So fpake the Sovereign Voice, and clouds began
To darken all the hill, and smoke to rowl
Ind dusky wreathes reluctant flames; the fign
Of wrath awak'd! Nor with lefs dread the loud
Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow:
At which command, the Powers militant
That stood for heav'n, (in mighty quadrate jɔin’¿
Of union irresistible ) mov❜d on
In filence their bright legions, to the found
Of inftrumental harmony, that breath'd
Heroic ardor to advent'rous deeds,
Under their God-like Leaders, in the cause
Of God, and His Meffiah. On they move
Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftrait'ning vale, nor wood, nor ftream 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 tra
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, ftretch'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, hafting on
With furious expedition: for they ween'd
That felf-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
Afpirer: but their thoughts prov'd fond, and vain,
In the mid-way. Through strange to us it seem'd
At first, that Angel should with Angel war,
And in fierce hofting meet; who wont to meet
So oft in festivals of joy, and love
Unanimous, as fons of one Great Sire,
Hymning th' Eternal Father: but, the shout
Of battel now began, and rushing found
Of on-fet, ended foon each milder thought.
High in the midft, exalted as a God,
Th' apoftate in his fun-bright chariot fat,
Idol of majefty divine! inclos'd
With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields:
Then, lighted from his gorgeous throne, (for now
'Twixt host and hoft but narrow space was left,
A dreadful interval! and, front to front
Prefented, food in terrible array,
Of hideous length) before the cloudy van,.
On the rough edge of battel e'er it join'd,
Satan, with vaft and haughty ftrides advanc'd,
Came tow'ring, arm'd in adamant, and gold:
Abdiel that fight indur'd not, where he stood
Among the mightieft, bent on highest deeds;
And thus his own undaunted heart explores.
O heav'n! that fuch resemblance of the Highest Should yet remain; where faith, and realty,
Remain not: where fore should not strength, and
There fail, where virtue fails ; or weakest prove,
Where boldeft? Though to fight unconquerable,
His puiffance (trafting in th' Almighty's aid! )^-
I mean to try; whose reason I have try'd,
Unfound, and falfe: nor is it ought but just,
That he who in debate of truth hath won,
Should win in arms; in both disputes alike
Viator: though brutish that conteft, and foul,
When reafon hath to deal with force : yet so
Most reafon is that reafon overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed Peers
Forth-stepping opposite, half way he met
His daring foe, at this prevention more
Incens'd, and thus fecurely him defy'd.
Proud, art thou met ? thy hope was to have
reach'd
The height of thy afpiring un oppos'd,
The throne of God unguarded, and his fide
Abandon'd, at the terror of thy pow'r,
Or potent tongue : fool! not to think how vain
Against the Omnipotent to rife in arms :
Who out of smallest things, could, without end,
Have rais'd inceffant armies, to defeat
Thy folly; or with folitary hand,
Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow,
Un-aided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd
Thy legions under darkness: but, thou seest
All are not of thy train; there be, who faith
Prefer, and piety to God; though then
To thee not vifible, when I alone
Seem'd in thy world erroneous to dissent
From all my Sect thou feeft; now learn too late
How few fometimes may know, when thousands
Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance. Thus anfwer'd. Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour Of my revenge, firft fought for, thou return'ft From flight, feditious Angel! to receive Thy merited reward, the first affay
Of this right hand provok'd, fince first that tongue
Infpir'd with contradiction, durft oppose
A third part of the Gods, in fynod met
Their Deities t'affert : who, while they feel
Vigor divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But, well thou com'ft
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
From me fome plume; that thy fuccefs may show
Deftrnction to the reft: this pause between,
(Un anfwer'd left thou boast) to let thee know
At first I thought that liberty, and heav'n,
To heav'nly fouls had been all one; but now.
I fee that most through floth had rather ferve,
Miniftring Spirits, train'd up in feaft, and fong!
Such haft thou arm'd, the minstrelly of heav'n,
Servility with freedom to contend,
As both their decds compar'd this day shall prove
To whom in brief thus Abdiel ftern reply'd.
Apoftate ftill thou err'ft, nor end wilt find
i
Of erring, from the path of truth remote :
Unjustly thou deprav'ft it with the name
Of Servitude, to ferve whom God ordains,
Or Nature; God, and Nature, bid the same
When he who rules is worthiest, and excels
Them whom he governs. This is fervitude,
To ferve th' unwise, or him who hath rebell'a
'Against his worthier, as Thine now ferve Thee,
Thy felf not free, but to thy felf inthrall'd;
Yet leudly dar'ft our miniftring upbraid.
Reign thou in hell, thy kingdom; let me ferve
In heav'n God ever bleft, and his, divine
Behefts obey, worthieft to be obey'd!
Yet chains in hell, not realms, expect : mean-while
From me return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious creft receive.
So faying, a noble ftroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but fo fwift with tempeft fell
On the proud creft of Satan, that no fight,
Nor motion of swift thought, lefs could his shield,
Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge
He back recoil'd; the tenth, on bended knee,
His maffy fpear up-ftaid: as if on earth
Winds under ground, or waters, forcing way,
Side-long had push'd a mountain from his seat,
Half-funk with all his pines. Amazement feiz'd
The rebel thrones, but greater rage to fee
Thus foil'd their Mightieft: ours joy fill'd, and shout,
Prefage of victory, and fierce defire
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