Afpirer: but their thoughts prov'd fond, and vain, 90
In the mid-way. Though strange to us it seem'd
At first, that Angel should with Angel war,
And in fierce hofting meet; who wont to meet
So oft in festivals of joy, and love
Unanimous, as fons of one Great Sire,
Hymning th' Eternal Father: but, the shout
Of battel now began, and rushing found
Of on-fet, ended foon each milder thought.
High in the midft, exalted as a God,
Th' apoftate in his fun-bright chariot sat,
Idol of majesty divine! inclos'd
With flaming Cherubim, and golden fhields:
Then, lighted from his gorgeous throne, (for now
"Twixt hoft and host but narrow space was left,
A dreadful interval! and, front to front
Prefented, ftood in terrible array,
Of hideous length) before the cloudy van,
On the rough edge of battel e'er it join'd,
Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanc'd,
Came tow'ring, arm'd in adamant, and gold:
Abdiel that fight indur'd not, where he stood
Among the mightiest, 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 realty, 115 Remain not: wherefore should not ftrength, and mighat, There fail, where virtue fails; or weakest prove, Where boldeft? Though to fight unconquerable, His puiffance (trusting in th' Almighty's aid!)
I mean to try; whofe reason I have try`d,
Unfound, and falfe: nor is it ought but juft,
That he who in debate of truth hath won,
Should win in arms; in both difputes alike
Victor: though brutish that conteft, and foul,
When reafon hath to deal with force: yet fo 125
Moft reafon 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'd, and thus fecurely him defy'd.
Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reach'd
The height of thy afpiring un-oppos'd,
The throne of God unguarded, and his fide
Abandon'd, at the terror of thy pow'r,
Or potent tongue: fool! not to think how vain 135
Against th' Omnipotent to rife in arms :
Who out of fmalleft things, could, without end,
Have rais'd inceffant armies, to defeat
Thy folly; or with folitary hand,
Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow,
Un-aided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd
Thy legions under darkness: but, thou feest
All are not of thy train; there be, who faith
Prefer, and piety to God; though then
To thee not vifible, when I alone
Seem'd in thy world erroneous to diffent
From all my Sect thou feeft; now learn too late How few fometimes may know, when thousands err.
Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye afkance,
Thus anfwer'd. Ill for thee, but in with'd hour 150
Of my revenge, first fought for, thou return'ft
From flight, feditious Angel! to receive
Thy merited reward, the first assay
Of this right hand provok'd, fince first that tongue,
Infpir'd with contradiction, durft oppose
A third part of the Gods, in fynod met
Their Deities t'affert: who, while they feel
Vigor divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But, well thou com'st
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
From me fome plume; that thy fuccefs may show
Destruction to the reft: this pause between,
(Un-answer'd left thou boast) to let thee know,
At first I thought that liberty, and heav'n,
To heav'nly fouls had been all one; but now 165
I see that most through floth had rather ferve,
Miniftring fpirits, train'd up in feast, and song!
Such haft thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of heav'n,
Servility with freedom to contend,
169
As both their deeds compar'd this day fhall prove.
To whom in brief thus Abdiel ftern reply'd.
Apoftate! 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 Servitude, to ferve whom God ordains,
Or Nature; God, and Nature, bid the fame,
When he who rules is worthieft, and excels
Them whom he governs. This is fervitude,
To serve th' unwife, or him who hath rebell'd
Against his worthier, as Thine now ferve Thee, 180
Thy self not free, but to thy self inthrall'd;
Yet leudly dar'ft 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 faidst, from flight, This greeting on thy impious creft receive.
So faying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but so swift with tempeft fell 190
On the proud crest of Satan, that no fight,
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 maffy spear up-staid: as if on earth
Winds under ground, or waters, forcing way,
Side-long had push'd a mountain from his feat,
Half-funk with all his pines. Amazement feiz'd
The rebel thrones, but greater rage to fee
199 Thus foil'd their Mightieft: ours joy fill'd, and fhout, Prefage of victory, and fierce defire
Of battel: whereat Michael bid found
Th' Arch-angel trumpet; thro' the Vaft of heav'n
It founded, and the faithful armies rung
Hofanna to the Higheft: nor ftood at gaze
The adverfe legions, nor lefs hideous join'd
The horrid fhock. Now ftorming fury rose,
And clamor, fuch as heard in heav'n till now
Was never; arms on armor clashing bray'd
Horrible difcord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots rag'd: dire was the noife
Of conflict over head the difmal hifs
Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew;
And flying, vaulted either hoft with fire.
So, under fiery Cope together rush'd
Both battels main, with ruinous assault,
And in-extinguishable 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
Thefe 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 ftrong hold of heav'n, high over-rul'd
And limited their might: though number'd such,
As each divided legion might have seem'd 230
A numerous heft; in ftrength, each armed hand,
A legion; led in fight, yet Leader feem'd
Each warrior; fingle, as in chief, expert
When to advance, or ftand, or turn the sway
Of battel, 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 rely'd,
As only in his arm the moment lay
|
