20

Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checkd

His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant

Not to destroy, but root them out of Heavn: [ 855 ]

The overthrown he raisd, and as a Heard

Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd

Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursud

With terrors and with furies to the bounds

And Chrystal wall of Heavn, which opning wide, [ 860 ]

Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclosd

Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight

Strook them with horror backward, but far worse

Urgd them behind; headlong themselves they threw

Down from the verge of Heavn, Eternal wrauth [ 865 ]

Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.

Hell heard th unsufferable noise, Hell saw

Heavn ruining from Heavn and would have fled

Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep

Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. [ 870 ]

Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard,

And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall

Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout

Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last

Yawning receavd them whole, and on them closd, [ 875 ]

Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire

Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine.

Disburdnd Heavn rejoicd, and soon repaird

Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld.

Sole Victor from th expulsion of his Foes [ 880 ]

Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd:

To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood

Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts,

With Jubilie advancd; and as they went,

Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright, [ 885 ]

Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,

Son, Heir, and Lord, to him Dominion givn,

Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode

Triumphant through mid Heavn, into the Courts

And Temple of his mightie Father Thrond [ 890 ]

On high: who into Glorie him receavd,

Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.

Thus measuring things in Heavn by things on Earth

At thy request, and that thou maist beware

By what is past, to thee I have reveald [ 895 ]

What might have else to human Race bin hid;

The discord which befel, and Warr in Heavn

Among th Angelic Powers, and the deep fall

Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld

With Satan, hee who envies now thy state, [ 900 ]

Who now is plotting how he may seduce

Thee also from obedience, that with him

Bereavd of happiness thou maist partake

His punishment, Eternal miserie;

Which would be all his solace and revenge, [ 905 ]

As a despite don against the most High,

Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe.

But listn not to his Temptations, warne

Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard

By terrible Example the reward [ 910 ]

Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,

Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.

The End of the Sixth Book.