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Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by supplication we intend
Address, and to begirt the' almighty throne
Beseeching or besieging. This report,
These tidings carry to the' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.'

"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.' "So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found

Among the faithless, faithful only he;

Among innumerable false, unmov'd,

Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrified,

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal ;

Nor number, nor example, with him wrought
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd
Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;

And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd

On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd."

END OF BOOK V.

THE

SIXTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

2

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.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK VI

"ALL night the dreadless Angel, unpursu'd, 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
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night

Light issues forth, and at the other door
Obsequious Darkness enters, till her hour

[Heaven

[well To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might Seem twilight here and now went forth the Morn Such as in highest Heaven array'd in gold Empyreal; from before her vanish'd Night, Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain Cover'd with thick embattled squadrons bright, Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view : War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found Already known, what he for news had thought To have reported: gladly then he mix'd

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