PARADISE LOST. 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, inventa 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 endling, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: He, in the poner of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all 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, Equal in number to that godless crew Through heaven's wide champain held his way; Rebellious; then with fire and hostile arms 50 till morn, Fearless assault, and to the brow of heaven Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy hand Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Into their place of punishment, the gulf Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, 5 Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide Where light and darkness in perpetual round His fiery Chaos to receive their fall." 55 Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; [heaven “So spake the Sovereign voice, and clouds began Light issues forth, and at the other door 9 To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour (well In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign To veil the heaven, though darkness there might Of wrath awak'd, nor with less dread the loud Seem twilight here : and now went forth the morn, Ethereal trumpet from on liigh 'gan blow : 60 Such as in highest heaven, array'd in gold At which command the powers militant, Empyreal; from before her vanish'd night, That stood for beaven, in mighty quadrate join'd view. Heroic ardour to advent'rous deeds, Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, 69 Among those friendly powers, who him receiv'd Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides With joy and acclamations loud, that one, Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground That of so many myriads fallen, yet one Their march was, and the passive air upbore Return'd not lost. On to the sacred hill 25 Their nimble tread; as when the total kind They led him high applauded, and present Of birds, in orderly array, on wing, Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, Came, summond over Eden, to receive 75 From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard : Their names of tiree ; so over many a tract Of heaven they march'd, and many a province wide, **Servant of God! well done, well hast thou Tenfold the length of this terrene. At last, fought Far in th' horizon, to the north, appear'd In battailous aspect, and nearer view Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields Universal reproach, far worse to bear Various, with boastful argument portray'd Than violence; for this was all thy care 35 The banded powers of Satan, hasiing on 85 To stand approv'd, in sight of God, though worlds With furious expedition ; for they ween'd Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now That self-same day, by fight, or by surprise, Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, To win the mount of God, and on his throne Back on thy foes more glorious to return, To get the envier of his state, the proud Than scorn'd thou didst depart, and to subdue 40 Aspirer; but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain By force, who reason for their law refuse, In the midway: though strange to us it seem'd 91 Right reason for their law, and for their king At first, that angel should with angel war, Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. And in fierce hosüing meet, who wont to meet Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, So oft in festivals of joy and love And thou, in military prowess next, 45 Unanimous, as sons of one great sire, Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons Hymning theternal Father. But the shout 95 Invincible; lead forth my armed saints, of battle sound By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight, Of onset ended soon each milder thought. 125 High in the midst, exalted as a god, With flaming cherubim and golden shields; 185 Yet lewdly dar'st our minist'ring upbraid. 100 Reign thou in hell, thy kingdom; let me serve In heaven God ever bless'd and his divine Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd; Yet chains in hell, not realms expect: meanwhile From me return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, This greeting on thy impious crest receive.' 105 110 Of hideous length: before the cloudy van, Should yet remain, where faith and realty 115 Remain not: wherefore should not strength and might There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove "So pondering, and from his arm'd peers 120 130 "Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reach'd The height of thy aspiring unoppos'd, Or potent tongue: fool, not to think how vain 135 "So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 190 On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge 195 201 [heaven vast of 205 Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow 140 All are not of thy train; there be who faith To thee not visible, when I alone err.' "Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, Thus answer'd: Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour Of my revenge, first sought for, thou return'st 151 From flight, seditious angel, to receive Thy merited reward, the first assay 145 Of this right hand provok'd, since first that tongue, Inspir'd with contradiction, durst oppose 155 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 160 From me some plume, that thy success may show To heavenly souls had been all one; but now 165 169 As both their deeds compar'd this day shall prove.' "To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied: "Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, Unnam'd in heaven, now plenteous, as thou seest These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, 175 Though heaviest by just measure on thyself He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 249 255 To trouble holy rest; heaven casts thee out Down cloven to the waist, with shatter'd arms From all her confines. Heaven the seat of bliss, And unoouth pain, fled bellowing. On each wing Brooks not the works of violence and war : Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe, Hence then, and evil go with thee along, 275 Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armid, Thy offspring, to the place of evil, hell, Vanquish'd Adramelech and Asmadai, 365 Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils, Two potent thrones, that to be less than gods Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their Or some more sudden vengeance wing'd from God flight, Precipitate thee with augmented pain!" 280 Mangled with ghastly wounds thro' plate and mai. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy “ So spake the prince of angels; to whom thus The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow 370 The adversary: Nor think thou with wind Ariel and Arioch, and the violence Of airy threats to awe whom yet with deeds Of Ramiel, scorch'd and blasted, overthrew. Thou canst not. Hast thou turn'd the least of these I might relate of thousands, and their names To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise 285 Eternize here on earth; but those elect Unvanquish'd, easier to transact with me (threats Angels, contented with their fame in heaven, 375 That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with Seek not the praise of men : the other sort, To chase me hence ? err not that so shall end In might though wondrous, and in acts of war, The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom The strife of glory; which we mean to win, 290 Cancel'd from heaven and sacred memory, Or turn this heaven itself into the hell Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. Thou fablest, here however to dwell free, For strength, from truth divided and from just, If not to reign : meanwhile thy utmost force, Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise And join him nam'd Almighty to thy aid, And ignominy, yet to glory' aspires I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.' 