High in the midst exalted as a God Th' apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, Idol of majesty divine, enclos'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 vast 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 realty Remain not: wherefore should not strength and migh 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 ought but just, That he who in debate of truth hath won, Should win in arms, in both disputes alike Victor: though brutish that contest, 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 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 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 Inspired 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 heavenly souls had been all one; but now I see that most through sloth had rather serve, Minist'ring spirits, train'd up in feast and song; Such hast thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of heav'n, Servility with freedom to contend,
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, Thyself not free, but to thyself inthral'd; Yet lewdly dar'st our minist'ring 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: meanwhile From me return'd as erst thou saidst, from flight, This greeting on thy impious crest receive.
So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge
He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee His massy spear upstay'd; as if on earth, Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his seat Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seiz'd The rebel thrones, but greater rage to see
Thus foil'd their mightiest; ours joy fill'd, and shou Presage of victory, and fierce desire
Of battle whereat Michael bid sound
Th' arch-angel trumpet: through the vast of heav'n It sounded, and the faithful armies rung Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze The adverse legions, nor less hideous join'd The horrid shock now storming fury rose, And clamour such as heard in heav'n till now Was never; arms on armour clashing bray'd Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, And flying vaulted either host with fire: So under fiery cope together rush'd
Both battles main, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage; all heav'n Resounded, and had earth been then, all earth Had to her centre shook. What wonder? when Millions of fierce encount'ring angels fought On either side, the least of whom could wield These elements, and arm him with the force Of all their regions: how much more of pow'r Army against army numberless to raise Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, Though not destroy, their happy native seat; Had not th' eternal King omnipotent
From his strong hold of heav'n high over-rul'd And limited their might; though number'd such As each divided legion might have seem'd A numerous host, in strength each armed hand A legion, led in fight yet leader seem'd Each warrior single as in chief, expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of battle, open when, and when to close The ridges of grim war: no thought of flight, None of retreat, no unbecoming deed That argued fear each on himself rely'd, As only in his arm the moment lay Of victory deeds of eternal fame
Were done, but infinite for wide was spread That war and various, sometimes on firm ground A standing fight, then soaring on main wing Tormented all the air; all air seem'd then Conflicting fire: long time in even scale The battle hung: till Satan, who that day Prodigious pow'r had shown, and met in arms No equal, ranging through the dire attack Of fighting seraphim confus'd, at length
Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and fell’✔ Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway Brandish'd aloft the horrid edge came down Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand He hasted, and oppos'd the rocky orb
Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, A vast circumference: at his approach The great arch-angel from his warlike toil Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end Intestine war in heav'n, th' arch foe subdu'd Or captive dragg'd in chains, with hostile frown And visage all inflam'd first thus began: Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, Unnam'd in heav'n, now plenteous, as thou seest These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, Though heaviest by just measure on thyself And thy adherents: how hast thou disturb'd Heav'n's blessed peace, and into nature brought Misery, uncreated till the crime
Of thy rebellion? how hast thou instill'd Thy malice into thousands, once upright And faithful, now prov'd false ?
To trouble holy rest; heav'n cast thee out From all her confines. Heav'n the seat of bliss Brooks not the works of violence and war. Hence then, and evil go with thee along, Thy offspring, to the place of evil, hell, Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils, Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, Or some more sudden vengeance wing'd from God Precipitate thee with augmented pain.
So spake the prince of angels: to whom thus The adversary: Nor think thou with wind Of airy threats to awe whom yet with deeds Thou canst not. Hast thou turn'd the least of these To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise Unvanquish'd, easier to transact with me,
That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats To chase me hence? err not that so shall end The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style The strife of glory which we mean to win.
Or turn this heav'n itself into the hell Thou fablest, here however to dwell free, f not to reign: mear while thy utmost force.
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