Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold Whether by fupplication we intend Address, and to begirt th'almighty throne Befeeching or befieging. This report, These tidings carrie to th'anointed king; And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. He said, and as the sound of waters deep Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite host, nor less for that The flaming feraph fearless, though alone Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold. O alienate from God, O fpirit accurst, Forfak'n of all good; I fee thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth No more be troubled how to quit the yoke Of God's Meffiah; those indulgent laws Will not be now voutsaf't, other decrees Against thee are gone forth without recall; That golden fcepter 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, left the wrath Impendent, raging into sudden flame Distinguish not: for foon expect to feel His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. Then who created thee lamenting learn,
When who can uncreate thee thou fhalt know.
So fpake the feraph Abdiel faithful found, Among the faithless, faithful only he; Among innumerable false, unmov'd, Unfhaken, unfeduc'd, unterrifi'd
His loyaltie he kept, his love, his zeal'; Nor number, nor example with him wrought To fwerve from truth, or change his constant mind Though fingle. From amidst them forth he pass'd, Long way through hoftile scorn, which he fufteind Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;
And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On thofe proud towrs to swift destruction doom'd.
The End of the Fifth Book.
LL night the dreadless angel unpurfu'd Through heav'n's wide champain held his way, tift Wak't by the circling hours, with rofie hand [morn, Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, faft by his throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and diflodge by'turns, which makes through heav'n Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;
Light issues forth, and at the other dore Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veile the heav'n, though darkness there might well Seem twilight here; and now went forth the morn Such as in highest heav'n, array'd in gold Empyreal, from before her vanisht night,
Shot through with orient beams: when all the plain Cover'd with thick embattel'd fquadrons bright, Chariots and flaming arms, and fierie steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found Already known what he for news had thought To have reported: gladly then he mixt Among those friendly powers who him receiv'd With joy and acclamations loud, that one That of fo many myriads fall'n, yet one Return'd not loft: on to the facred hill They led him high applauded, and present Before the feat fupreme: from whence a voice
From midft a golden cloud thus mild was heard. Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought The better fight, who fingle haft 'maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the caufe
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; And for the teftimony of truth haft born Univerfal reproach, far worse to bear Than violence: for this was all thy care To ftand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds Judg'd thee perverfe: the easier conquest now Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return Than fcorn'd thou didit depart, and to subdue By force, who reafon for their law refuse, Right reafon for their law, and for their king Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns. Go Michael of celeftial armies prince, And thou in military prowess next Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my fons Invincible, lead forth my armed faints By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight; Equal in number to that godlefs crew Rebellious, them with fire and hostile arms Fearless affault, and to the brow of heav'n Purfuing drive them out from God and blifs, Into their place of punishment, the gulf Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide His fiery chaos to receive their fall.
So fpake the fovran voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and fmoak to rowl In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the figne
Of wrath awak't: nor with lefs dread the loud Ethereal trumpet from on high gan blow : At which command the powers militant, That flood for heav'n, in mighty quadrate join'd Of union irresistible, mov'd on
In filence their bright legions, to the found Of inftrumental harmonie that breath'd Heroic ardor to advent'rous deeds
Under their god-like leaders, in the cause Of God and his Meffiah. On they move Indi Tolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftreit'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 fummon'd over Eden to receive Their names of thee; fo over many a tract Of heav'n they march'd, and many a province wide Tenfold the ler gth of this terrene: at last Far in the horizon to the north appeer'd From skirt to skirt a fierie region, stretcht In battailous afpect, and neerer view Briftl'd with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and shields Various, with boastful argument portraid, The banded powers of Satan hafting on With furious expedition; for they ween'd That felf fame day by fight, or by furprize To win the mount of God, and on his throne To fet th'envier of his ftate, the proud
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