1.                 All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,

2.                 Through Heaven’s wide champain held his way; till Morn,

3.                 Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand

4.                 Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave

5.                 Within the mount of God, fast by his throne,

6.                 Where light and darkness in perpetual round

7.                 Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven

8.                 Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;

9.                 Light issues forth, and at the other door

10.             Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour

11.             To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well

12.             Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn

13.             Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold

14.             Empyreal; from before her vanished Night,

15.             Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain

16.             Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright,

17.             Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,

18.             Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:

19.             War he perceived, war in procinct; and found

20.             Already known what he for news had thought

21.             To have reported: Gladly then he mixed

22.             Among those friendly Powers, who him received

23.             With joy and acclamations loud, that one,

24.             That of so many myriads fallen, yet one

25.             Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill

26.             They led him high applauded, and present

27.             Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice,

28.             From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard.

29.             Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought

30.             The better fight, who single hast maintained

31.             Against revolted multitudes the cause

32.             Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms;

33.             And for the testimony of truth hast borne

34.             Universal reproach, far worse to bear

35.             Than violence; for this was all thy care

36.             To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds

37.             Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now

38.             Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,

39.             Back on thy foes more glorious to return,

40.             Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue

41.             By force, who reason for their law refuse,

42.             Right reason for their law, and for their King

43.             Messiah, who by right of merit reigns.

44.             Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince,

45.             And thou, in military prowess next,

46.             Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons

47.             Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints,

48.             By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight,

49.             Equal in number to that Godless crew

50.             Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms

51.             Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven

52.             Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss,

53.             Into their place of punishment, the gulf

54.             Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

55.             His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.

56.             So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began

57.             To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll

58.             In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign

59.             Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud

60.             Ethereal trumpet from on high ’gan blow:

61.             At which command the Powers militant,

62.             That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined

63.             Of union irresistible, moved on

64.             In silence their bright legions, to the sound

65.             Of instrumental harmony, that breathed

66.             Heroic ardour to adventurous deeds

67.             Under their God-like leaders, in the cause

68.             Of God and his Messiah. On they move

69.             Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill,

70.             Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides

71.             Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground

72.             Their march was, and the passive air upbore

73.             Their nimble tread; as when the total kind

74.             Of birds, in orderly array on wing,

75.             Came summoned over Eden to receive

76.             Their names of thee; so over many a tract

77.             Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide,

78.             Tenfold the length of this terrene: At last,

79.             Far in the horizon to the north appeared

80.             From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched

81.             In battailous aspect, and nearer view

82.             Bristled with upright beams innumerable

83.             Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields

84.             Various, with boastful argument portrayed,

85.             The banded Powers of Satan hasting on

86.             With furious expedition; for they weened

87.             That self-same day, by fight or by surprise,

88.             To win the mount of God, and on his throne

89.             To set the Envier of his state, the proud

90.             Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain

91.             In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed

92.             At first, that Angel should with Angel war,

93.             And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet

94.             So oft in festivals of joy and love

95.             Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire,

96.             Hymning the Eternal Father: But the shout

97.             Of battle now began, and rushing sound

98.             Of onset ended soon each milder thought.

99.             High in the midst, exalted as a God,

100.        The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat,

101.        Idol of majesty divine, enclosed

102.        With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields;

103.        Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now

104.        ’twixt host and host but narrow space was left,

105.        A dreadful interval, and front to front

106.        Presented stood in terrible array

107.        Of hideous length: Before the cloudy van,

108.        On the rough edge of battle ere it joined,

109.        Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced,

110.        Came towering, armed in adamant and gold;

111.        Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood

112.        Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,

113.        And thus his own undaunted heart explores.

114.        O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest

115.        Should yet remain, where faith and realty

116.        Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might

117.        There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove

118.        Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable?

