197 841 850 Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, But more illustrious made; since he, the head, One of our number thus reduced becomes; His laws our laws; all honour to him done Returns our own. Cease, then, this impious rage, And tempt not these; but hasten to appease The incensed Father and the incensèd Son While pardon may be found, in time besought.' "So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal None seconded, as out of season judged, Or singular and rash. Whereat rejoiced The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied: :"That we were formed, then, say'st thou? and the Of secondary hands, by task transferred From Father to his Son? Strange point and new ! [work Doctrine which we would know whence learned! Who 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.' [saw 860 870 “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, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; 88c 890 900 To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained Superior, nor of violence feared aught; And with retorted scorn his back he turned On those proud towers, to swift destruction doomed." THE END OF THE FIFTH BOOK. PARADISE LOST. BOOK VI. THE ARGUMENT. 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, Through Heaven's wide champaign held his Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round Grateful vicissitude, like day and night ; 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 20 Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms, Universal reproach, far worse to bear To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds -: 30 40 Rebellious. Them with fire and hostile arms "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 At which command the Powers Militant That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined In silence their bright legions to the sound Of instrumental harmony, that breathed 50 60 Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 70 Came summoned over Eden to receive 80 Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, The banded Powers of Satan hasting on |