Prefented flood in terrible array,

Of hideous length) before the cloudy van,
On the rough edge of battel e're it join'd,
SATAN, with vait and haughty ftrides advanc'd,
Came tow'ring, arm'd in adamant and gold:
ABDIEL that fight indur'd not, where he stood
Among the mightieft, bent on highest deeds;
And thus his own undaunted heart explores.

120

O Heav'n' that fuch refemblance of the Higheft Should yet remain, where faith and realty 115 Remain not: wherefore fhould not ftrength & might There fail, where virtue fails; or weakest prove Where boldeft? Though to fight unconquerable, His puillance (trufting in th' Almighty's aid!) I mean to try; whofe reafon 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 disputes alike Victor: though brutish that contest and foul, When reafon hath to deal with force; yet fo 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.

125

130

Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reach'd The height of thy afpiring unoppos'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,

I 3

140 Unaided

1

Unaided could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd
Thy legions under darkness: but thou feeft
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..

145

Whom the grand foe, with fcornful eye askance,
Thus anfwer'd. Ill for thee, but in with'd hour 150
For my revenge, firft fought for thou return'ft
From flight, feditious Angel! to receive
Thy merited reward, the first afsay

155

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'ft
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

160

165

From me fome plume; that thy fuccefs may show
Deftruction to the reft: this pause between,
(Unanswer'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
I fee that moft through floth had rather ferve,
Miniftring fpirits, train'd up in feaft and fong!
Such haft thou arm'd, the minftrelfy of Heav'n,
Servility with freedom to contend,

As both their deeds compar'd this day fhall prove. 170

To whom in brief thuş 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; Gop and Nature bid the fame,

175

When

When he who rules is worthieft, and excels
Them whom he governs. This is fervitude,
To ferve th' unwife, or him who hath rebell'd
Againft his worthier, as thine now ferve thee,
Thy felf not free, but to thy felf inthrall'd;
Yet leudly dar'ft our miniftring upbraid.
Reign thou in Hell thy kingdom, let me ferve
In Heav'n Gop ever bleft, and his divine
Behefts obey, worthieft to be obey'd!

18

185

Yet chains in Hell, not realms expect: mean while From me return'd, as erft thou faidft, from flight, This greeting on thy impious creft receive.

So faying, a noble ftroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but fo fwift with tempeft fall 198 On the proud crest of SATAN, that no fight, Nor motion of fwift thought, lefs could his fhield Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge He back recoil'd; the tenth, on bended knee, His maffy fpear upftaid: as if on earth Winds under ground, or waters, forcing way, Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his feat, Half-funk with all his Pines. Amazement feis'd The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to fee Thus foil'd their Mightieft: ours joy fill'd, and fhout, Prefage of victory and fierce defire

195

201

205

Of battel whereat MICHAEL bid found
Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vaft of Heav'n
It founded, and the faithful armies rung
Hofanna to the Higheft: nor food at gaze
The adverfe legions, nor lefs hideous join'd
The horrid fhock. Now ftorming fury rofe,
And clamor, fuch as heard in Heav'n till now
Was never; arms on armor clafhing bray'd
Horrible difcord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots rag'd: dire was the noise
Of conflict! over head the difmal hifs
Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew;