Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who faw Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? Our puiffance is our own; our own right hand 860 865 L. 861. When fatal course, &c.] We may obferve, that our author makes Satan a fort of fatalift. We angels (fays he) were felf-begot, felf-raised by our own quickening power, when the course of fate had completed its full round and period; then we were the birth mature, the production in due feason, of this our native heaven. No compliment to fatalism to put it into the mouth of the devil. New» L. 864. Our puiffance is our own.] It has been wondered, that Milton fhould conftantly pronounce this word, and puissant the adjective, with two fyllables, when they would be more fonorous with three; but in this he conforms to the practice and example of the best writers. So Fairfax, in his Taffo, cant. 18. stan. 55. And 'gain the northern gate my paissance bend; and cant. 19. ftan. 72. Of this your terrible and puissant knight. Though Spenfer, I find, makes them fometimes three, as well as fometimes two fyllables. As Shakespear does likewife, 2 Hen. IV. aa I. And come against us in fall puiffance. In the former line, puissance is used as two fyllables, and in the lat ter as three. It was certainly better in Milton to make it all the one, or all the other. Address, and to begirt th' almighty throne He faid, and, as the found of waters deep, 870 875 Incompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold : Forfaken of all good; I fee thy fall 880 885 890 When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 895 Among the faithlefs, faithful only he : Nor number, nor example, with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind Though fingle. From amidft them forth he pafs'd, Long way through hoftile fcorn; which he fuftain'd Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought; And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On thofe proud tow'rs to fwift destruction doom'd. 905 End of BooK FIFTH. The ARGUMENT of Book VI. RAPHAEL continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The firft fight defcribed: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the fecond day's fight put Michael and his angels to fome diforder; but they at length pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan: yet the tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends Meffiah his Son, for whom he had referved the glory of that victory: be 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 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: Meiab returns with triumph to bis Father. |