Like a Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent timorous Before him, such as in their souls infixed flock Plagues. They, astonished, all resistance lost, All courage; down their idle weapons dropt; O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 840
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostráte, That wished 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-visaged Four, Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels, Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; One spirit in them ruled, and every eye Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among the accursed, that withered all their strength,
And of their wonted vigour left them drained, Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen.
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but
His thunder in mid-volley; for he meant Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven. The overthrown he raised, and, as herd Of goats or timorous flock together thronged, Drove them before him thunderstruck, pursued With terrors and with furies to the bounds And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide,
Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed Into the wasteful Deep. The monstrous sight Strook them with horror backward; but far
Urged them behind: headlong themselves they Messiah
threw Down from the verge of Heaven: eternal wrath Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard the unsufferable noise; Hell saw Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled
Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870 Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roared, And felt tenfold confusion in their fall
Through his wild Anarchy; so huge a rout Encumbered him with ruin. Hell at last, Yawning, received them whole, and on them closed-
Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes Messiah his triumphal chariot turned. To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, With jubilee advanced; and, as they went, Shaded with branching palm, each order bright Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, Worthiest to reign. He celebrated rode, Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts And temple of his mighty Father throned On high; who into glory him received, Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth,
Like a Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent timorous Before him, such as in their souls infixed flock Plagues. They, astonished, all resistance lost, All courage; down their idle weapons dropt; O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 840
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostráte, That wished 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-visaged Four, Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels, Distinct alike with multitude of eyes;
One spirit in them ruled, and every eye Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, And of their wonted vigour left them drained, Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen.
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked
His thunder in mid-volley; for he meant Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven. The overthrown he raised, and, as a herd Of goats or timorous flock together thronged, Drove them before him thunderstruck, pursued With terrors and with furies to the bounds And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide,
Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed Into the wasteful Deep. The monstrous sight Strook them with horror backward; but far
Urged them behind: headlong themselves they Messiah
threw Down from the verge of Heaven: eternal wrath Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
'Hell heard the unsufferable noise; Hell saw Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled
Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870 Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roared, And felt tenfold confusion in their fall
Through his wild Anarchy; so huge a rout Encumbered him with ruin. Hell at last, Yawning, received them whole, and on them closed-
Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes Messiah his triumphal chariot turned. To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts,
With jubilee advanced; and, as they went, Shaded with branching palm, each order bright Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, Worthiest to reign. He celebrated rode, Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts And temple of his mighty Father throned On high; who into glory him received, Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. 'Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth,
They At thy request, and that thou may'st beware might By what is past, to thee I have revealed have What might have else to human race been hid— stood, The discord which befell, and war in Heaven yet fell Among the Angelic Powers, and the deep fall Of those too high aspiring who rebelled
With Satan: he who envies now thy state, 900 Who now is plotting how he may seduce Thee also from obedience, that, with him Bereaved of happiness, thou may'st partake His punishment, eternal misery;
Which would be all his solace and revenge, As a despite done against the Most High, Thee once to gain companion of his woe. But listen not to his temptations; warn 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.'
THE END OF THE SIXTH BOOK,
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