LL night the dreadlefs Angel, un-purfu'd,. Thro' heav'n's wide champain held his way ;; till Morn,
Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rofy.
Un-barr'd the gates of light. There is a
"Within the mount of GoD, faft by His throne,
Where light and darkness, in perpetual round
Lodge, and diflodge, by turns ; which makes thro' heav'n
Grateful viciffitude, like day and night:
Light iffues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veil the heav'n, (tho' darkness there might well
Seem twilight here) and now went forth the Morn,,
Such as in higheft heav'n, array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanish'd night,
Shot thro' with orient beams: when all the plain
Cover'd with thick imbattled fquadrons bright,
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view.
War he perceiv'd, war in procinct; and found
Already known, what he for News had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mix'd
Among those friendly Pow'rs, who him receiv'd
With joy, and acclamations loud, that One,
That of fo many myriads fall'n, yet One
Return'd not loft. On to the facred hill
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the feat fupreme; from whence a voice
From midít a golden cloud, thus mild was heard.
Servant of GOD, well done! well haft thou fought
The better fight, who fingle haft maintain'd
Against revolted multitudes the cause
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms:
And for the teftimony of truth haft born
Univerfal reproach; far worfe to bear
Than violence; for this was all thy care,
To ftand approv'd in fight of God, tho' worlds
Judg'd thee perverfe. The easier conqueft now
Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return,
Than fcorn'd thou didst depart; and to fubdue
By force, who reason for their law refuse,
Right reafon for their law; and for their King
MESSIAH, who by right of merit reigns.
Go, MICHAEL! of cœleftial armies Prince;
And thou, in military prowess next,
GABRIEL! lead forth to battel these my. fons
Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints,
By thousands, and by millions, rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that Godless crew,
Rebellious: them with fire, and hostile arms,
Fearless affault; and to the brow of heav'n
Pursuing, drive them out from God, and bliss,.
Into their place of punishment, the gulph
OF TARTARUS; which ready opens wide
His fiery chaos to receive their fall
So fpake the Sovereign Voice, and clouds began
To darken all the hill, and fmoke to rowl
In dufky wreaths, 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 ftood for heav'n (in mighty quadrate join'd
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 MESSIAH. 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 tract
Of heav'n they march'd, and many a province wide,
Tenfold the length of this terrene.
Far in th' horizon to the north appear'd
From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd
In battalious afpect, and nearer view
Briftled with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and shields
Various, with boaftful argument pourtray'd,
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. Though frange to us it seem'd
At first, that Ángel fhould with Angel war,
And in fierce hofting meet; who wont to meet
So oft in feftivals of joy, and love
Unanimous as fons of one Great Sire,
Hymning th' Eternal FATHER; but the shout
Of battel now began, and rufhing found
Of on-fet ended foon each milder thought.
High in the midst, exalted as a God,
Th apoftate in his fun-bright chariot fat,
Idol of majesty divine! inclos'd
With flaming Cherubim, and golden fhields :
Then, lighted from his gorgeous throne, (for now
'Twixt hoft and hoft but narrow space was left,
A dreadful interval! and front to front
Prefented stood in terrible array
Of hideous length) before the cloudy van,
On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd,
SATAN with vaft and haughty strides 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: wherefore should not strength and might There fail, where virtue fails; or weakest prove Where boldeft? Though to fight unconquerable, His puiffance (trufting in th' Almighty's aid !) I mean to try; whose reason I have try'd, Unfound, and falfe: nor is it ought but juft, That he who in debate of truth hath won, Should win in arms; in both disputes alike Victor: though brutish that conteft, and foul, When reafon hath to deal with Force; yet fo Moft reafon is that reafon overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed peers Forth-ftepping oppofite, 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-oppofed,
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 th' Omnipotent to rife in arms :
Who out of fmalleft 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
Ssem'd in thy World erroneous to diffent
From all my Sect thou seest; now learn too late
How few fometimes may know, when thousands err.
Whom the grand foe, with fcornful eye afkance,
Thus anfwer'd. If for thee, but in wish'd hour
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