The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the raft of Heaven
It founded, and the faithft armies rung
Hofannab to the High ft: nor food at gaze
The adverft legions, nor lefs hideous join'd
The horrid fhock: now ftorming fury rofe,
And clamor fuch as heard in Heav'n till now
Was never; arms on armour clashing bray'd
Horrible difcord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noife
Of conflict; over head the difmal hifs
Of fiery darts in flaming volies flew,
And flying vaulted either hof with fire.
So under fiery cope together ruth`d
Both battels main, with ruinous affault
And inextinguishable rage; all Heaven
Refounded, and had Earth been then, all Earth
Had to her center fhook. What wonder? when
Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought
On either fide, the leaft of whom could wield
Thefe elements, and arm him with the force
Of all their regions: how much more of power
Army' against army numberless to raise
Dreadful combuftion warring, and disturb,
Though not deftroy, their happy native feat;
Had not th' eternal King omnipotent
From his ftrong hold of Heav'n high over-rul'd
And limited their might; though number'd such
As each divided legion might have feem'd
A numerous hoft, in ftrength each armed hand
A legion, led in fight yet leader feem'd
Each warrior fingle as in chief, expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
Of battel, open when, and when to close
The ridges of grim war: no thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That argued fear; each on himself rely'd,
As only 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 standing fight, then foaring on main wing
Tormented all the air; all air feem'd then
Conflicting fire: long time in even scale
The battel hung; till Satan, who that day
Prodigious pow'r had shown, and met in arms
No equal, ranging through the dire attack
Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length
Saw where the fword of Michael fmote, and fell'd 250
Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway
Brandifh'd aloft the horrid edge came down
Wide wafting; such destruction to withstand
He hafted, and oppos'd the rocky orb
Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,
A vaft circumference: At his approach
The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil
Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end
Inteftin war in Heav'n, th' arch-foc fubdu'd
Or captive dragg'd in chains, with hostile frown 266
And visage all inflam'd first thus began.
Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,
Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels. The firft fight defcrib'd: Satan and his Powers retire under night: He calls a council, invents devilifh engins, which in the fecond day's fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder: but they at length pulling up mountains overwhelm'd both the force and machines of Satan: Yet the tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends MESSIAH his Son, for whom he had referv'd the glory of that victory: He in the power of his Father coming to the place, and causing all his legions to ftand ftill on either fide, with his 'chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, purfues them unable to refift towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the deep: MESSIAH returns with triumph to his Father.
L. L night the dreadless Angel unpursued Through Heav'n's wide champain held his Wak'd by the circling hours, with rofy hand Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, faft by his throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes through 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, though darkness there might well Seem twilight here: and now went forth the morn Such as in highest Heav'n, array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanish'd night,
Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain 15
Cover'd with thick imbattel'd 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 thofe 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 prefent
Before the feat fupreme; from whence a voice
From midft a golden cloud thus mild was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well hast 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 borne
Univerfal reproach, far worfe to bear
Than violence; for this was all thy care,
To stand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds
Judg'd thee perverfe: the eafier conquest 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 reason for their law, and for their king
Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns.
Go Michael of celeftial 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 hoftile arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of Heaven
Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss
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