into the utter Deep: There let them learn, as likes them, to depie God and Messiah his anointed King. He aid, and on his Son with Rayes direct 720Shon full, he all his Father full expret Ineffably into his face receiv’d, And thus the filial Godhead anwering pake. O Father, O Supream of heav’nly Thrones, Firt, Highet, Holiet, Bet, thou alwayes eekt To glorifie thy Son, I alwayes thee, As is mot jut; this I my Glorie account, My exaltation, and my whole delight, That thou in me well plea’d, declart thy will Fulfill’d, which to fulfil is all my blis. 730Scepter and Power, thy giving, I aume, And gladlier hall reign, when in the end Thou halt be All in All, and I in thee For ever, and in mee all whom thou lov’t: But whom thou hat’t, I hate, and can put on Thy terrors, as I put thy mildnes on, Image of thee in all things; and hall oon, Armd with thy might, rid heav’n of thee rebell’d, To thir prepar’d ill Manion driven down To chains of Darknes, and th’ undying Worm, 740That from thy jut obedience could revolt, Whom to obey is happines entire. Then hall thy Saints unmixt, and from th’ impure Farr eparate, circling thy holy Mount Unfained Halleluiahs to thee ing, Hymns of high praie, and I among them chief. So aid, he o’re his Scepter bowing, roe From the right hand of Glorie where he ate, And the third acred Morn began to hine Dawning through Heav’n: forth ruh’d with whirlwind ound 750The Chariot of Paternal Deitie, Flahing thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn, It elf intinct with Spirit, but convoyd By four Cherubic hapes, four Faces each Had wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all And Wings were et with Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels Of Beril, and careering Fires between; Over thir heads a chrytal Firmament, Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid with pure Amber, and colours of the howrie Arch. 760Hee in Celetial Panoplie all armd Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, Acended, at his right hand Victorie Sate Eagle-wing’d, beide him hung his Bow And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder tor’d, And from about him fierce Effuion rowld Of moak and bickering flame, and parkles dire; Attended with ten thouand thouand Saints, He onward came, farr off his coming hon, And twentie thouand (I thir number heard) 770Chariots of God, half on each hand were een: Hee on the wings of Cherub rode ublime On the Crytallin Skie, in Saphir Thron’d. Illutrious farr and wide, but by his own Firt een, them unexpected joy urpriz’d, When the great Enign of Messiah blaz’d Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav’n: Under whoe Conduct Michael oon reduc’d His Armie, circumfu’d on either Wing, Under thir Head imbodied all in one. 780Before him Power Divine his way prepar’d; At his command the uprooted Hills retir’d Each to his place, they heard his voice and went Obequious, Heav’n his wonted face renewd, And with freh Flourets Hill and Valley mil’d. This aw his haples Foes, but tood obdur’d, And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers Inenate, hope conceiving from depair. In heav’nly Spirits could uch perverenes dwell? But to convince the proud what Signs availe, 790Or Wonders move th’ obdurate to relent? They hard’nd more by what might mot reclame, Grieving to ee his Glorie, at the ight Took envie, and apiring to his highth, Stood reimbattell’d fierce, by force or fraud Weening to proper, and at length prevaile Againt God and Messiah, or to fall In univeral ruin lat, and now To final Battel drew, didaining flight, Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God 800To all his Hot on either hand thus pake. Stand till in bright array ye Saints, here tand Ye Angels arm’d, this day from Battel ret; Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of God Accepted, fearles in his righteous Caue, And as ye have receivd, o have ye don Invincibly; but of this cured crew The punihment to other hand belongs, Vengeance is his, or whoe he ole appoints; Number to this dayes work is not ordain’d 810Nor multitude, tand onely and behold Gods indignation on thee Godles pourd By mee; not you but mee they have depi’d, Yet envied; againt mee is all thir rage, Becaue the Father, t’ whom in Heav’n upream Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains, Hath honourd me according to his will. Therefore to mee thir doom he hath aig’n’d; That they may have thir wih, to trie with mee In Battel which the tronger proves, they all, 820Or I alone againt them, ince by trength They meaure all, of other excellence Not emulous, nor care who them excells; Nor other trife with them do I voutafe. So pake the Son, and into terrour chang’d His count’nance too evere to be beheld And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies. At once the Four pred out thir Starrie wings With dreadful hade contiguous, and the Orbes Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the ound 830Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Hot. Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove, Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheeles The tedfat Empyrean hook throughout, All but the Throne it elf of God. Full oon Among them he arriv’d; in his right hand Graping ten thouand Thunders, which he ent Before him, uch as in thir Soules infix’d Plagues; they atoniht all reitance lot, All courage; down thir idle weapons drop’d; 840O’re Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim protrate, That wih’d the Mountains now might be again Thrown on them as a helter from his ire. Nor les on either ide tempetuous fell His arrows, from the fourfold-viag’d Foure, Ditinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels, Ditinct alike with multitude of eyes, One Spirit in them rul’d, and every eye Glar’d lightning, and hot forth pernicious fire 850Among th’ accurt, that witherd all thir trength, And of thir wonted vigour left them draind, Exhauted, piritles, afflicted, fall’n. Yet half his trength he put not forth, but check’d His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant Not to detroy, but root them out of Heav’n: The overthrown he rai’d, and as a Heard Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd Drove them before him Thunder-truck, puru’d With terrors and with furies to the bounds 860And Chrytall wall of Heav’n, which op’ning wide, Rowld inward, and a pacious Gap diclo’d Into the watful Deep; the montrous ight Strook them with horror backward, but far wore Urg’d them behind; headlong themelvs they threw Down from the verge of Heav’n, Eternal wrauth Burnt after them to the bottomles pit. Hell heard th’ unufferable noie, Hell aw Heav’n ruining from Heav’n and would have fled Affrighted; but trict Fate had cat too deep 870Her dark foundations, and too fat had bound. Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard, And felt tenfold confuion in thir fall Through his wilde Anarchie, o huge a rout Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at lat Yawning receavd them whole, and on them clo’d, Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire Unquenchable, the houe of woe and paine. Diburd’nd Heav’n rejoic’d, and oon repaird Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld. 880Sole Victor from th’ expulion of his Foes Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd: To meet him all his Saints, who ilent tood Eye witnees of his Almightie Acts, With Jubilie advanc’d; and as they went, Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright, Sung Triumph, and him ung Victorious King, Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion giv’n, Worthiet to Reign: he celebrated rode Triumphant through mid Heav’n, into the Courts 890And Temple of his mightie Father Thron’d On high; who into Glorie him receav’d, Where now he its at the right hand of blis. Thus meauring things in Heav’n by things on Earth At thy requet, and that thou mait beware By what is pat, to thee I have reveal’d What might have ele to human Race bin hid; The dicord which befel, and Warr in Heav’n Among th’ Angelic Powers, and the deep fall Of thoe too high apiring, who rebelld 900With Satan, hee who envies now thy tate, Who now is plotting how he may educe Thee alo from obedience, that with him Bereavd of happines thou mait partake His punihment, Eternal mierie; Which would be all his olace and revenge, As a depite don againt the mot High, Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe. But lit’n not to his Temptations, warne Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard 910By terrible Example the reward Of diobedience; firm they might have tood, Yet fell; remember, and fear to trangres.

The End of the Sixth Book.