3

High in the midst exalted as a God

Th Apostate in his Sun-bright Chariot sate [ 100 ]

Idol of Majesty Divine, enclosd

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 intervall, and Front to Front [ 105 ]

Presented stood in terrible array

Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van,

On the rough edge of battel ere it joynd,

Satan with vast and haughtie strides advanct,

Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; [ 110 ]

Abdiel that sight endurd not, where he stood

Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,

And thus his own undaunted heart explores.

O Heavn! that such resemblance of the Highest

Should yet remain, where faith and realtie [ 115 ]

Remain not; wherefore should not strength and might

There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove

Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable?

His puissance, trusting in th Almighties aide,

I mean to try, whose Reason I have trid [ 120 ]

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 [ 125 ]

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

Incenst, and thus securely him defid. [ 130 ]

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

The highth of thy aspiring unopposd,

The Throne of God unguarded, and his side

Abandond at the terror of thy Power

Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain [ 135 ]

Against th Omnipotent to rise in Arms;

Who out of smallest things could without end

Have raisd incessant Armies to defeat

Thy folly; or with solitarie hand

Reaching beyond all limit at one blow [ 140 ]

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 [ 145 ]

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.