And flying, vaulted either hoft with fire. So under fiery Cope together rush'd Both Battels imain, with ruinous affault And inextinguishable rage: all Heav'n Resounded; and had earth been then, all earth Had to her centre shook. What wonder? when Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought On either fide, the least of whom could wield These elements, and arm him with the force Of all their regions: how much more of pow'r Army against army, numberless, to raise Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, Though not destroy, their happy native feat! Had not th' Eternal King omnipotent, From his strong hold of Heav'n, high over-rul'd And limited their might: though number'd fuch, As each divided legion might have feem'd A numerous host; in strength, each armed hand, A legion; led in fight, yet leader seem'd Each warrior; fingle, as in chief, expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of battle, open when, and when to clofe The ridges of grim war: no thought of flight, None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That argu'd fear: each on himself rely'd,
As enly in his arm the moment lay
Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame
Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread That war, and various: fometimes on firm ground A ftanding fight; then, foaring on main wing, Tormented all the air; all air feem'd then
Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale The battle hung; till SATAN, (who that day Prodigious pow'r had thewn, and met in arms No equal) ranging through the dire attack Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length
Saw where the sword of MICHAEL smote, & fell'd
Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway 25
Brandish'd aloft, the horrid edge came down Wide-wafting! such destruction to withstand He hafted, and oppos'd the rocky orb Of ten-fold adamant, his ample shield, A vast circumference! At his approach The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil Surceas'd; and glad, as hoping here to end Intestine war in Heav'n, th'arch-foe fubdu'd, Or captive drag'd in chains, with hostile frown, 260
And visage all inflam'd, first thus began.
Author of evil! unknown till thy revolt, Unnam'd in Heav'n, now plenteous, (as thou feeft) These acts of hateful ftrife; hateful to all, Though heaviest (by just measure) on thy felf, 265 And thy adherents: how haft thou disturb'd Heav'n's bleffed peace, and into nature brought Mifery, uncreated till the crime
Of thy rebellion! how haft thou inftill'd
Thy malice into thousands, once upright And faithful, now prov'd false! But think not here To trouble holy reft; Heav'n cafts thee out From all her confines: Heav'n, the feat of bliss,
Brooks not the works of violence and war.
Hence then! and Evil go with thee along, Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils; E're this avenging fword begin thy doom', Or fome more fudden vengeance, wing'd from God, Precipitate thee with augmented pain.
So fpake the Prince of Angels: to whom thus The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind Of aery threats to awe, whom yet with deeds Thou canst not. Hast thou turn'd the least of these To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise Unvanquish'd, easier to transact with me,
That thou shouldst hope, imperious! and with threats
To chase me hence? Err not that so shall end The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style The ftrife of glory; which we mean to win Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force (And join him nam'd ALMIGHTY to thy aid,) I fly not; but have fought thee far and nigh.
They ended parle, and both addrest for fight Unspeakable: for who, though with the tongue Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on earth confpicuous, that may lift Human imagination to fuch height Of Godlike pow'r? For likest Gods they seem'd, Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms, Fit to decide the empire of great Heav'n. Now wav'd their fiery swords, and in the air Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields 305 Blaz'd oppofite, while expectation stood In horror: from each hand with speed retir'd, Where erst was thickest fight, th'angelic throng; And left large field, unsafe within the wind Of such commotion: such as (to set forth Great things by finall) if Nature's concord broke, Among the constellations war were sprung,
Two planets rushing from aspect malign
Of fierceft opposition, in mid-sky,
Should combat, and their jarring sphears confound.
Together both, with next t'almighty arm Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aim'd That might determine, and not need repeat, (As not of pow'r, at once) nor odds appear'd In might or swift prevention: but the sword OF MICHAEL from the armory of GOD Was giv'n him temper'd so, that neither keen Nor folid might refift that edge: it met The sword of SATAN, with steep force to smite Defcending
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