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. "ALL night the dreadless angel, unpursued, 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, 66 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 66 Empyreal: from before her vanished Night, "Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain, "Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, ΙΟ 66 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 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 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; "Than violence; for this was all thy care, 66 To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds "Judged thee perverse: the easier conquest now "Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, "Back on thy foes more glorious to return, "Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue 66 By force, who reason for their law refuse,— 66 66 Right reason for their law, and for their King “Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince! “And thou, in military prowess next, "Gabriel! Lead forth to battle these my sons 66 66 Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, 20 30 40 "Rebellious: them with fire and hostile arms "Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven "Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, 50 "Into their place of punishment,—the gulf "So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began "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 66 Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, "Nor straitening vale, nor wood nor stream, divides "Came summoned over Eden to receive "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 "To win the mount of God, and on his throne Aspirer: but their thoughts proved fond and vain 66 Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, 60 70 80 90 "Of battle now began, and rushing sound "Of onset ended soon each milder thought. “ High in the midst, exalted as a God, "With flaming Cherubim and golden shields; "Of hideous length: before the cloudy van, 66 Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, "Came towering, armed in adamant and gold. 66 "Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds; "And thus his own undaunted heart explores: "O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest "Should yet remain, where faith and reälty "Remain not: wherefore should not strength and might I mean to try, whose reason I have tried "Unsound and false: nor is it aught but just, "That he, who in debate of truth hath won, "Should win in arms, in both disputes alike "Victor; though brutish that contést and foul, "When reason hath to deal with force; yet so "Most reason is that reason overcome.' "So pondering, and from his armèd peers "Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met "His daring foe, at this prevention more "Incensed, and thus securely him defied: "Proud! art thou met? Thy hope was to have reached "The height of thy aspiring unopposed; "The throne of God unguarded, and his side "Abandoned, at the terror of thy power, "Or potent tongue: fool! not to think how vain 66 Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; "Who, out of smallest things could, without end, "Have raised incessant armies to defeat "Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, 66 "Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed "Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent "Thy merited reward, the first assay "Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue "Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose "A third part of the gods, in synod met "Their deities to assert; who, while they feel "Vigour divine within them, can allow "Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest "From me some plume, that thy success may show 66 Ministering spirits, trained up in feast and song! "Such hast thou armed-the minstrelsy of HeavenServility with freedom to contend, 66 "As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.' 66 Unjustly thou depravest it with the name "Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, "Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same, 140 150 160 170 |