Afpirer, but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain
In the mid way: though ftrange to us it feem'd
At first, that angel should with angel war,
And in fierce hofting meet, who wont to meet
So oft in feftivals of joy and love

Unanimous, as fons of one great fire
Hymning th'eternal Father: but the shout
Of battle now began, and rushing found
Of onfet ended foon each milder thought.
High in the midst exalted as a god
Th'apoftat in his fun-bright chariot fat
Idol of majesty divine, enclos'd

With flaming cherubim, and golden fhields;
Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now
"Twixt hoft and host but narrow fpace was left,
A dreadful interval, and front to front
Prefented stood in terrible array

Of hideous length: before the cloudie van,
On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd,
Satan with vaft and haughtie ftrides advanc't,
Came towring, arm'd in adamant and gold;
Abdiel that fight endur'd not, where he stood
Among the mightieft, bent on highest deeds,
And thus his own undaunted heart explores.
O heav'n! that fuch resemblance of the Highest
Should yet remain, where faith and realtie

Remain not; wherefore should not strength and might;
There fail where vertue fails, or weakest prove
Where boldeft; though to fight unconquerable !
His puiffance, trusting in th'Almightie's aid,
I mean to try, whose reason I have tri'd

Unfound and falfe; 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 contest and foule,
When reafon hath to deal with force, yet fo
Most reason is that reafon overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed peers
Forth stepping oppofite, half way he met
His daring foe, at this prevention more
Incens't, and thus securely him defi'd.

Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht The highth of thy afpiring unoppos'd,

The throne of God unguarded, and his fide
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 inceffant armies to defeat

Thy folly; or with folitarie hand
Reaching beyond all limit at one blow
Unaided could have finish't thee, and whelm'd
Thy legions under darkness; but thou feeft
All are not of thy train; there be who faith
Prefer, and pietie to God, though then
To thee not visible, when I alone

Seem'd in thy world erroneous to diffent

From all my 'fect thou feeft, now learn too late How few fometimes may know, when thousands err.

Whom the grand fee with fcornful eye afkance Thus answer'd. Ill for thee, but in wifht hour Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnít

From flight, feditious angel, to receive
Thy merited reward, the first affay

Of this right hand provok't, fince first that tongue
Infpir'd with contradiction durft oppose

A third part of the Gods, in fynod met
Their deities to affert, who while they feel
Vigour divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

From me fome plume, that thy fuccefs may fhow
Deftruction to the reft: this pause between
(Unanswer'd leaft thou boaft) to let thee know;
At first I thought that liberty and heav'n
To heav'nly fouls had been all one; but now
I fee that moft through floth had rather serve,
Miniftring fpirits, train'd up in feast, and song;
Such haft thou arm'd, the minstrelfie of heav'n,
Servilitie with freedom to contend,

As both their deeds compar'd this day fhall prove.
To whom in brief thus Abdiel ftern repli'd.
Apoftat, ftill thou err'ft, nor end wilt find
Of erring, from the path of truth remote:
Unjustly thou deprav'ft it with the name
Of fervitude to ferve whom God ordains,
Or nature; God and nature bid the fame,
When he who rules is worthieft, and excells
Them whom he governs. This is fervitude,
To ferve th'unwife, or him who hath rebell'd
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,
Thyself not free, but to thyfelf enthrall'd;
Yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid,

Reign thou in hell thy kingdom, let me ferve

In heav'n God ever bleft, and his divine
Behefts obey, worthieft to be obey'd,

Yet chains in hell, not realms expect: mean while

From me return'd as erst thou faidft, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious creft receive.
So faying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell
On the proud creft of Satan, that no fight,
Nor motion of swift thought, lefs could his fhield
Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge

He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee
His maffie fpear upstaid; as if on earth
Winds under ground or waters forcing way
Sidelong, had push't a mountain from his feat
Half funk with all his pines. Amazement feiz'd
The rebel thrones, but greater rage to fee

Thus foil'd their mightiest, ours joy fill'd, and shout,
Prefage of victory and fierce defire

Of battle: whereat Michael bid found
Th'arch-angel trumpet; through the vast of heav'n
It founded, and the faithful armies rung
Hofanna to the highest: nor ftood at gaze
The adverse legions, nor lefs hideous join'd
The horrid fhock: now ftorming fury rofe,
And clamour fuch as heard in heav'n till now
Was never, arms on armour clashing bray'd
Horrible difcord and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise
Of conflict; over head the dismal hifs
Of fiery darts in flaming volies flew,

And flying vaulted either hoft with fire.
So under fierie cope together rush'd
Both battles maine, with ruinous affault
And inextinguishable rage; all heav'n
Refounded, and had earth been then, all earth
Had to her centre fhook, what wonder? when
Millions of fierce encountring angels fought
On either fide, the least of whom could wield
These elements, and arm him with the force
Of all their regions: how much more of power
Armie against armie numberless to raise
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,
Though not destroy, their happie native seat ;
Had not th'eternal King omnipotent

From his ftrong hold of heav'n high over-rul'd
And limited their might; though number'd fuch
As each divided legion might have feem'd
A numerous host, in strength each armed hand
A legion, led in fight, yet leader feem'd
Each warrior fingle as in chief, expert

When to advance, or stand, or turn the fway
Of battle, open when, and when to close
The ridges of grim war; no thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That argu'd fear; each on himself reli'd,
As onely in his arm the moment lay
Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame

Were done, but infinite: for wide was fpred
That war and various; fometimes on firm ground
A standing fight, then foaring on main wing
Tormented all the air; all air feem'd then