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PARADISE LOST.

BOOK VI.

The ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan, and his Angels. The first Fight defcrib'd: 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 fome disorder; 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 Meffiah 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 causing all his Legions to ftand still on either fide, with

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bis Chariot and Thunder driving into the midst of his Enemies, pursues them un able to refift towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horrour and confusion into the place of punish ment prepar'd for them in the Deep: Meffiah returns with triumph to his Father.

ALL

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ILL night the dreadlefs Angel unpurfu'd Thro' Heav'ns wide Champain held his way 'till Morn,

Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rofic

hand

Unbarr'd the gates of Light,

There is a Cave

Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,

Where light and darkness in pepetual round

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Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes thro' Heav'n Grateful viciffitude, like Day and Night;

Light iffues forth, and at the other door

Obfequious Darkness enters, till her hour

To veil the Heav'n, tho' darkness there might well
Seem Twilight here. And now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heav'n, array'd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanish'd Night,
Shot thro' with orient Beams, when all the Plain
Cover'd with thick embattled Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Arms, and fiery Steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, firft met his view:
War he perceiv'd war in procin, and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mixt
Among thofe friendly Powers 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
They led him high applauded, and prefent
Before the feat fupream; from whence a voice
From midft a Golden Cloud thus mild was heard.

Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought The better fight, who Single haft maintain'd

Against revolted multitudes the Cause

Of Truth, in Word mightier than they in Arms;
And for the teftimony of Truth haft born
Univerfal Reproach, far worse to bear

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