These wicked tents devoted; lest the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame,
Distinguish not for soon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire:
Then who created thee lamenting learn;

When, who can uncreate thee, thou shalt know.'

"So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, unmoved,
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified,

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal :
Nor number nor example with him wrought

To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way through hostile scorn; which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;

And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd
On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd.

END OF BOOK V.

criminelles et réprouvées, dans la crainte que l'imminente colère éclatant dans une flamme soudaine ne fasse aucune distinction. Attends-toi à sentir bientôt sur ta tête son tonnerre, feu qui dévore. Alors tu appendras, en gémissant, à connoître celui qui t'a créé quand tu connoîtras celui qui peut t'anéantir. »

« Ainsi parla le séraphin Abdiel, trouvé fidèle parmi les infidèles, fidèle seul. Chez d'innombrables imposteurs, immuable, inébranlé, non séduit, non terrifié, il garda sa loyauté, son amour et son zèle. Ni le nombre ni l'exemple ne purent le contraindre à s'écarter de la vérité ou à altérer, quoique seul, la constance de son esprit. Il se retira du milieu de cette armée : pendant un long chemin, il passa à travers les dédains ennemis; il les soutiot. supérieur à l'injure, ne craignant rien de la violence: avec un mépris rendu, il tourna le dos à ces orgueilleuses tours, vouées à une prompte destruction. >>

PIN DU LIVICK V.

BOOK VI.

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight described : Satan and his powers retire under night he calls a council, invents devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his angers to soine disʊróʊ.'; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan : yet, the tumult not so ending, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory. He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the miost of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of heaven, which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.

"All night the dreadless angel, unpursued,

Through heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn,
Waked by the circling hours, with rosy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave

Within the mount of God, fast by his throne,

Where light and darkness in perpetual round

Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through heaven

Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;

Light issues forth, and at the other door

Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour

To veil the heaven, though darkness there might well

Seem twilight here:

"And now went forth the Morn,

Such as in highest heaven, array'd in gold

Empyreal from before her vanish'd Night,

Shot through with orient beams; when all the plair,
Cover'd with thick embattled squadrons bright,

Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,

LIVRE VI.

ARGUMENT.

Raphael continue à raconter comment Michel et Gabriel furent envoyés pour combattre contre Satan et ses anges. La première bataille décrite. Satan, avec ses puissances, se retire pendant la nuit: il convoque un conseil, invente des machines diaboliques, qui, au second jour de la bataille, mirent en désordre Michel et ses anges. Mais à la fin, arrachant les montagnes, ils ensevelirent les forces et les machines de Satan. Cependant, le tumulte ne cessant pas, Dieu, le troisième jour, envoya son fils le Messie, auquel il avoit réservé la gloire de cette victoire. Le Fils, dans la puissance de son Père, venant au lieu du combat, ordonnant à toutes ses légions de rester tranquilles des deux côtés, se précipitant avec son char et son tonnerre au milieu des ennemis, les poursuit, incapables qu'ils étoient de résister, vers la muraille du Ciel. Le Ciel s'ouvrant, ils tombent en bas avec horreur et confusion, au lieu du châtiment préparé pour eux dans l'abîme. Le Messie retourne triomphant à son père.

« Toute la nuit l'ange intrépide, non poursuivi, continua sa route à travers la vaste plaine du Ciel, jusqu'à ce que le matin, éveillé par les heures qui marchent en cercle, ouvrit avec sa main de rose les portes de la lumière. Il est sous le mont de Dieu et tout près de son trône une grotte qu'habitent et déshabitent tour à tour la lumière et les ténèbres, en perpétuelle succession, ce qui produit dans le Ciel une agréable vicissitude, pareille au jour et à la nuit. La lumière sort, et par l'autre porte entrent les ténèbres obéissantes attendant l'heure de voiler les Cieux, bien que là les ténèbres ressemblent au crépuscule ici.

"

« Maintenant l'aurore se levoit, telle qu'elle est dans le plus haut Ciel, vêtue de l'or de l'empyrée; devant elle s'évanouissoit la nuit, percée des rayons de l'Orient : soudain toute la campagne, couverte d'épais et brillants escadrons rangés en bataille, de chariots, d'armes

Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view :
War he perceived, war in procinct; and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mix'd
Among those friendly powers, who him received
With joy and acclamations loud, that one,
That of so many myriads fallen, yet one
Return'd not lost. On to the sacred hill
They led him high applauded, and prosent
Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice,

From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard :

"Servant of God, well done; well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintain'd

Against revolted multitudes the cause

Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms;
And for the testimony of truth hast borne
Universal reproach, far worse to bear
Than violence; for this was all thy care,

To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds
Judged thee perverse: the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return,
Than scorn'd thou didst depart; and to subdue
By force, who reason for their law refuse;
Right reason for their law, and for their King
Messiah, who by right of merit reigns.
Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince;

And thou, in military prowess next,

Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons
Invincible; lead forth my armed saints,

By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight;
Equal in number to that godless crew
Rebellious: them with fire and hostile arms
Fearless assault; and, to the brow of heaven
Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss,
Into their place of punishment, the gulf

Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

His fiery chaos to receive their fall.'

666

So spake the sovereign voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll

In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign

Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud

Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow :

At which command the powers militant,
That stood for heaven, in mighty quadrate join'd

Of union irresistible, moved on

In silence their bright legions, to the sound

Of instrumental harmony, that breathed

Heroic ardour to adventurous deeds

Under their godlike leaders, in the cause