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 prove

Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable?

His puissance, trusting in th' Almightie's aide,

I mean to try, whose Reason I have tri'd

Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,

That he who in debate of Truth hath won,

Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike

Victor; though brutish that contest and foule,

When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so

Most reason is that Reason overcome.

So pondering, and from his armed Peers

Forth stepping opposite, half way he met

His daring foe, at this prevention more

Incens't, and thus securely him defi'd.

Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht

The highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd,

The Throne of God unguarded, and his side

Abandond at the terror of thy Power

Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain

Against th' Omnipotent to rise in Arms;

Who out of smallest things could without end

Have rais'd incessant Armies to defeat

Thy folly; or with solitarie hand

Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow

Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmd

Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest

All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith

Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then

To thee not visible, when I alone

Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent

From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late

How few somtimes may know, when thousands err.

Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance

Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre

Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst

From flight, seditious Angel, to receave

Thy merited reward, the first assay

Of this right hand provok't, since first that tongue

Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose

A third part of the Gods, in Synod met

Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel

Vigour Divine within them, can allow

Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst

Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

From me som Plume, that thy success may show

Destruction to the rest: this pause between

(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;

At first I thought that Libertie and Heav'n

To heav'nly Soules had bin all one; but now

I see that most through sloth had rather serve,

Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;

Such hast thou arm'd, the Minstrelsie of Heav'n,

Servilitie with freedom to contend,

As both thir deeds compar'd this day shall prove.

To whom in brief thus ABDIEL stern repli'd.

Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find

Of erring, from the path of truth remote:

Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name

Of SERVITUDE to serve whom God ordains,

Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,

When he who rules is worthiest, and excells

Them whom he governs. This is servitude,

To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rebelld

Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,

Thy self not free, but to thy self enthrall'd;

Yet leudly dar'st our ministring upbraid.

Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve

In Heav'n God ever blessed, and his Divine

Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd,

Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while

From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.

So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell

On the proud Crest of SATAN, that no sight,

Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield

Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge

He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee

His massie Spear upstaid; as if on Earth

Winds under ground or waters forcing way

Sidelong, had push't a Mountain from his seat

Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seis'd

The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see

Thus foil'd thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout,

Presage of Victorie and fierce desire

Of Battel: whereat MICHAEL bid sound

Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heav'n

It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung

HOSANNA to the Highest: nor stood at gaze

The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joyn'd

The horrid shock: now storming furie rose,

And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now

Was never, Arms on Armour clashing bray'd

Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles

Of brazen Chariots rag'd; dire was the noise

Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss

Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew,

And flying vaulted either Host with fire.

Sounder fierie Cope together rush'd

Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault

And inextinguishable rage; all Heav'n

Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth

Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when

Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought

On either side, the least of whom could weild

These Elements, and arm him with the force

Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power

Armie against Armie numberless to raise

Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,