119.        His puissance, trusting in the Almighty’s aid,

120.        I mean to try, whose reason I have tried

121.        Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,

122.        That he, who in debate of truth hath won,

123.        Should win in arms, in both disputes alike

124.        Victor; though brutish that contest and foul,

125.        When reason hath to deal with force, yet so

126.        Most reason is that reason overcome.

127.        So pondering, and from his armed peers

128.        Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met

129.        His daring foe, at this prevention more

130.        Incensed, and thus securely him defied.

131.        Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached

132.        The highth of thy aspiring unopposed,

133.        The throne of God unguarded, and his side

134.        Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power

135.        Or potent tongue: Fool!not to think how vain

136.        Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms;

137.        Who out of smallest things could, without end,

138.        Have raised incessant armies to defeat

139.        Thy folly; or with solitary hand

140.        Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow,

141.        Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed

142.        Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest

143.        All are not of thy train; there be, who faith

144.        Prefer, and piety to God, though then

145.        To thee not visible, when I alone

146.        Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent

147.        From all: My sect thou seest;now learn too late

148.        How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.

149.        Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance,

150.        Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wished hour

151.        Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest

152.        From flight, seditious Angel! to receive

153.        Thy merited reward, the first assay

154.        Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue,

155.        Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose

156.        A third part of the Gods, in synod met

157.        Their deities to assert; who, while they feel

158.        Vigour divine within them, can allow

159.        Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest

160.        Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

161.        From me some plume, that thy success may show

162.        Destruction to the rest: This pause between,

163.        (Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know,

164.        At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven

165.        To heavenly souls had been all one; but now

166.        I see that most through sloth had rather serve,

167.        Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song!

168.        Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven,

169.        Servility with freedom to contend,

170.        As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.

171.        To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied.

172.        Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find

173.        Of erring, from the path of truth remote:

174.        Unjustly thou depravest it with the name

175.        Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains,

176.        Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same,

177.        When he who rules is worthiest, and excels

178.        Them whom he governs. This is servitude,

179.        To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled

180.        Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,

181.        Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled;

182.        Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid.

183.        Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve

184.        In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine

185.        Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed;

186.        Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: Mean while

187.        From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

188.        This greeting on thy impious crest receive.

189.        So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

190.        Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell

191.        On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight,

192.        Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,

193.        Such ruin intercept: Ten paces huge

194.        He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee

195.        His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth

196.        Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,

197.        Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat,

198.        Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seised

199.        The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see

200.        Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout,

201.        Presage of victory, and fierce desire

202.        Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound

203.        The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven

204.        It sounded, and the faithful armies rung

205.        Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze

206.        The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined

207.        The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose,

208.        And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now

209.        Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed

210.        Horrible discord, and the madding wheels

211.        Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise

212.        Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss

213.        Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew,

214.        And flying vaulted either host with fire.

215.        So under fiery cope together rushed

216.        Both battles main, with ruinous assault

217.        And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven

218.        Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth

219.        Had to her center shook. What wonder? when

220.        Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought

221.        On either side, the least of whom could wield

222.        These elements, and arm him with the force

223.        Of all their regions: How much more of power

224.        Army against army numberless to raise

225.        Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,

226.        Though not destroy, their happy native seat;

227.        Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent,

228.        From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled

229.        And limited their might; though numbered such

230.        As each divided legion might have seemed

231.        A numerous host; in strength each armed hand

232.        A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed

233.        Each warriour single as in chief, expert

234.        When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

235.        Of battle, open when, and when to close

236.        The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight,

237.        None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

238.        That argued fear; each on himself relied,

239.        As only in his arm the moment lay

240.        Of victory: Deeds of eternal fame

241.        Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread

242.        That war and various; sometimes on firm ground

243.        A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing,

244.        Tormented all the air; all air seemed then

245.        Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale

246.        The battle hung; till Satan, who that day

247.        Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms

248.        No equal, ranging through the dire attack

249.        Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length

250.        Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled

251.        Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway

252.        Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down

253.        Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand

254.        He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb

255.        Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,

256.        A vast circumference. At his approach

257.        The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil

258.        Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end

259.        Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued

260.        Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown

261.        And visage all inflamed first thus began.

262.        Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

263.        Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest

264.        These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

265.        Though heaviest by just measure on thyself,

266.        And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed

267.        Heaven’s blessed peace, and into nature brought

268.        Misery, uncreated till the crime

269.        Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled

270.        Thy malice into thousands, once upright

271.        And faithful, now proved false! But think not here

272.        To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out

273.        From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss,

274.        Brooks not the works of violence and war.

275.        Hence then, and evil go with thee along,

276.        Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell;

