"For joy of offered peace: but I suppose, "To match with their inventions they presumed 66 66 Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. "Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, "Which God hath in his mighty angels placed !) "Their arms away they threw, and to the hills, "(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven "Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,) "Light as the lightning glimpse, they ran-they flew; "From their foundations loosening to and fro, 66 They plucked the seated hills, with all their load"Rocks, waters, woods; and, by the shaggy tops 66 Uplifting, bore them in their hands. Amaze, "Be sure, and terror, seized the rebel host, 620 630 640 "When, coming towards them, so dread they saw 650 "They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence "Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed. “Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised "Into their substance pent which wrought them pain 66 66 Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind "Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore; 66 Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen "This tumult, and permitted all, advised; "That his great purpose he might so fulfil, "To honour his anointed Son, avenged 66 Upon his enemies, and to declare "All power on him transferred: whence to his Son, "The Assessor of his throne, he thus began: 66 6 ''Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved! "Son, in whose face invisible is beheld "Visibly—what by Deity I am; "And in whose hand what by decree I do; "(Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven) 660 670 680 690 "Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought “Insensibly, for I suspend their doom: "Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last 66 Endless, and no solution will be found. War wearied hath performed what war can do, "And to disordered rage let loose the reins, 700 "With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes "Go then, thou Mightiest ! in thy Father's might; 66 O God, and Messiah his anointed King.' "He said; and on his Son with rays direct "Shone full: he all his Father full expressed 66 Ineffably into his face received; "And thus the filial Godhead answering spake : 66 "O Father! O Supreme of heavenly thrones! "First, Highest, Holiest, Best! Thou always seek'st "To glorify thy Son, I always thee, "As is most just: this I my glory account, My exaltation, and my whole delight, "That thou in me, well pleased, declarest thy will "Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. "Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume; "For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest: "Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, 710 720 730 "Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled, "Then shall thy saints unmixed, and from the impure 66 66 Unfeigned halleluiahs to thee sing, Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.' "So said, he, o'er his sceptre bowing, rose "From the right hand of Glory where he sat ; "And the third sacred morn began to shine, 66 740 'Dawning thro' Heaven: forth rushed with whirlwind sound "The chariot of paternal Deity, 66 Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, "Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed 66 By four cherubic shapes; four faces each, "Had wondrous; as with stars, their bodies all, "And wings, were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels "Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure 66 Amber, and colours of the showery arch. "Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow "Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire. 750 760 770 "Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced "His army, circumfused on either wing, "Under their head embodied all in one. 66 Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, "And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. "This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdúred, "And to rebellious fight rallied their powers, "Insensate hope conceiving from despair: 780 "In heavenly spirits could such perverseness dwell?— 790 "They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, 66 Grieving to see his glory, at the sight "Took envy; and, aspiring to his height, "To final battle drew, disdaining flight, "Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God "To all his host on either hand thus spake : 800 "Stand still, in bright array, ye Saints! here stand, "Ye angels armed! this day from battle rest: "Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God "Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; "And as ye have received, so have ye done "The punishment to other hand belongs : 66 Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints.. "Number to this day's work is not ordained, "Nor multitude: stand only, and behold "God's indignation on these godless poured 66 By me: not you, but me, they have despised, "Yet envied; against me is all their rage, "Because the Father, to whom in Heaven supreme 66 Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains, "Hath honoured me according to his will. 810 |