That we were form'd then, fay'st thou? and the work
800 Of fecondary hands, by talk transferr'd
Law and edict on us, who without law Err not? much lefs for this to be our Lord, And look for adoration to th' abufe Of thofe imperial titles, which affert Our being ordain'd to govern, not to ferve. Thus far his bold difcourfe without controll Had audience, when among the Scraphin Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd The Deity', and divine commands obey'd, Stood up, and in a flame of zeal fevere The current of his fury thus oppos'd.
O argument blafphémous, falfe and proud! Words which no ear ever to hear in Heav'n 810 Expected, leaft of all from thee, Ingrate, In place thyfelf fo high above thy peers.
Canft thou with impious obloquy condemn
The just decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn, That to his only Son by right indued With regal fcepter, every foul in Heaven Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due Confefs him rightful king? Unjuft, thou fay'ft, Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, And equal over equals to let reign, One over all with unfucceeded power. Shalt thou give law to God, fhalt thou difpute With him the points of liberty, who made 'Thee what thou art, and form'd the Pow'rs of Heaven
From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new! Doctrin which we would know whence learn'd: who faw
When this creation was? remember'st thou Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? We know no time when we were not as now; Know none before us, felf-begot, felf-rais'd 860 By our own quick'ning pow'r, when fatal courie Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, ethereal fons. Our puiffance is our own; our own right hand Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 855 Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold Whether by fupplication we intend Addrefs, and to begirt th' almighty throne Befeeching or befieging. This report, Thefe tidings carry to th' anointed King; And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He faid, and as the found of waters deep Hoarfe murmur echo'd to his words applaufe Through the infinite hoft; nor less for that The flaming Scraph fearless, though alone 875 Incompafs'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold. O alienate from God, O Spi'rit accurs'd, Forfaken of all good; I fee thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion fpread Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth No more be troubled how to quit the yoke Of God's Mcfiah; thofe indulgent laws Will not be now vouchfaf'd; other decrees Against thee are gone forth without recall; 88; That golden fcepter, which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod to bruise and break Thy difobedience. Well thou didst advise, 835 Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly
Such as he pleas'd, and circumfcrib'd their being? Yet by experience taught we know how good, And of our good and of our dignity How provident he is, how far from thought To make us lefs, bent rather to exalt Our happy ftate under one head more near United. But to grant it thee unjust, That equal over equals monarch reign: Thyfelf though great and glorious doft thou count, Or all angelic nature join'd in one, Equal to him begotten Son? by whom As by his Word the mighty Father made
These wicked tents devoted, left the wrath
All things, ev'n thee; and all the Spirits of Hea- Impendent, raging into sudden flame
Returns our own. Ceafe then this impious rage, And tempt not thefe; but haften to appease The incenfed Father, and th' incenfed Son, While pardon may be found in time befought. So fpake the fervent Angel; but his zeal None feconded, as out of feafon judg'd,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal : Nor number, nor example with him wrought To fwerve from truth, or change his conftant mind Though fingle. From amidst them forth he pai Long way through hoftile fcorn, which he fattaine Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought; And with retorted fcorn his back he turn'd On thofe proud tow'rs to fwift deftruction docm à
Gogular and rafh, whereat rejoic'd
To' apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
THE END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.
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 devilish engins, which in the fecond day's fight put Michael and his Angels to fome diforder: 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 caufing all his legions to ftand still on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midft 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 punish ment prepar'd for them in the deep: MESSIAH returns with triumph to his Father,
To ftand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds Judg'd thee perverfe: the eafier 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 49 By force, who reafon for their law refuse, Right reafon for their law, and for their king Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns. Go Michael of celeftial armies prince, And thou in military prowefs next Gabriel, lead forth to hattel these my fons Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight,
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
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.
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
Or potent tongue : focl, not to think how vain Against th' Omnipotent to rife in arms; 136 Who out of fmallest things could without end Have rais'd inceffant armies to defeat Thy folly; or with folitary hand Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow Unaided could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd 80 Thy legions under darkness: but thou feeft All are not of thy train; there be who faith Prefer, and piety to God, though then To thee not vifible, when I alone Seem'd in thy world erroneous to diffent From all my fe&t thou seest; now learn too late How few fometimes may know, when thousands
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
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
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
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
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
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;
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
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
Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of
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
Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on earth confpicuous, that may lift Human imagination to fuch highth
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
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
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.
And now their mightieft quell'd, the battel
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
Yet foon he heal'd; for Spirits that live through- Ey wound, though from their place by vichree
Vital in every part, not as frail man
In cntrails, heart or head, liver or reins, Cannot but by annihilating die;
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
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,
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