277.        Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils,

278.        Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom,

279.        Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God,

280.        Precipitate thee with augmented pain.

281.        So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus

282.        The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind

283.        Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds

284.        Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these

285.        To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise

286.        Unvanquished, easier to transact with me

287.        That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats

288.        To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end

289.        The strife which thou callest evil, but we style

290.        The strife of glory; which we mean to win,

291.        Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell

292.        Thou fablest; here however to dwell free,

293.        If not to reign: Mean while thy utmost force,

294.        And join him named Almighty to thy aid,

295.        I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.

296.        They ended parle, and both addressed for fight

297.        Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue

298.        Of Angels, can relate, or to what things

299.        Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift

300.        Human imagination to such highth

301.        Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed,

302.        Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms,

303.        Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.

304.        Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air

305.        Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields

306.        Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood

307.        In horror: From each hand with speed retired,

308.        Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng,

309.        And left large field, unsafe within the wind

310.        Of such commotion; such as, to set forth

311.        Great things by small, if, nature’s concord broke,

312.        Among the constellations war were sprung,

313.        Two planets, rushing from aspect malign

314.        Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky

315.        Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.

316.        Together both with next to almighty arm

317.        Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed

318.        That might determine, and not need repeat,

319.        As not of power at once; nor odds appeared

320.        In might or swift prevention: But the sword

321.        Of Michael from the armoury of God

322.        Was given him tempered so, that neither keen

323.        Nor solid might resist that edge: it met

324.        The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite

325.        Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid,

326.        But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared

327.        All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain,

328.        And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore

329.        The griding sword with discontinuous wound

330.        Passed through him: But the ethereal substance closed,

331.        Not long divisible; and from the gash

332.        A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed

333.        Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed,

334.        And all his armour stained, ere while so bright.

335.        Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run

336.        By Angels many and strong, who interposed

337.        Defence, while others bore him on their shields

338.        Back to his chariot, where it stood retired

339.        From off the files of war: There they him laid

340.        Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame,

341.        To find himself not matchless, and his pride

342.        Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath

343.        His confidence to equal God in power.

344.        Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout

345.        Vital in every part, not as frail man

346.        In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins,

347.        Cannot but by annihilating die;

348.        Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound

349.        Receive, no more than can the fluid air:

350.        All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,

351.        All intellect, all sense; and, as they please,

352.        They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size

353.        Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

354.        Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserved

355.        Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,

356.        And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array

357.        Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied,

358.        And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound

359.        Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven

360.        Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon

361.        Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms

362.        And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing

363.        Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe,

364.        Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed,

365.        Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai,

366.        Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods

367.        Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight,

368.        Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.

369.        Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

370.        The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow

371.        Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence

372.        Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew.

373.        I might relate of thousands, and their names

374.        Eternize here on earth; but those elect

375.        Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven,

376.        Seek not the praise of men: The other sort,

377.        In might though wonderous and in acts of war,

378.        Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom

379.        Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory,

380.        Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.

381.        For strength from truth divided, and from just,

382.        Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise

383.        And ignominy; yet to glory aspires

384.        Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame:

385.        Therefore eternal silence be their doom.

386.        And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved,

387.        With many an inroad gored; deformed rout

388.        Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground

389.        With shivered armour strown, and on a heap

390.        Chariot and charioteer lay overturned,

391.        And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled

392.        O’er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host

393.        Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised,

394.        Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain,

395.        Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

396.        By sin of disobedience; till that hour

397.        Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain.

