Implacable, and many a dolorous groan Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind Out of such pris'n, tho' Sp'rits of purest light; Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. 661 The rest in imitation to like arms 665 Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore; Upon his enemies, and to declare 675 All pow'r on him transferr'd: whence to his Son Th' Assessor of his throne, he thus began: Effulgence of my glory, Son belov'd, 680 Son in whose face invisible is beheld Visibly what by Deity I am, And in whose hand what by decree I do, 684 Two days, as we compute the days of Heav'n, Since Michael and his Pow'rs went forth to tame These disobedient. Sore hath been their fight, As likeliest was, when two such foes met arm'd; For to themselves I left them, and thou know'st Equal in their creation they were form'd, 690 Save what sin hath impair'd, which yet hath wrought Insensibly, for I suspend their doom; Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last makes 696 700 Wild work in Heav'n, and dang'rous to the main. Of all things; to be Heir and to be King From all Heav'n's bounds into the utter deep: There let them learn, as likes them, to despise God and Messiah his anointed King. He said, and on his Son with rays direct Shone full: he all his Father full express'd 720 Ineffably into his face receiv'd; And thus the filial Godhead answ'ring, spake: O Father, O. Supreme of heav'nly Thrones, First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou always seek'st To glorify thy Son; I always thee, As is most just; this I my glory' account, My exaltation, and my whole delight, 725 That thou in me well pleas'd, declar'st thy will Fulfill'd; which to fulfil is all my bliss. 730 Sceptre and pow'r, thy giving, I assume, 735 Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, Arm'd with thy might, rid Heav'n of these re bell'd, To their prepar❜d ill mansion driven down, Then shall thy Saints unmix'd, and from th' impure Far separate, circling thy holy mount, Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, Hymns of high praise; and I among them Chief. So said, he o'er his sceptre bowing, rose 746 From the right hand of glory where he sat ; And the third sacred morn began to shine, Dawning through Heav'n. whirlwind sound The chariot of paternal Deity, Forth rush'd with 750 Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel un drawn, Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoy'd By four Cherubic shapes: four faces each pure Of beryl, and careering fires between ; 755 760 765 Of smoke and bick'ring flame and sparkles dire. Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, He onward came; far off his coming shone; And twenty thousand (I their number heard) Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen. He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime 771 775 On the crystalline sky, in sapphire thron'd, 790 They, harden'd more by what might most re claim, Grieving to see his glory, at the sight Took envy; and aspiring to his height, Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud Weening to prosper, and at length prevail 795 Against God and Messiah, or to fall In universal ruin last; and now To final battle drew, disdaining flight, Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God |