1

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; 900' Nor number, nor example with him wrought To fwerve from truth, or change his constant

Long way through hoftile fcorn, which he fuftain'd

Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought:

905

And, with retorted fcorn, his back he turn'd On those proud tow'rs to fwift destruction doom'd.

The End of the Fiftb Book.

BOOK

BOOK VI.

All

night the dreadless Angel unpursu’d, Thro' Heav'n's wide champain held his way, till morn,

Wak'd by the circling hours, with rofy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave
Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, 5
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns. which makes
thro' Heav'n

Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;
Light illues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veil the Heav'n, tho' darkness there might

well

10

Seem twilight here: and now went forth the

morn,

Such as in highest Heav'n', array'd in gold Empyreal; from before her vanifh'd night, Shot thro' with orient beams; when all the

plain

15

Cover'd with thick imbattel'd fquadrons bright,

N

Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, firft met his view. War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found Already known, what he for news had thought

20

To have reported: gladly then he mix'd Among those 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 25 They led him high applauded, and present Before the feat fupreme; from whence a voice, From midft a golden cloud, thus mild was

Servant of God, well done, well haft thou

fought

The better fight, who fingle haft maintain'd 30 Against revolted multitudes the caufe

35

Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms:
And for the teftimony of truth haft borne
Universal reproach; far worse to bear
Than violence: for this was all thy care,
To ftand approv'd in fight of God, tho' worlds"
Judg'd thee perverse. 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 sub-

due

By force, who reafon for their law refuse,

40

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

45

Gabriel, lead forth to battel thefe my fons
Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints,
By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that godlefs crew,
Rebellious: them with fire and hostile arms 50
Fearless affault; and to the brow of Heav'n
Perfuing, drive them out from God and blifs,
Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Of Tartarns, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.

55

So fpake the Sovereign Voice, and clouds

began

To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll
In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the fign
Of wrath awak'd. Nor with lefs dread the
loud.

Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: 60
At which command, the Powers militant,
That stood for Heav'n, in mighty quadrat join'd
Of union irrefistible, mov'd on

In filence their bright legions, to the found
Of inftrumental harmony, that breath'd
Heroic ardor to advent'rous deeds,
Under their God-like leaders, in the caufe
Of God and his Meffiah.. On they move

65

7

Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftrait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream di-

Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground
Their march was, and the paffive air upbore
Their nimble tread: as when the total kind
Cf birds, in orderly array on wing,
Came fummon'd over Eden, to receive
Their names of thee: fo, over many a tract
Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a provin
ace wide,

Tenfold the lenght of his terrene.

At last,
Far in th' horizon to the north appear'd,

75

From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd go
In battaillous aspect, and nearer view
Bristled with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and

fhields

85

Various, with boaftful 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 furprize
To win the mount of God; and on his throne
To let the envier of his ftate, the proud
fpirer; but their thoughts prov'd fond and

In the mid-way. Though ftrange to us it

feem'd

At first, that Angel fhould with Angel war,