398.        Far otherwise the inviolable Saints,

399.        In Cubic Phalanx firm, advanced entire,

400.        Invulnerable, impenetrably armed;

401.        Such high advantages their innocence

402.        Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned,

403.        Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood

404.        Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained

405.        By wound, though from their place by violence moved,

406.        Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven

407.        Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,

408.        And silence on the odious din of war:

409.        Under her cloudy covert both retired,

410.        Victor and vanquished: On the foughten field

411.        Michael and his Angels prevalent

412.        Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,

413.        Cherubic waving fires: On the other part,

414.        Satan with his rebellious disappeared,

415.        Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest,

416.        His potentates to council called by night;

417.        And in the midst thus undismayed began.

418.        O now in danger tried, now known in arms

419.        Not to be overpowered, Companions dear,

420.        Found worthy not of liberty alone,

421.        Too mean pretence! but what we more affect,

422.        Honour, dominion, glory, and renown;

423.        Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight,

424.        (And if one day, why not eternal days?)

425.        What Heaven’s Lord had powerfullest to send

426.        Against us from about his throne, and judged

427.        Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

428.        But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems,

429.        Of future we may deem him, though till now

430.        Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed,

431.        Some disadvantage we endured and pain,

432.        Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned;

433.        Since now we find this our empyreal form

434.        Incapable of mortal injury,

435.        Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound,

436.        Soon closing, and by native vigour healed.

437.        Of evil then so small as easy think

438.        The remedy; perhaps more valid arms,

439.        Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

440.        May serve to better us, and worse our foes,

441.        Or equal what between us made the odds,

442.        In nature none: If other hidden cause

443.        Left them superiour, while we can preserve

444.        Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,

445.        Due search and consultation will disclose.

446.        He sat; and in the assembly next upstood

447.        Nisroch, of Principalities the prime;

448.        As one he stood escaped from cruel fight,

449.        Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn,

450.        And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake.

451.        Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free

452.        Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard

453.        For Gods, and too unequal work we find,

454.        Against unequal arms to fight in pain,

455.        Against unpained, impassive; from which evil

456.        Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails

457.        Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain

458.        Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands

459.        Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well

460.        Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,

461.        But live content, which is the calmest life:

462.        But pain is perfect misery, the worst

463.        Of evils, and, excessive, overturns

464.        All patience. He, who therefore can invent

465.        With what more forcible we may offend

466.        Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm

467.        Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves

468.        No less than for deliverance what we owe.

469.        Whereto with look composed Satan replied.

470.        Not uninvented that, which thou aright

471.        Believest so main to our success, I bring.

472.        Which of us who beholds the bright surface

473.        Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand,

474.        This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned

475.        With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold;

476.        Whose eye so superficially surveys

477.        These things, as not to mind from whence they grow

478.        Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,

479.        Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched

480.        With Heaven’s ray, and tempered, they shoot forth

481.        So beauteous, opening to the ambient light?

482.        These in their dark nativity the deep

483.        Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame;

484.        Which, into hollow engines, long and round,

485.        Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire

486.        Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth

487.        From far, with thundering noise, among our foes

488.        Such implements of mischief, as shall dash

489.        To pieces, and o’erwhelm whatever stands

490.        Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed

491.        The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.

492.        Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn,

493.        Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive;

494.        Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined

495.        Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired.

496.        He ended, and his words their drooping cheer

497.        Enlightened, and their languished hope revived.

498.        The invention all admired, and each, how he

499.        To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed

500.        Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought

501.        Impossible: Yet, haply, of thy race

502.        In future days, if malice should abound,

503.        Some one intent on mischief, or inspired

504.        With devilish machination, might devise

505.        Like instrument to plague the sons of men

506.        For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent.

507.        Forthwith from council to the work they flew;

508.        None arguing stood; innumerable hands

509.        Were ready; in a moment up they turned

510.        Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath

511.        The originals of nature in their crude

512.        Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam

513.        They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art,

514.        Concocted and adusted they reduced

515.        To blackest grain, and into store conveyed:

516.        Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth

517.        Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,

518.        Whereof to found their engines and their balls

519.        Of missive ruin; part incentive reed

520.        Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.

521.        So all ere day-spring, under conscious night,

522.        Secret they finished, and in order set,

523.        With silent circumspection, unespied.

524.        Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared,

525.        Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms

526.        The matin trumpet sung: In arms they stood

527.        Of golden panoply, refulgent host,

528.        Soon banded; others from the dawning hills

529.        Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour,

530.        Each quarter to descry the distant foe,

531.        Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,

532.        In motion or in halt: Him soon they met

533.        Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow

534.        But firm battalion; back with speediest sail

535.        Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing,

536.        Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried.

