And from about him fierce effusion rolled Of smoke and bickering flame and sparkles dire. 770 780 In Heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, Took envy, and, aspiring to his highth, Weening to prosper, and at length prevail In universal ruin last; and now - 790 800 810 "Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand, Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest. Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; And, as ye have received, so have ye done, Invincibly. But of this cursed crew The punishment to other hand belongs; Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints. Number to this day's work is not ordained, Nor multitude; stand only and behold God's indignation on these godless poured By me. Not you, but me, they have despised, Yet envied; against me is all their rage, Because the Father, to whom in Heaven supreme Kingdom and power and glory appertains, Hath honoured me, according to his will. Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned, That they may have their wish, to try with me In battle which the stronger proves—they all, Or I alone against them; since by strength They measure all, of other excellence Not emulous, nor care who them excels; Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe.' "So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance, too severe to be beheld, And full of wrath bent on his enemies. At once the Four spread out their starry wings With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. He on his impious foes right onward drove, Gloomy as Night. Under his burning wheels The steadfast Empyrean shook throughout, All but the throne itself of God. Full soon Among them he arrived, in his right hand Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent 820 830 Before him, such as in their souls infixed Plagues. They, astonished, all resistance lost, O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 840 One spirit in them ruled, and every eye Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, And of their wonted vigour left them drained, Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked His thunder in mid-volley; for he meant Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven. 851 And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, 860 Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed Into the wasteful Deep. The monstrous sight Strook them with horror backward; but far worse Urged them behind headlong themselves they threw Down from the verge of Heaven: eternal wrath Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. "Hell heard the unsufferable noise; Hell saw Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roared, And felt tenfold confusion in their fall 870 Through his wild Anarchy; so huge a rout Yawning, received them whole, and on them closed -- To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood On high; who into glory him received, 880 890 "Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth, At thy request, and that thou may'st beware By what is past, to thee I have revealed What might have else to human race been hid— Which would be all his solace and revenge, 900 |