"From his strong hold of Heaven, high overruled 230 "When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway "Of battle, open when, and when to close 235 "The ridges of grim war:1 no thought of flight "None of retreat-no unbecoming deed "That argued fear; each on himself relied, "As only in his arm the moment lay2 "Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame 240 "Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread 245 "Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled 250 66 Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway 4 "Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down "Wide-wasting! Such destruction to withstand 255 1 The ridges of grim war,-metaphor taken from a ploughed field: the ranks of warriors corresponding to the ridges; the intervals between them to the furrows. 2 As only in his arm the moment lay,-as though on his single arm depended the moment of victory; the weight that turns the scale. 3 Tormented all the air,-filled the air as with missile weapons sent from engines, which were called in Latin tormenta. 4 Sway, the swing or sweep of a weapon in the act of inflicting a blow Many of the heroes of romance used two-handed swords, and Milton exalts our ideas of Michaelis prowess by the size and weight of his weapon. "Surceased; and, glad, as hoping here to end " Though heaviest, by just measure on thyself "And thy adherents: how hast thou disturbed "Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought Misery, uncreated till the crime "Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled "Thy malice into thousands, once upright 260 265 270 "And faithful-now proved false! But think not here "To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out "From all her confines; Heaven, the seat of bliss, "Brooks not the works of violence and war. 86 Hence, then! and evil go with thee along, 275 66 Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; "Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, "Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom; "Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, "Precipitate thee with augmented pain.' 280 "So spake the prince of angels; to whom thus "The adversary:1 Nor think thou with wind "Of airy threats to awe, whom yet with deeds "Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these 285 "That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats "To chase me hence? Err not,2 that so shall end "The strife which thou callst evil, but we style "The strife of glory; which we mean to win, "Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell "Thou fablest; here, however, to dwell free, 1 The Adversary:-Satan-the Hebrew meaning of his name. 2 Err not,-Do not falsely suppose. 290 "If not to reign: meanwhile thy utmost force 295 "Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift "Human imagination to such height 300 "Of godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed, "Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms,— "Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. "Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air "Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields 305 "Blazed opposite, while expectation stood “In horror: from each hand with speed retired, "Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng, 310 "Great things by small), if, nature's concord broke, “Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. 315 "Together both, with next to almighty arm Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimed "That might determine,3 and not need repeat "As not of power at once; nor odds appeared "In might or swift prevention:* but the sword "Of Michael from the armoury of God "Was given him tempered so, that neither keen, "Nor solid," might resist that edge: it met 1 Parle,-debate, discourse: addressed,-prepared for. 2 Aspéct malign,-See note b. x. 659-661. 320 3 That might determine,-That might end the strife: and not need to be repeated as being not of power at once to decide. ♦ Prevention,—anticipation, parrying a blow and giving one instead. 5 That neither keen nor solid,—the adjectives used as substantives, as just for justice, 1. 381, in the classical fashion, for keen edge of weapon; or solid mass of metal in armour. |