2

Go Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,

And thou in Military prowess next [ 45 ]

Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons

Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints

By Thousands and by Millions rangd for fight;

Equal in number to that Godless crew

Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms [ 50 ]

Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heavn

Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss,

Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf

Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall. [ 55 ]

So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began

To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl

In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the signe

Of wrauth awakt: nor with less dread the loud

Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: [ 60 ]

At which command the Powers Militant,

That stood for Heavn, in mighty Quadrate joynd

Of Union irresistible, movd on

In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound

Of instrumental Harmonie that breathd [ 65 ]

Heroic Ardor to adventrous deeds

Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause

Of God and his Messiah. On they move

Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill

Nor streitning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides [ 70 ]

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 [ 75 ]

Thir names of thee; so over many a tract

Of Heavn they marchd, and many a Province wide

Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last

Farr in th Horizon to the North appeerd

From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht [ 80 ]

In battailous aspect, and neerer view

Bristld with upright beams innumerable

Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throngd, and Shields

Various, with boastful Argument portraid,

The banded Powers of Satan hasting on [ 85 ]

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 provd fond and vain [ 90 ]

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 [ 95 ]

Hymning th Eternal Father: but the shout

Of Battel now began, and rushing sound

Of onset ended soon each milder thought.