In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise; 880 835 890 Then who created thee lamenting learn, When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.' 845 To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Tho' single. From amidst them forth he pass'd, Long way thro' hostile scorn, which he sustain'd 905 And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd." END OF THE FIFTH BOOK. ARGUMENT. Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels. The first fight described. Satan and his Powers retire under night. He calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan. Yet the tumult not so ending, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory he, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heaven which opening, they cap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father. PARADISE LOST. BOOK VI. "ALL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, Where light and darkness in perpetual round till morn, Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; Light issues forth, and at the other door To veil the Heav'n, though darkness there might well Shot thro' with orient beams; when all the plain, 5 10 15 20 25 They led him high applauded, and present Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice From midst a golden cloud thus mild was heard. |