coming to the place, and caufing all His legions to ftand ftill on either fide, with His chariot and thunder driving into the midst of His enemies, purfues them, unable to refift, towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the Deep: Meffiah returns with triumph
LL night the dread-lefs Angel, un-purfu'd, Thro' heav'n's wide champain held his way; till Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rofy hand [Morn, Un-barr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, faft by His throne Where light, and darkness, in perpetual round Lodge, and dif-lodge, by turns; which makes thro' Grateful viciffitude, like day, and night: Light iffues forth, and at the other door Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veil the heav'n, (tho' 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 thro' with orient beams: when all the plain 15 Cover'd with thick imbattled squadrons bright, Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view. War he perceiv'd, war in procinct; and found Already known, what he for news had thought 20 To have reported: gladly then he mix'd Among those friendly Pow'rs, who him receiv'd 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 high 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 born Univerfal reproach; far worse to bear Than violence: for this was all thy care
To stand approv'd in fight of God, tho' worlds Judg'd thee perverse. The easier conqueft now Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return, Than fcorn'd thou didst depart; and to fubdue By force, who reason for their law refuse, Right reafon for their law; and for their King Meffiab, who by right of merit reigns. Go, Michael! of cœleftial armies Prince; And thou, in military prowess next, Gabriel! lead forth to battel these my fons Invincible; lead forth thy armed Saints, By thousands, and by millions, rang'd for fight; Equal in number to that Godless crew, Rebellious: them with fire, and hostile arms, 50 Fearless affault; and to the brow of heav'n Pursuing, drive them out from God, and bliss, Into their place of punishment, the gulph Of Tartarus; which ready opens wide His fiery chaos to receive their fall.
So fpake the Sovereign Voice, and clouds began To darken all the hill, and fmoke to rowl In dusky wreathes reluctant flames;
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 quadrate 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 advent'rous deeds,
Under their God-like Leaders, in the caufe
Of God, and His Meffiab. On they move
Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftrait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides
Their perfect ranks: for, high above the ground
Their march was, and the paffive air up-bore Their nimble tread: as when the total kind Of birds, in orderly array on wing,
> Came fummon'd over Eden, to receive
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 th' horizon to the north appear'd From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd In battailous afpect, and nearer view Briftled with upright beams innumerable Of rigid fpears, and helmets throng'd, and shields Various, with boastful argument portraid, The banded Pow'rs of Satan, hasting on With furious expedition: for they ween'd That self-fame day, by fight, or by furprize, To win the mount of God; and on His throne To fet the envier of His ftate, the proud
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