Where erft was thickeft fight, th' angelic throng,
And left large field, unfafe within the wind
Of such commotion; fuch as, to fet forth
Great things by fmall, if Nature's concord broke,
Among the constellations war were sprung,
Two planets rufhing from afpect malign
of fierceft oppofition in mid fky

Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound,
Together both with next to almighty arm
Up-lifted imminent, one ftroke they aim'd
That might determine, and not need repeat,
As not of power at once; nor odds appear'd
In might or fwift prevention: but the sword
Of Michael, from the armoury of God,
Was giv'n him temper'd fo, that neither keen
Nor folid might refift that edge: it met
The fword of Satan with fteep force to fmite
Defcending, and in half cut fheer; nor stray'd,
But with fwift wheel reverfe, deep ent'ring, fhar'd
All his right fide: then Satan first new pain,
And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; fo fore
The griding fword with difcontinuous wound
Pafs'd through him: but the ethereal fubftance
Not long divifible; and from the gafh
A ftream of nec&t'rous humour issuing flow'd
Sanguine, fuch as celeftial fpirits may bleed,
And all his armour ftain'd e'er while fo bright.
Forthwith on all fides to his aid was run
By angels many and ftrong, who interpos'd
Defence, while others bore him on their fhields
Back to his chariot, where it stood retir'd
From off the files of war; there they him laid,
Gnashing, for anguish, and despite and shame,
To find himself not matchlefs, and his pride
Humbled by fuch rebuke, fo far beneath
His confidence to equal God in power.

[clos'd,.

Yet foon he heal'd; for fp'rits 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 car,
All intellect, all fenfe; and as they please,
'They limb themselves, and colour, shape or fize
Affume, as likes them beft, condence or rare.

Mean while in other parts like deeds deferv'd
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
And with fierce enfigns pierc'd the deep array
Of Moloch, furious king; who him defy'd,
And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound
Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of Heav'n
Refrain'd his tongue blafphemous: but anon
Down clov'n to the waste, with shatter'd arms
And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing
Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe,
Though huge, and in a rock of diamond arm'd,
Vanquish'd Adramelech and Afmadia,

Two potent thrones, that to be less than gods Difdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their flight,

Mangled with ghaftly wounds through plate and
Nor ftood unmindful Abdiel to annoy [mail.
The ancient crew, but with redoubled blow
Ariel and Arioeh, and the violence

Of Ramiel fcorch'd and blafted overthrew.
I might relate of thousands, and their names
Eternize here on earth; but thofe elect
Angels, contented with their fame in Heav'n,
Seck not the praife of men: the other fort,
In might though wondrous, and in acts of war,
Nor of renown lefs eager, yet by doom
Cancel'd from Heav'n and facred Memory,
Namelefs in dark Oblivion let them dwell.
For ftrength from truth divided, and from just,
Illaudable, nought merits but difpraise
And ignominy, yet to glory afpires
Vain-glorious, and through infamy feeks fame :
Therefore eternal filence be their doom.

And now their mightiest quell'd, the battle
fwerv'd,

With many au inroad gor'd; deformed Rout
Enter'd, and foul diiorder; all the ground
With fhiver'd armour ftrown, and on a heap
Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd,
And fiery foaming steeds; what stood recoil'd
O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanic hoft
Defenfive fcarce, or with pale Fear furpris'd,
Then firft with fear furpris'd and fenfe of pain
Fled ignominious, to fuch evil brought
By fin of difobedience, till that hour
Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain.
Far otherwife th' inviolable faints
In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire,
Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd;
Such high advantages their innocence
Gave them above their foes; not to have finn'd,
Not to have difobey'd; in fight they stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd

By wound, though from their place by violence mov'd.

Now Night her courfe began, and over Heav'n
Inducing darknefs, grateful truce impos'd,
And filence on the odious din of War:
Under her cloudy covert both retir'd,
Victor and vanquifh'd: on the foughten field
Michael and his angels prevalent

Incamping, plac'd in guard their watches round,
Cherubic waving fires. on th' other part
Satan, with his rebellious difappear'd,
Far in the dark diflodg'd: and void of reft,
His Potentates to council call'd by night;
And in the midst thus undismay'd began :

O now in danger try'd, now known in arms
Not to be overpower'd, Companions dear,
Found worthy not of liberty alone,
Too mean pretence, but what we more affect,
Honour, dominion, glory and renown;
Who have fuftain'd one day in doubtful fight
(And if one day, why not eternal days?)
What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send
Against us from about his throne, and judg'd
Sufficient to fubdue us to his will,

