Or I alone against them, since by strength 820 So spake the Son, and into terror chang'd 825 Among them he arriv'd, in his right hand At once the Four spread out their starry wings 830 Full soon 835 Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent Plagues; they astonish'd all resistance lost, All courage; down their idle weapons dropt; O'er shields and helms and helmed heads he rode 840 Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, That wish'd the mountains now might be again Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire. Nor less on either side tempestuous fell One spirit in them rul'd, and every eye 845 Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among th' accurs'd, that wither'd all their strength, Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd 851 Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven : 855 Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd And crystal wall of Heav'n, which opening wide, 860 Struck them with horror backward, but far worse Urg'd them behind; headlong themselves they threw Down from the verge of Heav'n; eternal wrath 865 Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. HELL heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw 870 Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roar'd, Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd; Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. 876 Disburden'd Heaven rejoic'd, and soon repair'd To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went, 880 Shading with branching palm, each order bright, 885 Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the courts On high; who into glory him receiv'd, Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. 890 THUS measuring things in Heav'n by things on earth, At thy request, and that thou may'st beware By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd What might have else to human race been hid; Which would be all his solace and revenge, 995 As a despite done against the most High, Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, 910 THE END OF THE SIXTH BOOK. Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven, declared his pleasure to create another world and other creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with glory and attendance of Angels to perform the work of creation in six days: the Angels celebrate with hymns the performance thereof, and his reascension into Heaven.. DESCEND from Heav'n, Urania, by that name If rightly thou art call'd, whose voice divine The meaning, not the name I call: for thou Lest from this flying steed unrein'd, (as once 5 ΤΟ 15 |