Refounded, and had Earth been then, all Earth
Had to her Center fhook. What wonder? when
Millions of fierce encount'ring Angels fought
On either fide, the leaft of whom could weild
These Elements, and arm him with the force
Of all their Regions: how much more of Power
Army against Army numberless to raise
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,
Though not destroy, their happy Native feat;
Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent
From his ftrong 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 Warriour fingle as in Chief, expert
When to advance, or ftand, or turn the sway
Of Battel, open when, and when to close
The ridges of grim War; no thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That argu'd fear; each on Himself rely'd,
As only in His arm the moment lay
Of victory. Deeds of Eternal fame
Were done, but infinite; for wide was fpred
That War and various ; fometimes on firm ground
A ftanding fight, then foaring on main wing
Tormented all the Air; all Air feem'd then
Conflicting Fire. Long time in even scale
The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day
Prodigious Power had fhewn, and met in Arms
No equal, ranging through the dire Attack
Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length
Saw where the Sword of Michael fmote, and fell'd
Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway
Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down
Wide wafting; fuch deftruction to withstand
He hafted, and oppos'd the rocky Orb
Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield
A vaft circumference: At his approach
The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil
Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end
Inteftine War in Heav'n, the Arch-foe fubdu'd
Or Captive drag'd in Chains, with hostile frown
And vifage all enflam'd first thus began.
Author of Evil, unknown till thy revolt,
Unnam'd in Heav'n, now plenteous, as thou feeft
Thefe Acts of hateful ftrife, hateful to all,
Though heaviest by just measure on thy felf
And thy adherents: how haft thou disturb'd
Heav'ns blessed peace, and into Nature brought
Mifery, uncreated till the crime
Of thy Rebellion? how haft thou inftill'd
Thy malice into thousands, once upright
And faithful, now prov'd falfe. But think not here
To trouble Holy Reft; Heav'n cafts thee out
From all her Confines. Heav'n the feat of blifs
Brooks not the works of violence and War.
Hence then, and Evil go with thee along
Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell,
Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles,
Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doom,
Or fome more fudden vengeance wing'd from God
Precipitate thee with augmented Pain,
So fpake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus
The Adverfary. Nor think thou with wind
Of aerie Threats to Awe whom yet with Deeds
Thou canst not. Haft thou turn'd the leaft of these
To flight, or if to fall, but that they rife
Unvanquifht, easier to transact with me,
That thou should'st hope, imperious, and with threats
To chafe me hence err not that so shall end
The ftrife which thou call'ft evil, but we ftyle
The ftrife of Glory: which we mean to win,
Or turn this Heav'n it felf into the Hell
Thou fableft, here however to dwell free,
If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force,
And join him nam'd Almighty to thy aid,
I flie not, but have fought thee farand nigh.
They ended parle, and both addreft for fight
Unfpeakable; for who, though with the tongue
Of Angels, can relate, or to what things
Liken on Earth confpicuous, that may lift
Human imagination to fuch heighth
Of God-like Power: for likeft Gods they feem'd,
Stood they or mov'd, in ftature, motion, arms
Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav'n.
Now wav'd their fiery Swords, and in the Air
Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns their Shields 30s
Blaz'd oppofite, while expectation ftood
In horror; from each hand with speed retired
Where erft was thickest fight, th' Angelic throng,
And left large field, unfafe within the wind
Of such commotion, such as to fet forth
Great things by small, If, Nature's concord broke,
Among the Constellations war were sprung,
Two Planets, rushing from aspect malign
Of fierceft oppofition in mid Sky,
Should combat, and their jarring Spheres confound.
Together both with next to Almighty Arm,
Uplifted imminent One stroke they aim'd
That might determine, and not need repeat,
As not of power, at once; nor odds appear'd
In might or fwift prevention; but the fword
Of Michael from the Armory of God
Was giv'n him temper'd fo, that neither keen
Nor foild might refift that edge; it met
The fword of Satan, with fteep force to fmite
Defcending, and in half cut fheere, nor ftaid,
But with swift wheel reverse, deep entring fhar'd
All his right fide; then Satan firft knew pain,
And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; fofore
The griding fword with discontinuous wound
Pafs'd through him: but th' Ethereal fubftance clos'd
Not long divisible, and from the gash
A ftream of Nectarous humour iffuing flow'd
Sanguin, fuch as Celestial Spirits may bleed,
And all his Armour ftain'd ere while fo bright.
Forthwith on all fides to his aid was run
By Angels many and ftrong, who interpos'd
Defence, while others bore him on their Shields
Back to his Chariot; where it ftood retir'd
From off the files of war; there they him laid
Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame
To find himself not matchlefs, and his pride
Humbled by fuch rebuke, fo far beneath
His confidence to equal God in power.
Yet foon he heal'd; for Spirits that live throughout
Vital in very part, nor as frail Man
In Entrailes, 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 Aire:
All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Ear,
All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,
They Limb themselves, and colour, shape and fize
Affume, as likes them beft, condenfe or rare.
Mean while in other parts like deeds deferv'd
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
And with fierce Enfignes pierc'd the deep array
Of Moloc furious King, who him defy'd,
And at his Chariot wheels to drag him bound
Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of Heav'n
Refrain'd his tongue blafphemous; but anon
Down cloven to the wafte, with fhatter'd Arms
And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing
Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe
Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Arm❜d,
Vanquish'd Adramelec, and Afmodai,
Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods
Difdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their flight,
Mangl'd with ghaftly wounds thro' Plate and Maile.
Nor ftood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
The Atheist crew, but with redoubl❜d blow
Ariel and Arioc, and the violence
Of Ramiel fcorcht and blasted overthrew.
I might relate of thousands, and their names
Eternize here on Earth; but those elect
Angels contented with their fame in Heav'n
Seek not the praise of men: the other fort
In might though wond'rous and in Acts of War,
Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doom
Cancel'd from Heav'n and facred memorie,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.
For Strength from Truth divided and from Juft,
Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise
And ignominy, yet to glory aspires
Vain glorious, and through infamy seeks fame:
Therefore Eternal filence be their doom.1
And now their Mightieft quell'd, the battel fwerv'a,
With many an inrode gor'd; deformed rout
Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground
With shiver'd armour ftrown, and on a heap
Chariot and Charioteer lay overturn'd
And fiery foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyl'd
O'er wearied, thro' the faint Satanic Hoft
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear furpriz❜d,
Then first with fear surpriz'd, and sense of pain
Fled ignominious, to fuch evil brought
By fin of difobedience, till that hour
Not liable to fear or flight or pain.
Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints
In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc'd entire,
Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd:
Such high advantages their innocence
Gave them above their foes, not to have finn'd,
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