BOOK VI. 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, overwhelm 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, 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, They led him high applauded, and present Before the seat supreme; from whence a Voice, From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard : 10 20 "Servant of God, well done! Well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintained Against revolted multitudes the cause Of Truth, in word mightier than they in arms; And for the testimony of Truth hast borne Universal reproach-far worse to bear 1 Observant. See line 783. 30 40 The Almighty's Address to Abdiel. 1 Than violence; for this was all thy care- By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, Rebellious! Them with fire and hostile arms 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 2 flames, the sign Of wrath awaked! Nor with less dread the loud In silence their bright legions (to the sound Of instrumental harmony that breathed [inspired] Under their godlike leaders, in the cause 60 1 See line 338, Book iii. ; lines 849-851, 900-904, Book v.; lines 145-148, Book vi. ; lines 701-704, Book xi.; lines 535, 536, 561 -571, Book xii. And Par. Regained, lines 96-99, Book iii. 2 "Struggling to break forth; not as Newton explains it, 's'ow and unwilling to break forth.'"--Dr. Bradshaw. PARADISE LOST-BK. VI.] 137 Nor straitening vale, nor wood nor stream, divides Their march was, and the passive [yielding] air upbore Of birds, in orderly array, on wing Came summoned over Eden to receive Their names of thee, so over many a tract Of Heaven they marched and many a province wide, "At last, Far in the horizon to the north, appeared— Of rigid spears and helmets thronged, and shields With furious expedition, for they weened That self-same day, by fight or by surprise, To win the mount of God, and on his throne To set the envier of his state, the proud 70 80 Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond [foolish] and vain. In the midway-(though strange to us it seemed At first that Angel should with Angel war And in fierce hosting 2 meet, who wont to meet 1 Devices and mottoes. 2 An encounter of two hosts-a battle. 91 :00 Presented stood in terrible array Of hideous length. Before the cloudy [enormous] van, 110 "O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest Should yet remain, where faith and reälty [loyalty] Remain not! Wherefore should not strength and might There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 120 Where boldest, though to sight [appearance] unconquerable? "So pondering, and from his armèd peers Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met His daring foe, at this prevention [anticipation] more 130 "Proud, art thou met? Thy hope was to have reached The height of thy aspiring unopposed, The throne of God unguarded, and his side Or potent tongue. Fool! not to think how vain Who out of smallest things could, without end, Thy folly; or with solitary hand, Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed To thee not visible when I alone PARADISE LOSт-Bк. VI.] 139 140 |