THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels. The first 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 stand still on either fide, with his 'chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them unable to refift 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

LOST.

A

LL night the dreadless 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,

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

Qbfequious darkness enters, till her hour

[Heaven

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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 fquadrons 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

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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 prefent
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

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Univerfal reproach, far worse to bear

Than violence; for this was all thy care,

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To stand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds

Judg'd thee perverfe: the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Than fcorn'd thou didst depart, and to fubdue
By force, who reafon for their law refuse,
Right reafon for their law, and for their king
Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns.
Go Michael of celeftial armies prince,

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And thou in military prowefs next

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Gabriel, lead forth to battel these my sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By thoufands and by millions rang'd for fight,'
Equal in number to that Godlefs crew
Rebellious; them with fire and hoftile arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of Heaven
Purfuing drive them out from God and blifs

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Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.

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 ftood for Heav'n, in mighty quadrat join'd
Of union irresistible, mov'd on

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

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

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Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream 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

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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, ftretch'd
In battailous afpéct, and nearer view
Bristled with upright beams innumerable

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