1

ALL night the dreadless Angel unpursud

Through Heavns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,

Wakt by the circling Hours, with rosie hand

Unbarrd the gates of Light. There is a Cave

Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne, [ 5 ]

Where light and darkness in perpetual round

Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heavn

Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;

Light issues forth, and at the other dore

Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre [ 10 ]

To veile the Heavn, though darkness there might well

Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn

Such as in highest Heavn, arrayd in Gold

Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,

Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain [ 15 ]

Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,

Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds

Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:

Warr he perceavd, warr in procinct, and found

Already known what he for news had thought [ 20 ]

To have reported: gladly then he mixt

Among those friendly Powers who him receavd

With joy and acclamations loud, that one

That of so many Myriads falln, yet one

Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill [ 25 ]

They led him high applauded, and present

Before the seat supream; from whence a voice

From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.

Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought

The better fight, who single hast maintaind [ 30 ]

Against revolted multitudes the Cause

Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;

And for the testimonie of Truth hast born

Universal reproach, far worse to beare

Then violence: for this was all thy care [ 35 ]

To stand approvd in sight of God, though Worlds

Judgd thee perverse: the easier conquest now

Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,

Back on thy foes more glorious to return

Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue [ 40 ]

By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,

Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King

Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns.