That with'd the mountains now might be again His arrows, from the fourfold vifag'd Four, 845 850 And of their wonted vigor left them drain'd, His thunder in mid voly; for he meant Not to destroy, destroy, but root them out of Heav'n. 855 The overthrown he rais'd, and as a herd 860 Roll'd inward, and a fpacious gap difclos'd Into the wasteful deep: the monstrous fight Struck them with horror backward; but far worfe Urg'd them behind: headlong themselves they threw Po Down from the verge of Heav'n; eternal wrath Burn'd after them to the bottomless pit. 865 Hell heard th' unfufferable noife, Hell faw Heav'n ruining from Heav'n, and would have fled Affrighted; but strict fate had caft too deep Her dark foundations, and too faft had Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roar'd, And felt tenfold confufion in their fall Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout Incumber'd him with rain! Hell at laft Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd; .875 Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. Disburden'd Heav'n rejoic'd, and foon repair'd Her mural breach, returning whence it roll'd. Sole Victor, from th' expulfion of his foes 880 Meffiah his triumphal chariot turn'd: To meet him all his Saints, who filent stood Eye-witnelles of his almighty acts, With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went, Shaded with branching palm, each order Sung triumph, and him fung victorious King, Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, Worthieft to reign: He celebrated rode Triumphant through mid-heav'n, into the courts At thy request, and that thou may'st beware Which would be all his folace and revenge, 905 910 Of disobedience: firm they might have stood, Yet fell: Remember, and fear to tranfgrefs. The End of the Sixth Book. BOOK VII. Defcend from Heav'n, Urania! by that name If rightly thou art call'd, whofe voice divine Following, above th' Olympian hill I foar, Above the flight of Pegáléan wing.. The meaning, not the name I call: for thou 5 Of old Olympus dwell'ft; but heav'nly born, Left from this flying fteed unrein'd, as once 20 Within the visible diurnal sphere: On evil days though fall'n, and evil tongues; Of that wild rout, that tore the Thracian bard To rapture, 'till the favage clamor drown'd Both harp and voice; nor could the Mufe de fend Her fon. So fail not thou, who thee implores: For thou art heav'nly, she an empty dream. Say, Goddess, what enfued, when Raphaël, Adam, by dire example to beware 40 The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarn'd To thofe apoftates, left the like befal In Paradife to Adam or his race, 45 Charg'd not to touch the interdicted tree, |