Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent 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 fecond day's fight put Michael and his Angels to fome diforder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed 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 caufing all his legions to stand still on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to refift, towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Meffiah returns with triumph to his Father.
"ALL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,
Through Heav'n's wide champain held his way; 'till
Wak'd by the circling hours,
Unbarr'd the gates of light.
Within the mount of God, faft by his throne,
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes thro' Heaven 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, 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, Cover'd with thick embattled fquadrons bright, Chariots and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view. War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found,
Already known, what he for news had thought 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 They led him high applauded, and present Before the feat fupreme; from whence a voice From midst a golden cloud thus mild was heard. "Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought The better fight, who fingle haft maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the cause
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; And for the testimony' of truth haft borne Universal reproach, far worse to bear Than violence; for this was all thy care
To stand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return Than fcorn'd thou didst depart, and to subdue By force, who reason for their law refuse, 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, Gabriel, lead forth to battle thefe my fons Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints, By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight, Equal in number to that Godless crew Rebellious; then with fire and hoftile arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of Heaven
Pursuing, drive them out from God and blits Into their place of punishment, the gulf Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.'
"So fpake the Sov'reign voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll
In dufky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign Of wrath awak'd; nor with less dread the loud Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: At which command the Powers militant, That stood for Heav'n, in mighty quadrate join'd Of union irresistible, mov'd on,
In filence, their bright legions to the found Of inftrumental harmony, that breath'd Heroic ardour to advent'rous deeds,
Under their God-like leaders, in the cause Of God and his Meffiah. On they move, Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftrait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground Their march was, and the paffive air upbore Their nimble tread; as when the total kind Of 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 province wide, Tenfold the length of this terrene. At last, Far in th' horizon, to the north, appear'd From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd In battailous afpéct, and nearer view
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