Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.
In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? But to convince the proud what signs avail, Or wonders move th' obdurate to relent? They harden'd more by what might most reclaim, Grieving to see his glory, at the sight Took envy; and aspiring to his height, Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud Weaning to prosper, and at length prevail Against God and Messiah, or to fall In universal ruin last; and now
To final battle drew disdaining flight,
Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God To all his host on either hand thus spake:
800 Stand still in bright array, 'ye Saints, here stand Ye Angels arm'd, this day from battle rest; Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause, And as ye have receiv'd, so have ye done Invincibly; but of this cursed crew The punishment to other hand belongs; Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints : Number to this day's work is not ordain'd Nor multitude; stand only and behold God's indignation on these godless pour'd
By me; not you but me they have despis’d, Yet envied; against me is all their rage,
Because the Father, to' whom in Heav'n supreme Kingdom and power and glory appertains,
Hath honor'd me according to his will.
Therefore to me their doom he hath assign'd; That they may have their wish, to try with me In battle which the stronger proves, they all, Or. I alone against them, since by strength They measure all, of other excellence Not emulous, nor care who them excels; Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe. So spake the Son, and into terror chang'd His count'nance too severe to be beheld, And full of wrath bent on his enemies. At once the Four spread out their starry wings With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs Of his fierce chariot roll'd, as with the sound Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. He on his impious foes right onward drove, Gloomy as Night: under his burning wheels The stedfast empyréan shook throughout, All but the throne itself of God. Full soon Among them he arriv'd, in his right hand Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent Before him, such as in their souls infix'd Plagues; they astonish'd all resistance lost, All courage; down their idle weapons dropt; O'er shields and helms and helmed heads he rode Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostráte, 841 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 His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Four Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels
Distinct alike with multitude of eyes;
One spirit in them rul'd, and every eye Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among th' accurs'd, that wither'd all their strength, And of their wonted vigor left them drain'd, 851 Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd His thunder in mid volley; for he meant Not to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n: The overthrown he rais'd, and as a herd Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursu'd With terrors and with furies to the bounds And crystal wall of Heav'n, which opening wide, Roll'd inward, and a spacious gap disclos'd 861 Into the wasteful deep; the monstrous sight
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 Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw Heav'n ruining from Heav'n, and would have fled Affrighted; but strict fate had cast too deep Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870 Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roar'd, And felt tenfold confusion in their fall
Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout Incumber'd him with ruin. Hell at last Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd; Hell their fit habitation, fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. Disburden'd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon repair'd Her mural breach, returning whence it roll'd. Sole victor from th' expulsion of his foes Messiah his triumphal chariot turn'd:
To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts,
With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went, Shaded with branching palm, each order bright, Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, Worthiest to reign: he celebrated rode Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the courts And temple of his mighty Father, thron'd On high; who into glory him receiv'd,
Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.
Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on At thy request, and that thou may'st beware [earth By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd
What might have else to human race been hid; The discord which befel, and war in Heav'n Among th' angelic Powers, and the deep fall Of those too high aspiring, who rebell'd With Satan; he who now envies thy state, Who now is plotting how he may seduce Thee also from obedience, that with him Bereav'd of happiness thou may'st partake His punishment, eternal misery; Which would be all his solace and revenge, As a despite done against the Most High,
Thee once to gain companion of his woe. But listen not to his temptations, warn Thy weaker; let it profit thee to' have heard By terrible example the reward
Of disobedience: firm they might have stood, Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.
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