That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats
To chase me hence? err not that so shall end
The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style
The strife of glory: which we mean to win,
Or turn this heaven itself into the hell
Thou fablest; here however to dwell free,
If not to reign: meanwhile thy utmost force,
And join him nam'd Almighty to thy aid,
I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh,
They ended parle, and both address'd for fight
Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue
Of angels, can relate, or to what things
Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift
Human imagination to such highth
Of godlike power? for likest gods they seem'd,
Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms,
Fit to decide the empire of great heaven.
Now wav'd their fiery swords, and in the air
Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields
Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood
In horror; from each hand with speed retir'd,
Where erst was thickest fight, th' angelic throng,
And left large field, unsafe within the wind
Of such commotion; such as, to set forth
296 address'd] Spens. F. Qu. v. ii. 12.
'And straighte himselfe unto the fight addrest.' Todd.
306 expectation] So Shakesp. Hen. V.
'For now sits expectation in the air.'
And Beaum. and Fletch. Boadicea, act iii. scene i. 'And expectation like the Roman eagle
Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke,
Among the constellations war were sprung,
Two planets, rushing from aspect malign
Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky
Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. 315
Together both, with next to Almighty arm,
Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aim'd
That might determine, and not need repeat,
As not of power, at once; nor odds appear'd
In might or swift prevention; but the sword
Of Michael from the armoury of GoD
Was giv'n him temper'd so, that neither keen
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met
The sword of Satan with steep force to smite
Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stay'd,
But with swift wheel reverse, deep ent'ring, shar'd
All his right side; then Satan first knew pain,
And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore
The griding sword with discontinuous wound
Pass'd thro' him: but th' ethereal substance clos'd,
Not long divisible, and from the gash
A stream of nectarous humor issuing flow'd
Sanguine, such as celestial spirits may bleed,
And all his armour stain'd ere while so bright.
317 imminent] Virg. Æn. vi. 602.
'Quos super atra silex, jam jam lapsura, cadentique
Imminet assimilis.'
329 griding] Spens, F. Q. ii. viii. 36.
That through his thigh the mortal steel did gride.' Newton. 329 discontinuous wound] Compare an expression of Horace, 'Oceano dissociabili.' Ode iii. b. i. A. Dyce.
Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run
By angels many and strong, who interpos'd
Defence, while others bore him on their shields
Back to his chariot, where it stood retir'd
From off the files of war: there they him laid
Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame,
To find himself not matchless, and his pride
Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath
His confidence to equal God in power.
Yet soon he heal'd; for spirits that live throughout
Vital in every part, not as frail man
In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins,
Cannot but by annihilating die;
Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
Receive, no more than can the fluid air:
All heart they live, all head, all eye,
All intellect, all sense, and as they please
They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size
Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.
Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserv'd
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
And with fierce ensigns pierc'd the deep array
Of Moloc furious king, who him defy'd,
And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound
Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of heav'n
Refrain❜d his tongue blasphemous; but anon,
Down cloven to the waist, with shatter'd arms
And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing
362 uncouth] Spen. F. Qu. i. xi. 20
'That with the uncouth smart the monster loudly cryde.'
Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe,
Though huge, and in a rock of diamond arm'd,
Vanquish'd, Adramelec and Asmadai,
Two potent thrones, that to be less than gods Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their flight,
Mangled with ghastly wounds thro' plate and mail. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow
Ariel, and Arioc, and the violence
Of Ramiel scorch'd and blasted, overthrew.
I might relate of thousands, and their names
Eternize here on earth; but those elect
Angels, contented with their fame in heaven,
Seek not the praise of men: the other sort,
In might though wondrous and in acts of war,
Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom
Cancel'd from heav'n and sacred memory,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.
For strength from truth divided and from just,
Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise
And ignominy; yet to glory aspires
Vainglorious, and through infamy seeks fame :
Therefore eternal silence be their doom.
And now, their mightiest quell'd, the battle swerv'd, With many an inroad gor'd; deformed rout Enter'd and foul disorder: all the ground With shiver'd armour strown, and on a heap
368 plate] Spen. F. Qu. i. vi. 43.
'With their force they perst both plate and mail.' Todd.
Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd,
And fiery foaming steeds; what stood, recoil'd
O'erwearied, through the faint Satanic host
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpriz❜d,
Then first with fear surpriz'd and sense of pain
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought
By sin of disobedience, till that hour
Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain.
Far otherwise th' inviolable saints
In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire,
Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd:
Such high advantages their innocence
Gave them above their foes, not to have sinn'd,
Not to have disobey'd; in fight they stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd
By wound, tho' from their place by violence mov'd. Now night her course began, and, over heav'n 406 Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd,
And silence on the odious din of war:
Under her cloudy covert both retir'd,
Victor and vanquish'd. On the foughten field 410 Michael and his angels prevalent
Encamping plac'd in guard their watches round,
399 cubic] Squared. Embodied, 779. Bentl. MS.
407 Inducing] Hor. Sat. i. v. 9.
'Jam nox inducere terris
Umbras, et cœlo diffundere signa parabat.'
410 foughten] Shakesp. Hen. V.
'As in this glorious and well foughten field.'
and Fletcher's Laws of Candy, act iii. scene 1,' are tales of foughten
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