295 Vain glorious, and through infamy seeks fame : Therefore eternal silence be their doom. 885 “They ended parle, and both address'd for fight Unspeakable ; for whó, though with the tongue “ And now their mightiest quell'd, the battle Of angels, can relate, or to what things swerv'd, Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift With many an inroad gor'd; deformed rout Human imagination to such height 300 Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground Of godlike power? for likest gods they seemid, With shiver'd armour strown, and on a heap Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms, Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd, 390 Fit to decide the empire of great heaven. And fiery foaming steeds; what stood, recoild, Now wav'd their fiery swords, and in the air O'erwearied, through the faint Satanic host Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields' Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpris'd, Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood 306 Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of pain, In horror; from each hand with speed retir'd, Fled ignominious, to such evil brought 395 Where erst was thickest fight, th' angelic throng, By sin of disobedience, till that hour And left large fields, unsafe within the wind Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. Of such commotion such as, to set forth 310 Far otherwise, th' inviolable saints Great things by small, if Nature's concord broke In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire, Among the constellations war were sprung, Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd; 400 Two planets rushing from aspect malign Such high advantages their innocence Of fiercest opposition in mid-sky Gave them above their foes, not to have sinn'd, Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound Not to have disobey'd; in fight they stood Together both with next t Almighty arm 316 Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd 404 Uplifted eminent, one stroke they aim'd By wound, tho' from their place by violence mov'd. That might determine, and not need repeat, As not of power at once; nor odds appear'd “Now night her course began, and over heaven In might or swift prevention: but the sword 320 Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, Of Michael, from the armoury of God, And silence on the odious din of war: Was given him temper'd so, that neither keen Under her cloudy covert both retird, Nor solid might resist that edge: it met Victor and vanquish'd. On the foughten field 410 The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Michael and his angels prevalent Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stay'd, 325 Incamping, plac'd in guard their watches round, But with swift wheel reverse, deep entring, shar'd Cherubic waving fires : on th' other part All his right side: then Satan first knew pain, Satan with his rebellious disappear'd, And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore Far in the dark dislodg'd; and, void of rest, 415 The griding sword with discontinuous wound His potentates to council call's by night; Pass thro' him; but th' ethereal substance clos'd. And in the midst thus undismay'd began. Not long divisible; and from the gash 331 A stream of nect'rous humour issuing flow'd “O now in danger tried, now known in arms Sanguine, such as celestial spirits may bleed, Not to be overpower'd, companions dear, And all his armour stain'd ere while so bright. Found worthy not of liberty alone, 420 Forth with on all sides to his aid was run 335 Too mean pretence, but, what we more affect, By angels many' and strong, who interpos'd Honour, dominion, glory, and renown; Defence, while others bore him on their shields Who have sustain'd one day in doubtful fight Back to his chariot, where it stood retir'd (And if one day, why not eternal days ?) Froin off the files of war; there they him laid What heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send 425 Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, 340 Against us from about his throne, and judg'd To find himself not matchless, and his pride Sufficient to subdue us to his will, Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, His confidence to equal God in power. Of future we may deem him, though till now Yet soon he heal'd; for spirits that live throughout Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arni'd, Vital in every part, not as frail man 345 Some disadvantage we endur'd and pain, 451 In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins, Till now not known, but known, as soon contemu'd; Cannot but by annihilating die; Since now we find this our empyreal form Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound Incapable of mortal injury, Receive, no more than can the fluid air: Imperishable, and, though pierc'd with wound, 135 Of evil then so small, as easy think May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 440 Unhurt our minds and understanding sound, And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound Due search and consultation will disclose. Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of heaven Refrain'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon, 360 “ He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood 450 Nisroch, of principalities the prime; All patience. He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves No less than for deliverance what we owe.' 460 465 470 474 481 "Whereto with look compos'd Satan replied: 'Not uninvented that, which thou aright Believ'st so main to our success, I bring. Which of us who beholds the bright surface Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, This continent of spacious heaven, adorn'd With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold; Whose eye so superficially surveys [grow These things, as not to mind from whence they Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touch'd With heaven's ray, and temper'd, they shoot forth So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame; Which into hollow engines long and round Thick-ramm'd, at th' other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth 486 From far, with thund'ring noise, among our foes Such implements of mischief, as shall dash To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarm'd 490 The Thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt. Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive; Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd 494 Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd.' 505 "He ended, and his words their drooping cheer Enlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd. Th' invention all admir'd, and each how he To be th' inventor miss'd; so easy' it seem'd 499 Once found, which yet unfound, most would have Impossible yet haply of thy race, [thought In future days, if malice should abound, Some one, intent on mischief, or inspir'd With devilish machination, might devise Like instrument to plague the sons of men For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. Forthwith from council to the work they flew ; None arguing stood; innumerable hands Were ready; in a moment up they turn'd Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath Th' originals of nature in their crude Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam They found, they mingled, and with subtle art, Concocted and adusted, they reduc'd To blackest grain, and into store convey'd: Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, Whereof to found their engines and their balls Of missive ruin; part incentive reed 510 540 "Arm, warriors, arm for fight; the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit This day; fear not his flight; so thick a cloud He comes, and settled in his face I see Sad resolution and secure; let each His adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, Borne even or high; for this day will pour down, If I conjecture ought, no drizzling shower, But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire.' 545 "Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; "So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce 565 570 On wheels (for like to pillars most they seem'd, stand, 584 590 515 By quick contraction or remove; but now 601 Doubled, would render them yet more despis'd, 605 630 [arms 636 640 "So they among themselves in pleasant vein 650 654 661 665 By sacred unction, thy deserved right. "He said, and on his Son with rays direct 720 725 730 "O Father, O supreme of heav'nly thrones, 735 740 Then shall thy saints unmix'd, and from th' impure 670 Of beryl, and careering fires between; 756 Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore; All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son, "Effulgence of my glory, Son belov'd, Son, in whose face invisible is beheld, Visibly, what by deity I am, 685 Cver their heads a crystal firmament, 760 765 75 675 Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, And in whose hand what by decree I do, |