Such as we might perceive amus'd them all, And stumbled many; who receives them right, Had need from head to foot well understand; Not understood, this gift they have befides, They show us when our foes walk not upright. So they among themselves in pleasant vein Stood fcoffing, highten'd in their thoughts beyond All doubt of victory; eternal might
To match with their inventions they prefum'd So eafy', and of his thunder made a fcorn, And all his hoft derided, while they ftood
A while in trouble: but they flood not long; Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms 635 Against such hellish mischief fit to' oppose. Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, Which God hath in his mighty, Angels plac'd): Their arms away they threw, and to the hills (For Earth hath this variety from Heaven Of pleasure fituate in hill and dale)
Light as the lightning glimpfe they ran, they flew; From their foundations loofning to and fro
They pluck'd the feated hills with all their load, Rocks, waters, woods, and by the fhaggy tops 645. Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze, Be fure, and terror feis'd the rebel hoft, When coming towards them fo dread they faw The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd; Till on those curfed engins triple-row They faw them whelm'd, and all their confidence Under the weight of mountains buried deep;
Themselves invaded next, and on their heads Main promontories flung, which in the air
Came fhadowing, and opprefs'd whole legions arm'd; Their armour help'd' their harm, crush'd in and bruis'd' Into their fubftance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long ftrugling underneath, ere they could wind Out of fuch pris'n, though Spirits of pureft light, 660 Pureft at firft, now grofs by finning grown.
The reft in imitation to like arms
Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore; So hills amid the air encounter'd hills'
Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,
That under ground they fought in difmal fhade; Infernal noife; war feem'd a civil game To this uproar; hortid confufion heap'd Upon confufion rofe: and now all Heaven Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; Had not th' almighty Father, where he fits Shrin'd in his fanctuary of Heav'n fecure, Confulting on the fum of things, foreseen This tumult, and permitted all, advis❜d": That his great purpose he might fo fulfil, To honor his anointed Son aveng'd
Upon his enemies, and to declare
All pow'r on him transferr'd: whence to his Son
Th' affeffor of his throne he thus began.
Effulgence of my glory, Son belov’d;
Son in whofe face invifible is beheld
Vifibly, what by deity I am,
And in whose hand what by decree I do, Second Omnipotence, two days are past, Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, Since Michael and his Pow'rs went forth to tame Thefe difobedient: fore hath been their fight, As likelieft was, when two fuch foes met arm'd; For to themselves I left them, and thou know'st, Equal in their creation they were form'd, Save what fin hath impair'd, which yet hath wrought Infenfibly, for I fufpend their doom;
Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last Endlefs, and no folution will be found:
War wearied hath perform'd what war can do, 695 And to disorder'd rage let loose the reins,
With mountains as with weapons arm'd, which makes Wild work in Heav'n, and dangerous to the main. Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus far Have fuffer'd, that the glory may be thine Of ending this great war, fince none but Thou Can end it. Into thee fuch virtue' and
Immense I have transfus'd, that all may know
In Heav'n and Hell thy pow'r above compare; 795 And this perverse commotion govern'd thus,
To manifeft thee worthieft to be Heir
Of all things, to be Heir and to be King By facred unction, thy deserved right.
Go then thou Mightieft in thy Father's might, 710 Afcend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels
That shake Heav'n's bafis, bring forth all my war,
My bow and thunder, my almighty arms Gird on, and fword upon thy puiffant thigh; Pursue these fons of darkness, drive them out From all Heav'n's bounds into the utter deep: There let them learn, as likes them, to despise God and Meffiah his anointed king.
He faid, and on his Son with rays direct Shone full; he all his Father full express'd Ineffably into his face receiv'd;
And thus the filial Godhead anfw'ring spake. O Father, O Supreme of heav'nly Thrones, Firft, Highest, Holieft, Beft, thou always feek'st To glorify thy Son, I always thee,
As is most just; this I my glory' account, My exaltation, and my whole delight,
That thou in me well pleas'd, declar'ft thy will Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my blifs.
Scepter and pow'r, thy giving, I affume, And gladlier shall refign, when in the end Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee For ever, and in me all whom thou loy'st:
But whom thou hat'ft, I hate, and can put on
Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,
Image of thee in all things; and fhall foon,
Arm'd with thy might, rid Heav'n of these rebell'd, To their prepar'd ill manfion driven down,
To chains of darkness, and th' undying worm, That from thy just obedience could revolt,
Whom to obey is happiness entire. Then shall thy Saints unmix'd, and from th' impure
Far feparate, circling thy holy mount
Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee fing,
Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief. 745 So faid, he o'er his fcepter bowing, rofe
From the right hand of glory where he fat; And the third facred morn began to fhine, Dawning through Heav'n: forth rufh'd with whirlwind The chariot of paternal Deity,
Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoy'd
By four Cherubic fhapes; four faces each Had wondrous; as with ftars their bodies all And wings were set with eyes, with eyes the wheels Of beril, and carreering fires between;
Over their heads a cryftal firmament,
Whereon a faphir throne, inlaid with pure Amber, and colors of the fhow'ry arch. He in celestial panoply all arm'd
Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, Afcended; at his right hand victory Sat eagle-wing'd; befide him hung his bow And quiver with three-bolted thunder ftor'd, And from about him fierce effufion roll'd
Of fmoke and bickering flame and sparkles dire: Attended with ten thoufand thoufand Saints,
He onward came, far off his coming fhone; And twenty thoufand (I their number heard) Chariots of God, half on each hand were feen: 770 He on the wings of Cherub rode fublime
On the crystallin fky, in faphir thron'd,
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