835

The ftedfaft empyréan fhook throughout,
All but the throne itself of God. Full foon
Among them he arriv'd, in his right hand
Grafping ten thoufand thunders, which he fent
Before him, fuch as in their fouls infix'd
Plagues; they aftonifh'd all refiftance loft,
All courage; down their idle weapons dropt;
O'er fhields and helms and helmed heads he rode 840
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim proftráte,

That wish'd the mountains now might be again
Thrown on them as a fhelter from his ire.
Nor lefs on either fide tempeftuous fell
His arrows, from the fourfold-vifag'd Four
Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels
Diftin&t alike with multitude of eyes;

$45

One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye
Glar'd lightning, and fhot forth pernicious fire
Among th' accurs'd, that wither'd all their strength, 850
And of their wonted vigor left them drain'd,

Exhaufted, fpiritlefs, afflicted, fall'n.

Yet half his ftrength he put not forth, but check'd

His thunder in mid voly; for he meant

Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven: 855

The overthrown he rais'd, and as a herd

Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd

Drove them before him thunder-ftruck, pursued

With terrors and with furies to the bounds

And cryftal wall of Heaven, which opening wide, 860 Roll'd inward, and a fpacious gap difclos'd

Into the wasteful deep; the monstrous fight

Struck

Struck them with horror backward, but far worse
Urg'd them behind; headlong themselves they threw
Down from the verge of Heav'n; eternal wrath 865
Burnt after them to the bottomlefs pit.

Hell heard th' unfufferable noife, Hell faw
Heav'n ruining from Heav'n, and would have fled
Affrighted; but strict fate had caft too deep
Her dark foundations, and too faft had bound.
Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roar'd,
And felt tenfold confufion in their fall
Through his wild anarchy, fo huge a rout
Incumber'd him with ruin: Hell at laft

Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd
Hell their fit habitation fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.
Difburden'd Heav'n rejoic'd, and foon repair'd
Her mural breach, returning whence it roll'd.
Sole victor from th' expulfion of his foes
Meffiah his triumphal chariot turn'd:

To meet him all his Saints, who filent stood
Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts,

With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went,

870

880

Shaded with branching palm, each order bright, 885
Sung triumph, and him fung victorious King,
Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given,
Worthieft to reign: he celebrated rode
Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the courts
And temple of his mighty Father thron'd
On high; who into glory him receiv'd,
Where now he fits at the right hand of bliss.

890

Thus

Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth,
At thy request, and that thou may'ft beware
By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd

What might have else to human race been hid;
The difcord which befel, and war in Heaven
Among th' Angelic Pow'rs, and the deep fall
Of thofe too high aspiring, who rebell'd
With Satan; he who envies now thy state,
Who now is plotting how he may seduce
Thee also from obedience, that with him
Bereav'd of happiness thou may'st partake
His punishment, eternal misery;

Which would be all his folace and revenge,
As a defpite done against the most High,
Thee once to gain companion of his woe.
But liften not to his temptations, warn
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to' have heard
By terrible example the reward

895

୨୦୦

905

Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,
Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.

910

THE END OF THE SIXTH BOOK.

THE

SEVENTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.