Impendent raging into sudden flame 895 900 So spake the seraph Abdiel faithful found, Among the faithless faithful only he: Among innumerable false unmov'd, Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrify'd, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; Nor number, nor example with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd, Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught; And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd 905 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 unpursu'd [morn, Through heaven's wide champain held his way, till Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy hand Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of GOD, fast by his throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through heav'n 7 Lodge] This thought borrowed from Hesiod. Theog. 748. Newton. 5 Grateful vicissitude, like day and night: 10 To veil the heaven, though darkness there might well 16 20 Shot through with orient beams: when all the plain Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; 10 Obsequious] opacous. Bentl. MS. 14 vanish'd] Some editions absurdly read 'vanquish'd.' Newton. 25 30 335 35 To stand approv'd in sight of GOD, though worlds Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide So spake the sovereign voice, and clouds began In dusky wreaths reluctant flames, the sign Of wrath awak'd: nor with less dread the loud 60 Ethereal] Archangel. Bentl. MS. 40 45 50 55 60 In silence their bright legions, to the sound Under their godlike leaders, in the cause 65 Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 70 Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground Their march was, and the passive air upbore Their nimble tread; as when the total kind Came summon'd over Eden to receive 75 Their names of thee: so over many a tract At last Far in th' horizon to the north appear'd 80 85 Aspirer; but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain 90 In the mid way. Though strange to us it seem'd 82 Bristled] Virg. Æn. xi. 601. Tum late ferreus hastis horret ager.' Newton. |