Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by fupplication we intend
Address, and to begirt th'almighty throne
Befeeching or befieging. This report,
These tidings carrie to th'anointed king;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He said, and as the sound of waters deep
Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause
Through the infinite host, nor less for that
The flaming feraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold.
O alienate from God, O fpirit accurst,
Forfak'n of all good; I fee thy fall
Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of God's Meffiah; those indulgent laws
Will not be now voutsaf't, other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That golden fcepter 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, left the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame
Distinguish not: for foon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learn,
When who can uncreate thee thou fhalt know.
So fpake the feraph Abdiel faithful found,
Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, unmov'd,
Unfhaken, unfeduc'd, unterrifi'd
His loyaltie he kept, his love, his zeal';
Nor number, nor example with him wrought
To fwerve from truth, or change his constant mind
Though fingle. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way through hoftile scorn, which he fufteind
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;
And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On thofe proud towrs to swift destruction doom'd.
The End of the Fifth Book.
LL night the dreadless angel unpurfu'd
Through heav'n's wide champain held his way, tift
Wak't by the circling hours, with rofie hand [morn,
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave
Within the mount of God, faft by his throne,
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by'turns, which makes through heav'n
Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;
Light issues forth, and at the other dore
Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veile the heav'n, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here; and now went forth the morn
Such as in highest heav'n, array'd in gold
Empyreal, from before her vanisht night,
Shot through with orient beams: when all the plain
Cover'd with thick embattel'd fquadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming arms, and fierie 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 mixt
Among those friendly powers who him receiv'd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one
That of fo many myriads fall'n, yet one
Return'd not loft: on to the facred hill
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the feat fupreme: from whence a voice
From midft a golden cloud thus mild was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought
The better fight, who fingle haft 'maintain'd
Against revolted multitudes the caufe
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms;
And for the teftimony of truth haft born
Univerfal reproach, far worse to bear
Than violence: for this was all thy care
To ftand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds
Judg'd thee perverfe: the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Than fcorn'd thou didit depart, and to subdue
By force, who reafon for their law refuse,
Right reafon for their law, and for their king
Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns.
Go Michael of celeftial armies prince,
And thou in military prowess next
Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my fons
Invincible, lead forth my armed faints
By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that godlefs crew
Rebellious, them with fire and hostile arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of heav'n
Purfuing drive them out from God and blifs,
Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery chaos to receive their fall.
So fpake the fovran voice, and clouds began
To darken all the hill, and fmoak to rowl
In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the figne
Of wrath awak't: nor with lefs dread the loud
Ethereal trumpet from on high gan blow :
At which command the powers militant,
That flood for heav'n, in mighty quadrate join'd
Of union irresistible, mov'd on
In filence their bright legions, to the found
Of inftrumental harmonie that breath'd
Heroic ardor to advent'rous deeds
Under their god-like leaders, in the cause
Of God and his Meffiah. On they move
Indi Tolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftreit'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides
Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground
Their march was, and the passive air upbore
Their nimble tread, as when the total kind
Of birds in orderly array on wing
Came fummon'd over Eden to receive
Their names of thee; fo over many a tract
Of heav'n they march'd, and many a province wide
Tenfold the ler gth of this terrene: at last
Far in the horizon to the north appeer'd
From skirt to skirt a fierie region, stretcht
In battailous afpect, and neerer view
Briftl'd with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and shields
Various, with boastful argument portraid,
The banded powers of Satan hafting on
With furious expedition; for they ween'd
That felf fame day by fight, or by furprize
To win the mount of God, and on his throne
To fet th'envier of his ftate, the proud
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