"Defence; while others bore him on their shields
"Back to his chariot, where it stood retired
"From off the files of war: there they him laid
'Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame.
"To find himself not matchless, and his pride
"Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath
"His confidence to equal God in power.

"Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout
"Vital in every part, (not as frail man

"In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins,)
"Cannot, but by annihilating, die;

"Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
"Receive, no more than can the fluid air:
"All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
"All intellect, all sense; and, as they please,

They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size 66 Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserved "Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, "And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array "Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied, "And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound "Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven "Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon, "Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms "And uncouth pain, fled bellowing. On each wing, "Uriel, and Raphaël, his vaunting foe,

66

66

Though huge and in a rock of diamond armed,

Vanquished,-Adramelech and Asmodai,

"Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods

66 Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, "Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. "Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

"The atheist crew; but with redoubled blow

66 Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence
"Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew.

"I might relate of thousands, and their names "Etérnize here on Earth; but those elect

66

Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, "Seek not the praise of men; the other sort,

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350

360

370

"In might though wondrous and in acts of war,
"Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom
"Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory,
"Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell;
"For strength, from truth divided and from just,
Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise

66

"And ignominy; yet to glory aspires

"Vainglorious, and through infamy seeks fame: "Therefore eternal silence be their doom.

380

"And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, "With many an inroad gored: deformed rout "Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground "With shivered armour strown; and on a heap "Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, "And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled "O'erwearied, through the faint Satanic host, "Defensive scarce; or with pale fear surprised, "(Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain,) "Fled ignominious—to such evil brought

By sin of disobedience; till that hour "Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. "Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, "In cubic phalanx firm, advanced entire, "Invulnerable-impenetrably armed; "Such high advantages their innocence

"Gave them above their foes-not to have sinned,

"Not to have disobeyed-in fight they stood

"Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained

66

'By wound, though from their place by violence moved.
"Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven
“Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,

"And silence, on the odious din of war:

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400

"Under her cloudy covert both retired,

"Victor and vanquished. On the foughten field "Michaël and his angels prevalent

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"Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,
"Cherubic waving fires: on the other part,
"Satan, with his rebellious, disappeared,
"Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest
"His Potentates to council called by night;