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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

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That argu'd fear: each on himself rely'd,

As enly in his arm the moment lay

Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame

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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

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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

Brandifh'd

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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

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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,

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Brooks not the works of violence and war.

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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.

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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,

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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.

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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,

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Should combat, and their jarring sphears confound.

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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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