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That of so many Myriads fall'n, yet one

Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill

They led him high applauded, and present

Before the seat supream; from whence a voice

From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.

Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought

The better fight, who single hast maintaind

Against revolted multitudes the Cause

Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;

And for the testimonie of Truth hast born

Universal reproach, far worse to beare

Then violence: for this was all thy care

To stand approv'd in sight of God, though Worlds

Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now

Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,

Back on thy foes more glorious to return

Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue

By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,

Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King

MESSIAH, who by right of merit Reigns.

Goe MICHAEL of Celestial Armies Prince,

And thou in Military prowess next

GABRIEL, lead forth to Battel these my Sons

Invincible, lead forth my 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

Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heav'n

Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss,

Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf

Of TARTARUS, which ready opens wide

His fiery CHAOS to receave thir fall.

So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began

To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl

In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the signe

Of wrauth awak't: nor with less dread the loud

Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow:

At which command the Powers Militant,

That stood for Heav'n, in mighty Quadrate joyn'd

Of Union irresistible, mov'd on

In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound

Of instrumental Harmonie that breath'd

Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds

Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause

Of God and his MESSIAH. On they move

Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill,

Nor streit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides

Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground

Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore

Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind

Of Birds in orderly array on wing

Came summond over EDEN to receive

Thir names of thee; so over many a tract

Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a Province wide

Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last

Farr in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd

From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht

In battailous aspect, and neerer view

Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable

Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throng'd, and Shields

Various, with boastful Argument portraid,

The banded Powers of SATAN hasting on

With furious expedition; for they weend

That self same day by fight, or by surprize

To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne

To set the envier of his State, the proud

Aspirer, but thir thoughts prov'd fond and vain

In the mid way: though strange to us it seemd

At first, that Angel should with Angel warr,

And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet

So oft in Festivals of joy and love

Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire

Hymning th' Eternal Father: but the shout

Of Battel now began, and rushing sound

Of onset ended soon each milder thought.

High in the midst exalted as a God

Th' Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate

Idol of Majestie Divine, enclos'd

With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;

Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now

'Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left,

A dreadful interval, and Front to Front

Presented stood in terrible array

Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van,

On the rough edge of battel ere it joyn'd,

SATAN with vast and haughtie strides advanc't,

Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold;

ABDIEL that sight endur'd not, where he stood

Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,

And thus his own undaunted heart explores.

O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the Highest

Should yet remain, where faith and realtie

Remain not; wherfore should not strength & might

There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest