When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 895 900 Nor number, nor example, with him wrought 905 And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd BOOK VI. THE ARGUMENT. Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent 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 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 his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot 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. ALL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, Where light and darkness in perpetual round 5 [Heav'n Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through 896. The character of Abdiel thus introduced has a very beautiful effect. 2. Copied from Homer, Il. v. 749. 6. A passage of Hesiod is pointed out by Warburton as the or ginal of this.-Theog. 748. Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour 16 To veil the Heav n, though darkness there might well Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain, 16 20 25 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 The better fight, who singly hast maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the cause 30 Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; Than violence); for this was all thy care 35 To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds 40 45 Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons By thousands and by millions ranged for fight, 18. See Maccabees vi. 39. 19. War in procinct, in allusion to the soldiers girding them · selves up before the battle. 29. Abdiel in Hebrew means servant of God. Rev. xii. 7, 8. Equal in number to that Godless crew Rebellious; them with fire and hostile arms So spake the sov'reign voice, and clouds began In silence their bright legions, to the sound 50 55 60 65 Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides 70 Their march was, and the passive air upbore 75 Their names of thee; so over many a tract Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a province wide Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields 80 85 73. So Homer describes the motion of his gods. 84. Boastful argument, in allusion to the designs painted on the shields of knights. To set the envior of his state, the proud Aspirer, but their thoughts proved 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 95 Th' Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, 100 With flaming Cherubim and golden shields; Of hideous length. Before the cloudy van, 105 110 120 O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the High'st Should yet remain, where faith and reälty 115 Remain not! wherefore should not strength and m*ght 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 deal with force, yet so Most reason is that reason overcome. So pondering, and from his armed peers Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met 125 93. Hosting, a word not first used by Milton, as supposed. 115. Real y, not sureness but loyalty, derived from the Italian word reale, loyal. His daring foe, at this prevention more Incensed; and thus securely him defy'd: 130 Proud, art thou met? Thy hope was to have reach'd The height of thy aspiring unopposed, The throne of God unguarded, and his side Abandon'd at the terror of thy pow'r Or potent tongue: fool! not to think how vain 135 Against th Omnipotent to rise in arms! Who out of smallest things could without end Thy folly or with solitary hand 140 145 Unaided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd Thy merited reward, the first assay Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose A third part of the Gods, in synod met 155 Their deities to assert, who while they feel Vigour divine within them, can allow Omnipotence to none. But well thou com'st 160 From me some plume, that thy success may shew 165 147. Sect, not in allusion, as is supposed, to any religious or political party, but according to its primitive sense, a division, from seco. 161. Success, fortune, good or bad, is signified by this word. 467. Heb. i. 14. L |