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
« НазадПродовжити » |