Of God's Messiah. Those indulgent laws Will not be now voutsafed; other decrees When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.' His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained Superior, nor of violence feared aught; And with retorted scorn his back he turned On those proud towers, to swift destruction doomed." THE END OF THE FIFTH BOOK 890 900 PARADISE LOST BOOK VI 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 champaign held his way, till Morn, Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand 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 1Ο Seem twilight here. And now went forth the Morn, Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain 20 Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, Against revolted multitudes the cause Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms, Than violence; for this was all thy care To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds Gabriel; lead forth to battle these my sons 30 40 Invincible; lead forth my armèd Saints, His fiery chaos to receive their fall.' "So spake the Sovran Voice; and clouds began To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll In dusky wreaths reluctant flames, the sign Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud At which command the Powers Militant That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined In silence their bright legions to the sound Heroic ardour to adventurous deeds Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides Their nimble tread. As when the total kind Came summoned over Eden to receive Their names of thee; so over many a tract Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, Tenfold the length of this terrene. At last, 50 60 70 80 Bristled with upright beams innumerable Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields The banded Powers of Satan hasting on Aspirer. But their thoughts proved fond and vain 90 In the mid-way; though strange to us it seemed At first that Angel should with Angel war, And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet So oft in festivals of joy and love Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, Hymning the Eternal Father. But the shout Of battle now began, and rushing sound Of onset ended soon each milder thought. High in the midst, exalted as a God, The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, Idol of majesty divine, enclosed With flaming Cherubim and golden shields; A dreadful interval, and front to front Of hideous length. Before the cloudy van, 100 "O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest Should yet remain, where faith and realty Remain not! Wherefore should not strength and might |