537.        Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand,

538.        Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit

539.        This day; fear not his flight;so thick a cloud

540.        He comes, and settled in his face I see

541.        Sad resolution, and secure: Let each

542.        His adamantine coat gird well, and each

543.        Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield,

544.        Borne even or high; for this day will pour down,

545.        If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower,

546.        But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.

547.        So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon

548.        In order, quit of all impediment;

549.        Instant without disturb they took alarm,

550.        And onward moved embattled: When behold!

551.        Not distant far with heavy pace the foe

552.        Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube

553.        Training his devilish enginery, impaled

554.        On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,

555.        To hide the fraud. At interview both stood

556.        A while; but suddenly at head appeared

557.        Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud.

558.        Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold;

559.        That all may see who hate us, how we seek

560.        Peace and composure, and with open breast

561.        Stand ready to receive them, if they like

562.        Our overture; and turn not back perverse:

563.        But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven!

564.        Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge

565.        Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand

566.        Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch

567.        What we propound, and loud that all may hear!

568.        So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce

569.        Had ended; when to right and left the front

570.        Divided, and to either flank retired:

571.        Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange,

572.        A triple mounted row of pillars laid

573.        On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed,

574.        Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir,

575.        With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,)

576.        Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths

577.        With hideous orifice gaped on us wide,

578.        Portending hollow truce: At each behind

579.        A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed

580.        Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense,

581.        Collected stood within our thoughts amused,

582.        Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds

583.        Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied

584.        With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,

585.        But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared,

586.        From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar

587.        Embowelled with outrageous noise the air,

588.        And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul

589.        Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail

590.        Of iron globes; which, on the victor host

591.        Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote,

592.        That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,

593.        Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell

594.        By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled;

595.        The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might

596.        Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift

597.        By quick contraction or remove; but now

598.        Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout;

599.        Nor served it to relax their serried files.

600.        What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse

601.        Repeated, and indecent overthrow

602.        Doubled, would render them yet more despised,

603.        And to their foes a laughter; for in view

604.        Stood ranked of Seraphim another row,

605.        In posture to displode their second tire

606.        Of thunder: Back defeated to return

607.        They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight,

608.        And to his mates thus in derision called.

609.        O Friends! why come not on these victors proud

610.        Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we,

611.        To entertain them fair with open front

612.        And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms

613.        Of composition, straight they changed their minds,

614.        Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,

615.        As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed

616.        Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps

617.        For joy of offered peace: But I suppose,

618.        If our proposals once again were heard,

619.        We should compel them to a quick result.

620.        To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood.

621.        Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight,

622.        Of hard contents, and full of force urged home;

623.        Such as we might perceive amused them all,

624.        And stumbled many: Who receives them right,

625.        Had need from head to foot well understand;

626.        Not understood, this gift they have besides,

627.        They show us when our foes walk not upright.

628.        So they among themselves in pleasant vein

629.        Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond

630.        All doubt of victory: Eternal Might

631.        To match with their inventions they presumed

632.        So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn,

633.        And all his host derided, while they stood

634.        A while in trouble: But they stood not long;

635.        Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms

636.        Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.

637.        Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power,

638.        Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!)

639.        Their arms away they threw, and to the hills

640.        (For Earth hath this variety from Heaven

641.        Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,)

642.        Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew;

643.        From their foundations loosening to and fro,

644.        They plucked the seated hills, with all their load,

645.        Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops

646.        Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze,

647.        Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host,

648.        When coming towards them so dread they saw

649.        The bottom of the mountains upward turned;

650.        Till on those cursed engines’ triple-row

651.        They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence

652.        Under the weight of mountains buried deep;

653.        Themselves invaded next, and on their heads

654.        Main promontories flung, which in the air

655.        Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed;

656.        Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised

657.        Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain

658.        Implacable, and many a dolorous groan;

659.        Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind

660.        Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light,

661.        Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.

