Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground
Their march was, and the paffive air upbore
Their nimble tread; as when the total kind
Of birds, in orderly array on wing,
Came furr mon'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

75

might

120

There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove
Where boldeft, though to fight unconquerable?
His puiffance, truiting 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 difputes alike
Victor; though brutish that contéft and foul,
When reafon hath to deal with force, yet fo 125
Moft reafon is that reafon overcome.

So pondering, and from his armed peers
Forth fiepping oppofit, half way he met
His daring for, at this prevention more
Incens'd, and thus fecurely him defy'd.

130

Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reach'd

The highth of thy afpiring unoppos'd,
The throne of God unguarded, and his fide
Abandon'd at the terror of thy power

140

85

Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last
Far in th' horizon to the north appear'd
From skirt to fkirt a fiery region, stretch'd
In battailous afpéct, and nearer view
Bristled with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and fhields
Various, with boaitful argument portray'd,
'The banded Pow'rs of Satan hafting on
With furious expedition; for they ween'd
That felf-fame day by fight, or by surprise,
To win the mount of God, and on his throne
To fet the envier of his itate, the proud
Afpirer, but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain
In the mid way: though ftrange to us it feem'd
At first, that Angel fhould with Angel war,
And in fierce hofting meet, who wont to meet
So oft in festivals of joy and love

Unanimous, as fons of one great fire

Hymning th' eternal Father: but the fhout
Of batte now began, and rushing found
Of onfet ended foon each milder thought.
High in the midft exalted as a God
Th' Apoftate in his fun-bright chariot fat,
Idol of majesty divine, inclos'd

89

95

With flaming Cherubim and golden fhields; Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now 'Twixt hoft and host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval, and front to front Prefented flood in terrible array

105

Of hideous length: before the cloudy van,
On the rough edge of battel ere it join'd,
Satan with yaft and haughty ftrides advanc'd
Came towring, arm'd in adamant and gold; 110
Abdiel that fight endur'd not, where he flood

err.

145

Whom the grand foe with fcornful eye afkance Thus anfwer'd. Ill for thee, but in wifh'd hour Of my revenge, first fought for, thou return'ît 151 From flight, feditious Angel, to receive Thy merited reward, the firft afsay

155

Of this right hand provok'd, fince first that tongue
Infpir'd with contradiction durft oppofe
A third part of the Gods, in fynod niet

Their deities to affert, who while they feel
Vigor divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But well thou com'f
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
160
From me fonic plume, that thy fuccefs may show
Destruction to the reft: this paufe between
(Unanswer'd left thou boast) to let thee know;
At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven
To heav'nly fouls had been all one; but now 165
I fee that most through floth had rather serve,
Miniftring Spirits, train'd up in feast and song';
Such haft thou arm'd, the minstrelly of Heaven,
Servility with freedom to contend,
As both their deeds compar'd this day shall prove.
To whom in brief thus Abdiel ftern reply'd.
Apoftate, ftill thou err'ft, nor end wilt find

169

175

Oferring, from the path of truth remote :
Unjustly thou deprav'ft it with the name
Of fervitude to ferve whom God ordains,
Or Nature: God and Nature bid the fame,
When he who rules is worthieft, and excels
Them whom he governs. This is fervitude,
To ferve th' unwife, or him who hath rebell'd
Againft his worthier, as thine now ferve thee, 180
Thyfelf not free, but to thyfelf inthrall'd;
Yet lewdly dar'ft our miniftring upbraid.

ht be Reign thou in Hell thy kingdom; let me ferve
In Heav'n God ever bleft, and his divine
Behefts obey, worthieft to be obey'd;

185

Yet chains in Hell, not realms expect: mean while
From me return'd, as erft thou faidft, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious crest receive.
So faying, a noble ftroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but fo fwift with tempeft fell
On the proud creft of Satan, that no fight,
Nor motion of fwift thought, lefs could his fhield
Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge

191

195

He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee
His mafly spear upstay'd; as if on carth
Winds under ground, or waters forcing way
Sidelong had pufh'd a mountain from his feat
Half funk with all his pines. Amazement seiz'd
The rebel Thrones, but greater rage to fee
Thus foil'd their mightieft; ours joy fill'd, and
shout,

Prefage of victory, and fierce defire

Of battel: whereat Michäel bid found

200

Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of

Heaven

210

215

It founded, and the faithful armies rung Hofannah to the High'ft: nor ftood at gaze 205 The adverfe legions, nor lefs hideous join'd The horrid fhock: now ftorming fury rose, And clamor fuch as heard in Heav'n till now Was never; arms on armour clafhing bray'd Horrible difcord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise Of conflict; over head the difmal hifs Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, And flying vaulted either hoft with fire. So under fiery cope together rufh'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 220 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 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 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 ftand, or turn the fway Of battel, open when, and when to close

