Than scorn'd thou didst depart, and to subdue 40 By force, who reason for their law refuse, Right reason for their law, and for their king Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, And thou in military prowess next Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight, Equal in number to that godless crew Rebellious; them with fire and hostile arms Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heav'n Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss Into their place of punishment, the gulf Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.
So spake the Sov'reign Voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll In dusky wreathes, 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 silence their bright legions, to the sound Of instrumental harmony, that breath'd Heroic ardor to advent'rous deeds Under their God-like leaders, in the cause Of God and his Messiah. On they move Indissolubly firm: nor obvious hill,
Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground Their march was, and the passive air upbore Their nimble tread ; as when the total kind Of birds, in orderly array on wing, Came summon'd over Eden to receive Their names of thee; so 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 aspect, and nearer view Bristled with upright beams innumerable Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields Various, with boastful argument portray'd, The banded powers of Satan hasting on With furious expedition; for they ween'd That self-same day by fight, or by surprise, To win the mount of God, and on his throne To set the envier of his state, the proud Aspirer, but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain 90 In the mid-way: though strange to us it seem'd At first, that Angel should with Angel war, And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet So oft in festivals of joy and love
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire Hymning th' eternal Father: but the shout Of battle now began, and rushing sound Of onset ended soon each milder thought. High in the midst, exalted as a God,
Th' Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, Idol of majesty divine, inclos'd
With flaming cherubim and golden shields;
Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now 'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval, and front to front Presented stood in terrible array
Of hideous length: before the cloudy van, On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd, Satan with vain and haughty strides advanc'd Came tow'ring, arm'd in adamant and gold: Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, And thus his own undaunted heart explores:
O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the Highest Should yet remain, where faith and reälty Remain not: wherefore should not strength and might There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove Where boldest, though to sight unconquerable? His puissance, trusting in th' Almighty's aid, I mean to try, whose reason I have try'd Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, That he who in debate of truth hath won, Should win in arms, in both disputes alike Victor; though brutish that contést and foul, When reason hath to do with force, yet so Most reason is that reason overcome..
So pondering, and from his armed peers Forth stepping opposite, half way he met His daring foe, at this prevention more
Incens'd, and thus securely him defy'd:
Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reach'd The height of thy aspiring unoppos'd, The throne of God unguarded, and his side Abandon'd at the terror of thy power
Or potent tongue: fool, not to think how vain Against th' Omnipotent to rise in arms; Who out of smallest things could without end Have rais'd incessant armies to defeat
Thy folly; or with solitary hand
Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow
Unaided could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd Thy legions under darkness: but thou seest All are not of thy train; there be who faith Prefer, and piety to God, though then To thee not visible, when I alone
Seem'd in thy world erroneous to dissent From all my sect thou seest; now learn, too late, How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.
Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, Thus answer'd: Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour 150 Of my revenge, first sought for thou return'st
From flight, seditious Angel, to receive
Thy merited reward, the first assay
Of this right hand provok'd, since first that tongue` Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose A third part of the Gods, in synod met Their deities to assert, who, while they feel Vigour divine within them, can allow Omnipotence to none. But well thou com'st
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
From me some plume, that thy success may show Destruction to the rest: this pause between (Unanswer'd lest thou boast) to let thee know; At first I thought that Liberty and Heav'n To heav'nly souls had been all one; but now I see that most through sloth had rather serve, Ministring spirits, train'd up in feast and song; Such hast thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of Heav'n, Servility with freedom to contend, 169 As both their deeds compar'd this day shall prove.
To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern reply'd: Apostate, still thou err'st, nor end wilt find Of erring, from the path of truth remote: Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same, When he who rules is worthiest, and excels Them whom he governs. This is servitude, To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rebell'd Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 180 Thyself not free, but to thyself inthrall'd; Yet lewdly dar'st our ministring upbraid. Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve In Heav'n God, ever blest, and his divine Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd;
Yet chains in Hell, not realms expect; mean while From me return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, This greeting on thy impious crest receive.
So say'ing, a noble stroke he lifted high,
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