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Lib. VI.

coming to the place, and caufing all His legions to ftand ftill on either fide, with His chariot and thunder driving into the midst of His enemies, purfues them, unable to refift, towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the Deep: Meffiah returns with triumph

to His Father.

A

LL night the dread-lefs Angel, un-purfu'd, Thro' heav'n's wide champain held his way; till Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rofy hand [Morn, Un-barr'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 dif-lodge, by turns; which makes thro' Grateful viciffitude, like day, and night: Light iffues forth, and at the other door Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour

[heav'n

ΤΟ

To veil the heav'n, (tho' 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 vanish'd night,

Shot thro' with orient beams: when all the plain 15
Cover'd with thick imbattled squadrons bright,
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery 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 20
To have reported: gladly then he mix'd
Among those friendly Pow'rs, 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 midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard.

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Servant of God, well done! well haft thou fought

The better fight, who fingle haft maintain'd,
Against revolted multitudes, the cause
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

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To stand approv'd in fight of God, tho' worlds
Judg'd thee perverse. The easier conqueft now
Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return,
Than fcorn'd thou didst depart; and to fubdue
By force, who reason for their law refuse,
Right reafon for their law; and for their King
Meffiab, who by right of merit reigns.
Go, Michael! of cœleftial armies Prince;
And thou, in military prowess next,
Gabriel! lead forth to battel these my fons
Invincible; lead forth thy armed Saints,
By thousands, and by millions, rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that Godless crew,
Rebellious: them with fire, and hostile arms, 50
Fearless affault; and to the brow of heav'n
Pursuing, drive them out from God, and bliss,
Into their place of punishment, the gulph
Of Tartarus; which ready opens wide
His fiery chaos to receive their fall.

So fpake the Sovereign Voice, and clouds began
To darken all the hill, and fmoke to rowl
In dusky wreathes reluctant flames;

the fign

Of wrath awak'd! Nor with lefs dread the loud

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(Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow:

At which command, the Powers militant

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That stood for heav'n, (in mighty quadrate join'd Of union irresistible) mov'd on

In filence their bright legions, to the found

Of inftrumental harmony, that breath'd

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Heroic ardor to advent'rous deeds,

Under their God-like Leaders, in the caufe

Of God, and His Meffiab. On they move

Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,

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Nor ftrait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides

Their perfect ranks: for, high above the ground

Their march was, and the paffive air up-bore
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

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Of heav'n they march'd, and many a province wide,
Tenfold the length of this terrene, At last,
Far in th' horizon to the north appear'd
From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd
In battailous afpect, and nearer view
Briftled with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and shields
Various, with boastful argument portraid,
The banded Pow'rs of Satan, hasting on
With furious expedition: for they ween'd
That self-fame day, by fight, or by furprize,
To win the mount of God; and on His throne
To fet the envier of His ftate, the proud

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Afpizer:

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