THE

SIXTH

OF

BOOK

PARADISE LOST.

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels. The firft fight defcrib'd: Satan and his Powers retire under night: He calls a council, invents devilish engins, which in the fecond day's fight put Michael and his Angels to fome diforder: but they at length pulling up mountains overwhelm'd both the force and machines of Satan : Yet the tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends MESSIAH his Son, for whom he had referv'd the glory of that victory: He in the power of his Father coming to the place, and caufing all his legions to ftand ftill on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midft of his enemies, pursues them unable to resist towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the deep: MESSIAH returns with triumph to his Father.

PARADISE

A

воок

LOST.

VI.

LL night the dreadlefs Angel unpursued

Through Heav'n's wide champain held his way; till Wak'd by the circling hours, with rofy hand [morn, Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave

Within the mount of God, faft by his throne,

5

Where light and darkness in perpetual round

Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes through
Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;

Light iffues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour

[Heaven

10

To veil the Heav'n, though darkness there might well Seem twilight here: and now went forth the morn Such as in highest Heav'n, array'd in gold

Empyreal; from before her vanish'd night,

Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain 15
Cover'd with thick imbattel'd squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming arms, and fiery steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, firft met his view:
War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mix'd
Among thofe friendly Pow'rs, who him receiv'd

20

With joy and acclamations loud, that one,
That of fo many myriads fall'n, yet one
Return'd not loft: On to the facred hill
They led him higli applauded, and present
Before the feat fupreme; from whence a voice
From midst a golden cloud thus mild was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well haft `thou fought
The better fight, who fingle haft maintain'd
Against revolted multitudes the cause

Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms;
And for the teftimony' of truth haft borne

25

30

Universal reproach, far worse to bear

Than violence; for this was all thy care,

35

To stand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds
Judg'd thee perverfe: the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Than scorn'd thou didst depart, and to fubdue
By force, who reafon for their law refuse,
Right reason for their law, and for their king
Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns.
Go Michael of celestial armies prince,

40

And thou in military prowefs next

45

Gabriel, lead forth to hattel these my fons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight,
Equal in number to that Godlefs crew

Rebellious; them with fire and hoftile arms
Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heaven
Pursuing drive them out from God and blifs

50

Into

Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.

55

So fpake the fovran voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll

In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign

Of wrath awak'd; nor with lefs dread the loud
Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow:
At which command the Powers militant,
That stood for Heav'n, in mighty quadrat join'd
Of union irresistible, mov'd on

In filence their bright legions, to the found
Of inftrumental harmony, that breath'd
Heroic ardor to adventrous deeds

Under their God-like leaders, in the caufe
Of God and his Meffiah. On they move
Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,

60

65

Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor ftream divides' 70

Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground

Their march was, and the paffive air upbore

Their nimble tread; as when the total kind
Of birds, in orderly array on wing,

Came fummon'd over Eden to receive

75

Their names of thee; fo over many a tract

Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a province-wide
Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last -
Far in the horizon to the north appear'd
From skirt to fkirt a fiery region, stretch'd
In battailous afpéct, and nearer view
Briftled with upright beams innumerables.

80

of