We know no time when we were not as now; Of this our native heaven, ethereal sons. "He said, and, as the sound of waters deep, "O alienate from God, O spirit accurs'd, Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth No more be troubled how to quit the yoke Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws Will not be now vouchsaf'd: other decrees Against thee are gone forth without recall; That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod to bruise and break Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise ; Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath Impendent, raging into sudden flame, Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. Then who created thee lamenting learn, When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.? "So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he Among innumerable false, unmov'd, Unshaken, unseduc'd. unterrified, lis loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; 900 o swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, hough single. From amidst them forth he pass'd, ong way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought; 905 And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd END OF BOOK FIFTH. PARADISE LOST. BOOK VI. THE ARGUMENT. Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabrie were sent forth to battle against Satan and his angels The first fight described. Satan and his power retire under night. He calls a council, invents devilis engines, which in the second day's fight put Michae and his angels to some disorder; but they at length pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force an machines of Satan. Yet the tumult not so ending God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, fo whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: He in the power of his Father, coming to the place, an causing all his legions to stand still on either side with his chariot and thunder driving into the mids of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, toward the wall of heaven: which opening, they leap dow with horror and confusion into the place of punish ment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah return with triumph to his Father. "All night the dreadless angel, unpursued, Through heaven's wide champain held his way; ti 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 throug heaven Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; Light issues forth, and at the other door 10 To veil the heaven, though darkness there might well 25 30 "Servant of God! well done, well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the cause Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; Than violence; for this was all thy care To stand approv'd in sight of God, though worlds 35 40 45 Into their place of punishment, the gulf His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.' 55 "So spake the Sovereign voice, and clouds began In silence their bright legions, to the sound 60 65 Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides 70 Their nimble tread; as when the total kind 75 Came, summon'd over Eden, to receive Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields 80 85 Aspirer; but their thoughts prov'à fond and vain 90 Unanimous, as sons of one great sire, 95 |