But proves not fo; then fallible, it seems,
Of future we may deem him, though till now
Omnifcient thought. True is, lefs firmly arm'd,
Some difadvantage we endur'd and pain,

Till now not known, but known, as foon con

Incapable of mortal injury,

Imperishable, and though pierc'd with wound,
Soon clofing, and by native vigour heal'd.
Of evil then fo finall as eafy think
The remedy; perhaps more valid arms,
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May ferve to better us, and worse our foes,
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In nature none: if other bidden caufe
Left them fuperior, while we can preferve
Unhurt our minds and understanding found,
Due fearch and consultation will disclose.
He fat; and in th' affembly next upstood
Nifroch, of principalities the prime;
As one he flood efcap'd from cruel fight,
Sore toil, his riven arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudy in afpect thus anfw'ring spake.
Deliverer from new lords, leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as gods; yet hard
For gods, and too unequal work we find,
Againit unequal arms to fight in pain,
Againft unpain'd, impaffive; from which evil
Ruin muft needs enfue; for what avails
Valour or strength, though matchlefs, quell'dfwith
pain

Which all fubdues, and makes remifs the hands
Of mightieft? Sense of pleafure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
But live content, which is the calmest life:
But pain is perfect mifery, the worst
Of evils, and exceffive, overturns
All patience. He who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm
Ourfelves with like defence, to me deferves
No less than for deliverance what we owe.
Whereto, with look compos'd, Satan reply'd.
Not uninvented that, which thou aright
Believ't fo main to our fuccefs, I bring.
Which of us who beholds the bright surface
Of this ethereous mould whereon we ftand,
This continent of fpacious Heav'n, adorn'd
With plant, fruit, flow'r, ambrofial gems and
Whofe eye fo fuperficially furveys [gold;
These things, as not to mind from whence they
grow

Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of fpiritous and fiery fpume, till touch'd
With Heav'n's ray, and temper'd, they fhoot
Sc beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light? [forth
Thefe, in their dark nativity, the deep
Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame;
Which into hollow, engines long and round
Thick ramm'd at th' other bore with touch of fire
Dilated and infuriate, fhall fend forth

From far with thund'ring noise among our focs
Such implenients of mischief, as fhall dash
To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands
Adverfe, that they shall fear we have disarm'd
The thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be our labour; yet e'er dawn,
Effect shall end our wifh. Mean while revive;
Abandon fear; to ftrength and counsel join'd
Think nothing hard, much lefs to be defpair'd.
He ended; and his words their drooping cheer

Inlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd.
Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he
To be th' inventor mifs'd; fo eafy' it seem'd
Once found, which yet unfound, most would have
Impoflible yet haply of thy race [thought

In future days, if malice fhould abound,
Some one intent on mischief, or infpir'd
With devilish machination, might devise
Like inftrument to plague the sons of men
For fin, on war and mutual flaughter bent.
Forthwith from council to the work they flew;
None arguing ftood: innumerable hands
Were ready; in a moment up they turn'd
Wide the celeftial foil, and faw beneath
Th' originals of Nature, in their crude
Conceptions; fulphurous and nitrous foam
They found, they mingled; and, with fubtile art,
Concocted and adufted, they reduc'd

The blackeft grain, and inte ftore convey'd :
Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth
Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,
Whereof to found their engines and their balls
Of miffive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
So all e'er day-fpring, under conscious Night,
Secret they finifh'd, and in order fet,
With filent circumfpection, unefpy'd.

Now, when fair morn orient in Heav'n appear'd,
Up rofe the victor Angels, and to arms
The matin trumpet fung: in arms they stood
Of golden panoply, refulgent hoft,

Soon banded; others from the dawning hills Look'd round, and scouts each coaft light-armed

Whom fled we thought, will fave us long pursuit
This day; fear not his flight; fo thick a cloud
He comes, and fettled in his face I fee
Sad refolution, and fecure : let each
His adamantine coat girt well, and each
Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield,
Borne ev'n or high; for this day will pour down,
If I conjecture ought, no drizzling shower,
But rattling ftorm of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and foon
In order, quit of all impediment;

Inftant, without difturb, they took alarm,
And onward mov'd embattel'd; when, behold
Not diftant far, with heavy pace, the foe
Approaching grofs and huge, in hollow cube,
Training his devilish engin'ry, impal'd
On every fide with fhadowing fquadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both ftood
A while; but fuddenly at head appear'd
Satan; and thus was heard commanding loud:
Vanguard, to right and left, the front unfold;
That all may fee who hate us, how we feck

