"Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw "When this creation was? Remember'st thou 'Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? "We know no time when we were not as now; "Know none before us-self-begot-self-raised "By our own quickening power, when fatal course "Had circled his full orb; the birth mature "Of this our native Heaven ; ethereal sons. "Our puissance is our own; our own right hand "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 echoed to his words applause "Through the infinite host; nor less for that "The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone, Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold: "O alienate from God, O spirit accursed, "Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall "Determined, and thy hapless crew involved "In this perfidious fraud; contagion spread "Both of thy crime and punishment. Henceforth "No more be troubled how to quit the yoke 66 "Yet not for thy advice, or threats, I fly 860 870 880 Well thou didst advise: "These wicked tents devoted; lest the wrath "Impendent, raging into sudden flame, 890 "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; unmoved, "Unshaken, unseduced, 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, 66 66 66 66 Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned "On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed." 900 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. 66 'Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, "Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand "Unbarred 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 Heaven "Grateful vicissitude, like day and night: "Light issues forth, and at the other door 66 Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour "To veil the Heaven; though darkness there might well "Seem twilight here: and now went forth the Morn, "Such as in highest Heaven, arrayed in gold Empyreal: from before her vanished Night, "Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain, "Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, ΙΟ 66 Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: "War he perceived-war in procinct: and found "Already known what he, for news, had thought To have reported: gladly then he mixed 66 66 Among those friendly Powers, who him received "With joy and acclamations loud, that one"That of so many myriads fallen, yet one "Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill 66 They led him high applauded, and present "Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, "The better fight, who single hast maintained 66 Against revolted multitudes the cause "Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; 66 "To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds 66 66 By force, who reason for their law refuse,— Right reason for their law, and for their King Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. "Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince! "And thou, in military prowess next, "Gabriel! Lead forth to battle these my sons "Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, "By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, Equal in number to that godless crew "Rebellious: them with fire and hostile arms "Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven 'Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, "Into their place of punishment,—the gulf "Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide "His fiery chaos to receive their fall.' "So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began 20 30 40 50 "To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll, "In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign "Of wrath awaked! Nor with less dread the loud "That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined "Of union irresistible, moved on "In silence their bright legions, to the sound "C. God and his Messiah. On they move 60 "Nor straitening vale, nor wood nor stream, divides 70 "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 summoned over Eden to receive "Their names of thee! so over many a tract "Of Heaven they marched; and many a province wide, "Far in the horizon to the north appeared "Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields "The banded powers of Satan hasting on 80 "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 Aspirer: but their thoughts proved fond and vain 66 Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, 90 |