225

230

235

Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on earth confpicuous, that may lift Human imagination to fuch highth

300

306

Of Godlike pow'r? for likeit Gods they feem'd,
Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms,
Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.
Now wav'd their fiery fwords, and in the air
Made horrid circles; two broad fons their fhields
Elaz'd oppofit, while expectation flood
In horror; from each hand with fpced retir'd,
Where erft was thickett fight, th' angelic throng,
And left large field, unfafe within the wind
Of fuch commotion; fuch as, to fet forth
Great things by fmall, if nature's concord broke,
Among the confteilations war were sprung,
Two planets ruthing from afpéct malign
Of fierceft oppofition in mid fky

310

Should combat, and their jarring fpheres confound,
Together both with next to' almighty arm 316
Up-lifted imminent, one ftroke they aim'd
That might determin, and not need repeat,
As not of pow'r at once; nor edds appear'd

In might or fwift prevention: but the fword 320
Of Michael from the armoury of God
Was given him temper'd fo, that neither keen
Nor folid might refift that edge: it met
The fword of Satan with fteep force to fmite
Defcending, and in half cut facer; nor stay'd, 325
But with fwift wheel reverfe, deep entring fhar'd
All his right fide: then Satan first knew pain,
And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; fo fore
The griding fwerd with difcontinuous wound
Pais'd through him: but th' ethereal fubftance
clos'd,

Not long divifible; and from the gafh

330

335

A ftream of necta'rous humor fluing flow'd
Sanguin, fuch as celeftial Spirits may bleed,
And all his armour stain'd ere while fo bright.
Forthwith on all fides to his aid was run
By Angels many and strong, who interpos'd
Defente, while others bore him on their fhields
Back to his chariot, where it stood retir'd
From off the files of war; there they him laid
Gnafhing for anguifh and defpite and fhame, 540
To find himself not matchlefs, and his pride
Humbled by fuch rebuke, fo far beneath
His confidence to equal God in power.

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

The atheift crew, but with redoubled blow 3703
Ariel and Arioch, and the violence

Of Ramiel fcorch'd and blasted overthrew.
I might relate of thenfands, and their names
Eternize here on earth; but thofe elect
Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, 375
Seek not the praise of men: the other fort,
In might though wondrous and in acts of war,
Nor of renown lefs eager, yet by doom
Cancel'd from Heav'n and facred memory,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.
For ftrength from truth divided and from juft,
Illaudable, nought merits but difpraise
And ignominy, yet to glory' afpires
Vain-glorious, and through infamy feeks fame:
Therefore eternal filence be their doom.

385

And now their mightieft quell'd, the battel

fwerv'd,

395

With many an inroad gor'd; deformed rout
Enter'd, and foul diforder; all the ground
With fhiver'd armour ftrown, and on a heap
Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd, 390
And fiery foaming fteeds; what stood, recoil'd
O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanic hoft
Defenfive fearce, or with pale fear furpriz'd,
Then firft with fear furpriz'd and fenfe of pain,
Fled ignominious, to fuch evil brougl
By fin of disobedience, till that hour
Not liable to fear or flight or pain.
Far otherwife the inviolable Saints
In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire,
Invulnerable, impenetrably atm'd;
Such high advantages their innocence
Gave them above their foes; not to have fina'd,
Not to have difobey'd; in fight they stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pair'd

out

Vital in every part, not as frail man

In cntrails, heart or head, liver or reins, Cannot but by annihilating die;

345

Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
Receive, no more than can the fluid air!
All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, 350
All int, all fenfe; and as they pleafe,
They Lmb themselves, and color, the pe or fize
Affeme, as likes them beft, condenfe on rare.

Mean while in other parts like deeds deferv'd
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
And with fierce enfiguiere'd the deep array 356
Of Moloch furious king; who him defy'd,
And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound
Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of Heaven
Refrin'd his tongue blafphémous; but anen 350

mev'd.

482

Now night her courfe began, and over Heaven Inducing darknefs, grateful truce impos'd, And fence on the odious din of war: Under her cloudy covert both retir'd, Victor and vanquish'd: on the foughten field 410 Michael and his Angels prevalent Incamping, plac'd in guard their watches round, Cherubic waving fires: on th' other part Satan with his rebellious difappear'd, Far in the dark diandg'd: and void of reft, His potentats to council call'd by night; And in the midft thus undifmay'd began.

O now in danger try'd, now known in arras Not to Le overpow'r'd, Companions dear, Found worthy not of liberty alone, Too mean pretence, but what we more affect,

415

429