Two days, as we compute the days of Heav'n, Since Michael and his powers went forth to

tame

These disobedient: fore had been their fight,
As likelieft was, when two fuch foes met arm'd;
For to themselves I left them, and thou know'st,
Equal in their creation they were form'd,
Save what fin hath impair'd, which yet hath
wrought

Infenfibly; for I fufpend their doom;
Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last
Endless, and no folution will be found:
War wearied hath perform'd what War can do,
And to disorder'd rage let loose the reins,
With mountains, as with weapons arm'd, which

makes

Wild work in Heav'n, and dang'rous to the main.
Two days are therefore paft; the third is thine;
For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus far
Have fuffer'd, that the glory may be thine
Of ending this great war, fince none but thou
Can end it. Into thee fuch virtue and grace
Immenfe I have transfus'd, that all may know
In Heav'n and Hell thy power above compare;
And this perverfe commotion govern'd thus,
To manifeft thee worthieft to be Heir
Of all things, to be Heir and to be King
By facred unction, thy deserved right.
Go then, thou Mighteft, in thy Father's might,
Afcend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels
That shake Heav'n's bafis, bring forth all my war,
My bow and thunder, my Almighty arms
Gird on, and fword, upon thy puissant thigh;
Pursue these fons of Darkness, drive them out
From all Heav'n's bounds into the utter deep:
There let them learn, as likes them, to despise
God, and Meffiah, his anointed King.

He faid; and on his Son with rays direct
Shone full; he all his Father full exprefs'd
Ineffably into his face receiv'd;

And thus the filial Godhead anfw'ring spake:

O Father, O Supreme of heav'nly thrones First, Highest, Holieft, Beft, thou always feek'st To glorify thy fon, I always thee,

As is molt juft; this I my glory' account,
My exaltation, and my whole delight,
That thou in me well pleas'd, declar'ft thy will
Fulfilled, which to fulfill is all my blifs.
Sceptre and power, thy giving, I affume,
And gladlier shall refign, when, in the end,
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee
For ever, and in me all whom thou lov'st :
But whom thou hat'st, I hate and can put on
Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,
Image of thec in all things; and shall foon,
Arm'd with thy might, rid Heav'n of these re-

bell'd,

To their prepar'd ill manfion driven down,
To chains of darkness, and th' undying worm,
That from thy just obedience could revolt,
Whom to obey is happiness entire.
Then fhall thy faints unmix'd, and from th' im-
Far feparate, circling thy holy Mount
Unfeign'd halleluiah's to thee fing,

[pure

Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.

So faid, he o'er his fceptre bowing, rose From the right hand of Glory where he fat; And the third facred morn began to shine, Dawning through Heav'n: forth rufh'd with whirlwind found

The chariot of paternal Deity,

eyes the [wheels

[drawn,
Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel un-
Itself inftinct with fpirit, but convey'd
By four cherubic fhapes; four faces each
Had wond'rous; as with ftars their bodies all
And wings were fet with eyes, with
Of beril, and careering fires between;
Over their heads a cryftal firmament,
Whereon a faphire throne, inlaid with pure
Amber, and colours of the fhow'ry arch.
He in celeftial panoply all arm'd
Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,
Afcended; at his right hand Victory
Sat eagle-wing'd; befide him hung his bow
And quiver, with three-bolted thunder ftor'd,
And from about him fierce effufion roll'd
Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire:
Attended with ten thousand thousand faints,
He onward came, far off his coming fhone;
And twenty thoufand (I their number heard)
Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen :
He on the wings of Cherub rode fublime
On the cryftalline fky, in faphire thron'd,
Illuftrious far and wide, but by his own
First feen; them unexpected joy furpris'd,
When the great engine of Meffiah blaz'd
Aloft by angels borne, his fign in Heav'n;
Under whofe conduct Michael foon reduc'd
His army, circumfus'd on either wing,
Under their head imbodied all in one.
Before him Power divine his way prepar'd;
At his command th' uprooted hills retir'd
Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went
Obfequious; Heav'n his wonted face renew'd,
And with fresh flow'rets hill and valley fmil'd.
This faw his hapless foes, but ftood obdur'd,
And to rebellious fight rallied their powers
Infenfate, hope conceiving from defpair.
In heav'nly fp'rits could fuch perverseness dwell?
But to convince the proud what figns avail,
Or wonders move th' obdurate to relent,
They harden'd more by what might most reclaim,
Grieving to fee his glory, at the fight
Took envy; and afpiring to his height,
Stood reimbattl'd fierce, by force or fraud
Weening to profper, and at length prevail
Againft God and Meffiah, or to fall
In univerfal ruin laft; and now

