No more to be troubled how to quit the yoke 885 890 When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know." 895 "So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he; Among innumerable false, unmov'd, Nor number, nor example, with him brought On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd. 900 905 END OF BOOK V. ARGUMENT. Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight decribed: 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 ehariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap 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, Through Heav'n's wide champain held his way; till morn, Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy 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 perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heav'n Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; Light issues forth, and at the other door Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour 10 To veil the Heav'n, though 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 through with orient beams; when all the plain, 15 Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, They led him high applauded, and present 20 Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. "Servant of God, well done; well hast thou fought Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; 36 Than violence; for this was all thy care 35 To stand approv'd in sight of God, though worlds Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now 40 45 Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight, "So spake the sov'reign voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign Of wrath awak'd; nor with less dread the loud 50 55 |