662.        The rest, in imitation, to like arms

663.        Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore:

664.        So hills amid the air encountered hills,

665.        Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire;

666.        That under ground they fought in dismal shade;

667.        Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game

668.        To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped

669.        Upon confusion rose: And now all Heaven

670.        Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread;

671.        Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits

672.        Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure,

673.        Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen

674.        This tumult, and permitted all, advised:

675.        That his great purpose he might so fulfil,

676.        To honour his anointed Son avenged

677.        Upon his enemies, and to declare

678.        All power on him transferred: Whence to his Son,

679.        The Assessour of his throne, he thus began.

680.        Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved,

681.        Son, in whose face invisible is beheld

682.        Visibly, what by Deity I am;

683.        And in whose hand what by decree I do,

684.        Second Omnipotence! two days are past,

685.        Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven,

686.        Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame

687.        These disobedient: Sore hath been their fight,

688.        As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed;

689.        For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest,

690.        Equal in their creation they were formed,

691.        Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought

692.        Insensibly, for I suspend their doom;

693.        Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last

694.        Endless, and no solution will be found:

695.        War wearied hath performed what war can do,

696.        And to disordered rage let loose the reins

697.        With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes

698.        Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main.

699.        Two days are therefore past, the third is thine;

700.        For thee I have ordained it; and thus far

701.        Have suffered, that the glory may be thine

702.        Of ending this great war, since none but Thou

703.        Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace

704.        Immense I have transfused, that all may know

705.        In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare;

706.        And, this perverse commotion governed thus,

707.        To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir

708.        Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King

709.        By sacred unction, thy deserved right.

710.        Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father’s might;

711.        Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels

712.        That shake Heaven’s basis, bring forth all my war,

713.        My bow and thunder, my almighty arms

714.        Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh;

715.        Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out

716.        From all Heaven’s bounds into the utter deep:

717.        There let them learn, as likes them, to despise

718.        God, and Messiah his anointed King.

719.        He said, and on his Son with rays direct

720.        Shone full; he all his Father full expressed

721.        Ineffably into his face received;

722.        And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake.

723.        O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones,

724.        First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek’st

725.        To glorify thy Son, I always thee,

726.        As is most just: This I my glory account,

727.        My exaltation, and my whole delight,

728.        That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will

729.        Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss.

730.        Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume,

731.        And gladlier shall resign, when in the end

732.        Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee

733.        For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest:

734.        But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on

735.        Thy terrours, as I put thy mildness on,

736.        Image of thee in all things; and shall soon,

737.        Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled;

738.        To their prepared ill mansion driven down,

739.        To chains of darkness, and the undying worm;

740.        That from thy just obedience could revolt,

741.        Whom to obey is happiness entire.

742.        Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure

743.        Far separate, circling thy holy mount,

744.        Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing,

745.        Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief.

746.        So said, he, o’er his scepter bowing, rose

747.        From the right hand of Glory where he sat;

748.        And the third sacred morn began to shine,

749.        Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirlwind sound

750.        The chariot of Paternal Deity,

751.        Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn,

752.        Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed

753.        By four Cherubic shapes; four faces each

754.        Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all

755.        And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels

756.        Of beryl, and careering fires between;

757.        Over their heads a crystal firmament,

758.        Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure

759.        Amber, and colours of the showery arch.

760.        He, in celestial panoply all armed

761.        Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,

762.        Ascended; at his right hand Victory

763.        Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow

764.        And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored;

765.        And from about him fierce effusion rolled

766.        Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire:

767.        Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,

768.        He onward came; far off his coming shone;

769.        And twenty thousand (I their number heard)

770.        Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen;

771.        He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime

772.        On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned,

773.        Illustrious far and wide; but by his own

774.        First seen: Them unexpected joy surprised,

775.        When the great ensign of Messiah blazed

776.        Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven;

777.        Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced

778.        His army, circumfused on either wing,

779.        Under their Head imbodied all in one.

780.        Before him Power Divine his way prepared;

781.        At his command the uprooted hills retired

782.        Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went

783.        Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed,

784.        And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled.

785.        This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured,

786.        And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers,

787.        Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.