To final battle drew, difdaining flight,
Or faint retreat: when the great Son of God
To all his hoft on either hand thus fpake :

Stand ftill in bright array, ye Saints, here stand
Ye angels arm'd, this day from battle rest;
Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God
Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause;
And as ye have received, fo have ye done
Invincibly; but of this curfed crew
The punishment to other hand belongs;
Vengeance is his, or whofe he fole appoints;
Number to this day's work is not ordain'd

Nor multitude; stand only and behold
God's indignation on these godlefs pour'd
By me; not you but me they have defpis'd,
Yet envied; against me is all their rage,
Because the Father, to' whom in Heav'n fupreme
Kingdom and power, and glory appertains,
Hath honour'd me according to his will.
Therefore to me their doom he hath affign'd;
That they may have their wish, to try with me
In battle which the ftronger proves, they all,
Or I alone against them, fince by strength
They measure all, of other excellence
Not emulous, nor care who them excells;
Nor other ftrife with them do I vouchsafe.

So fpake the Son, and into terror chang'd
His count'nance too fevere to be beheld,
And full of wrath bent on his enemies.
At once the Four spread out their ftarry wings
With dreadful fhape contiguous, and the orbs
Of his fierce chariot roll'd, as with the found
Of torrent floods, or of a numerous hoft.
He on his impious foes right onward drove,
Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels
The stedfaft empyrean fhook throughout,
All but the throne itself of God. Full foon
Among them he arriv'd, in his right hand
Grafping ten thousand thunders, which he fent
Before him, fuch as in their fouls infix'd
Plagues; they aftonished all refiftance loft,
All courage; down their idol weapons dropt;
O'er fhields and helms and helmed heads he rode,
Of thrones and mighty feruphim proftrate,
'That wish'd the mountains now might be again
'Thrown on them as a fhelter from his ire.
Nor lefs on either fide tempeftuous fell
His arrows from the four-fold vifag'd Four
Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels
Diftinet alike with multitude of eyes;
One spirit in them rul'd, and every eye
Glar'd light'ning, and fhot forth pernicious fire
Among th' accurs'd, that wither'd all their ftrength
And of their wonted vigour left them drain'd,
Exhaufted, fpiritlefs, afflicted, fall'n.

Yet half his ftrength he put not forth, but check'd
His thunder in mid volly; for he meant
Not to deftroy, but root them out of Heav'n :
'The overthrown he rais'd, and as a herd
Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd,
Drove them before him thunder-ftruck, purfued
With terrors and with furies to the bounds
And chryftal wall of Heav'n, which opening wide,
Roll'd inward, and a fpacious gap difclos'd
Into the wasteful De‹p; the monstrous fight

Struck them with horror backward, but far worse Urg'd them behind; headlong themselves they threw

Down from the verge of Heav'n; eternal Wrath Burnt after them to the bottomlefs pit.

Hell heard th' unfufferable noife; Hell faw
Heav'n ruining from Heav'n, and would have fled
Affrighted; but ftrict Fate had caft too deep
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.
Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roar'd,
And felt tenfold confufion in their fall
Through his wild anarchy, fo huge a rout
Incumber'd him with ruin: Hell at last
Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd;
Hell their fit habitation, fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.
Difburden'd Heav'n rejoic'd, and foon repair'd
Her mural breach, returning whence it roll'd.
Sole victor from th' expulfion of his foes
Meffiah his triumphal chariot turn'd;
To meet him all his faints, who filent ftood
Eye witnesses of his almighty acts,
With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went,
Shaded with branching palm, each order bright,
Sung triumph, and him fung victorious King,
Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given,
Worthieft to reign: he celebrated rode
Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the courts
And temple of his mighty Father thron'd
On high; who into glory him receiv'd,
Where now he fits at the right hand of Blifs.
Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on
earth

At thy request, and that thou mayft beware
By what is paft, to thee I have reveal'd
What might have clfe to human race been hid;
The difcord which befel, and war in Heav'n
Among th' angelic powers, and the deep fall
Of thofe too high afpiring, who rebell'd
With Satan; he who envies now thy ftate,
Who now is plotting how he may feduce
Thee alfo from obedience, that with him
Bereav'd of happiness thou mayft partake
His punishment, eternal mifery
Which would be all his folace and revenge,
As a despite done against the Most High,
Thee once to gain companion of his woe.
But liften not to his temptations; warn
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to' have heard
By terrible example the reward

Of difobedience; firm they might have stood,
Yet fell; remember, and fear to tranfgrefs.