Had circled his full orb, the birth mature He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite host; nor less for that The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold. << O alienate from God, O spirit accurs'd, Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth No more be troubled how to quit the yoke Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees Against thee are gone forth, without recall; That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod to bruise and break Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise ; Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath Impendent, raging into sudden flame, Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. Then who created thee lamenting learn, When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. » His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd. THE ARGUMENT. Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight described: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council; invents devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan: yet, the tumult not so ending, God, on the third day, sends Messiah his son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory. He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of heaven: which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep; Messiah returns with triumph to his Father. All night the dreadless angel unpursued, Through Heaven's wide champain held his way: till Morn, Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through heaven Grateful vicissitude, like day and night: Light issues forth, and at the other door Obsequious Darkness enters, till her hour To veil the heaven, though darkness there might well Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain Against revolted multitudes the cause Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms : To stand approv'd in sight of God, though worlds Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. Rebellious them with fire and hostile arms : Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven So spake the Sovran Voice; and clouds began In silence their bright legions, to the sound Under their godlike leaders, in the cause Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides Their march was, and the passive air upbore Of birds, in orderly array on wing, |