788.        In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?

789.        But to convince the proud what signs avail,

790.        Or wonders move the obdurate to relent?

791.        They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,

792.        Grieving to see his glory, at the sight

793.        Took envy; and, aspiring to his highth,

794.        Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud

795.        Weening to prosper, and at length prevail

796.        Against God and Messiah, or to fall

797.        In universal ruin last; and now

798.        To final battle drew, disdaining flight,

799.        Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God

800.        To all his host on either hand thus spake.

801.        Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand,

802.        Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest:

803.        Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God

804.        Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause;

805.        And as ye have received, so have ye done,

806.        Invincibly: But of this cursed crew

807.        The punishment to other hand belongs;

808.        Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints:

809.        Number to this day’s work is not ordained,

810.        Nor multitude; stand only, and behold

811.        God’s indignation on these godless poured

812.        By me; not you, but me, they have despised,

813.        Yet envied; against me is all their rage,

814.        Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s’preme

815.        Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains,

816.        Hath honoured me, according to his will.

817.        Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned;

818.        That they may have their wish, to try with me

819.        In battle which the stronger proves; they all,

820.        Or I alone against them; since by strength

821.        They measure all, of other excellence

822.        Not emulous, nor care who them excels;

823.        Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.

824.        So spake the Son, and into terrour changed

825.        His countenance too severe to be beheld,

826.        And full of wrath bent on his enemies.

827.        At once the Four spread out their starry wings

828.        With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs

829.        Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound

830.        Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host.

831.        He on his impious foes right onward drove,

832.        Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels

833.        The stedfast empyrean shook throughout,

834.        All but the throne itself of God. Full soon

835.        Among them he arrived; in his right hand

836.        Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent

837.        Before him, such as in their souls infixed

838.        Plagues: They, astonished, all resistance lost,

839.        All courage; down their idle weapons dropt:

840.        O’er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode

841.        Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,

842.        That wished the mountains now might be again

843.        Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire.

844.        Nor less on either side tempestuous fell

845.        His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four

846.        Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels

847.        Distinct alike with multitude of eyes;

848.        One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye

849.        Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire

850.        Among the accursed, that withered all their strength,

851.        And of their wonted vigour left them drained,

852.        Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen.

853.        Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked

854.        His thunder in mid volley; for he meant

855.        Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven:

856.        The overthrown he raised, and as a herd

857.        Of goats or timorous flock together thronged

858.        Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued

859.        With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds

860.        And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide,

861.        Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed

862.        Into the wasteful deep: The monstrous sight

863.        Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse

864.        Urged them behind: Headlong themselves they threw

865.        Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath

866.        Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.

867.        Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw

868.        Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled

869.        Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep

870.        Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.

871.        Nine days they fell: Confounded Chaos roared,

872.        And felt tenfold confusion in their fall

873.        Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout

874.        Incumbered him with ruin: Hell at last

875.        Yawning received them whole, and on them closed;

876.        Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire

877.        Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.

878.        Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired

879.        Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled.

880.        Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes,

881.        Messiah his triumphal chariot turned:

882.        To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood

883.        Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts,

884.        With jubilee advanced; and, as they went,

885.        Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright,

886.        Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King,

887.        Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given,

888.        Worthiest to reign: He, celebrated, rode

889.        Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts

890.        And temple of his Mighty Father throned

891.        On high; who into glory him received,

892.        Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.

893.        Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth,

894.        At thy request, and that thou mayest beware

895.        By what is past, to thee I have revealed

896.        What might have else to human race been hid;

897.        The discord which befel, and war in Heaven

898.        Among the angelic Powers, and the deep fall

899.        Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled

900.        With Satan; he who envies now thy state,

901.        Who now is plotting how he may seduce

902.        Thee also from obedience, that, with him

903.        Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake

904.        His punishment, eternal misery;

905.        Which would be all his solace and revenge,

906.        As a despite done against the Most High,

907.        Thee once to gain companion of his woe.

908.        But listen not to his temptations, warn

909.        Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard,

910.        By terrible example, the reward

911.        Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,

912.        Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.

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