BOOK SIXTH
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��Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimed That might determine, and not need repeat As not of power, at once; nor odds ap- peared
In might or swift prevention. But the sword 320
Of Michael from the armoury of God Was given him tempered so that neither
keen
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met The sword of Satan, with steep force to
smite Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor
stayed,
But, with swift wheel reverse, deep enter- ing, shared All his right side. Then Satan first knew
pain, And writhed him to and fro convolved; so
sore
The griding sword with discontinuous wound Passed through him. But the ethereal sub- stance closed, 330 Not long divisible; and from the gash A stream of nectarous humour issuing
flowed
Sanguin, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, And all his armour stained, erewhile so
bright,
Forthwith, on all sides, to his aid was run By Angels many and strong, who inter- posed Defence, while others bore him on their
shields
Back to his chariot where it stood retired From off the files of war: there they him
laid
Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and
shame 340
To find himself not matchless, and his
pride
Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath His confidence to equal God in power. Yet soon he healed; for Spirits, that live
throughout
Vital in every part not, as frail Man, In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins Cannot but by annihilating die; Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound Receive, no more than can the fluid air: All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, 35 o
All intellect, all sense; and as they please They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size
��Assume, as likes them best, condense or
rare. " Meanwhile, in other parts, like deeds
deserved Memorial, where the might of Gabriel
fought, And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep
array
Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied, And at his chariot - wheels to drag him
bound Threatened, nor from the Holy One of
Heaven Refreined his tongue blasphemous, but
anon, 360
Down cloven to the waist, with shattered
arms And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each
wing
Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe, Though huge and in a rock of diamond
armed,
Vanquished Adramelech and Asmadai, Two potent Thrones, that to be less than
Gods Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in
their flight, Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate
and mail.
Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence 371
Of Ramiel, scorched and blasted, over- threw. I might relate of thousands, and their
names
Eternize here on Earth; but those elect Angels, contented with their fame in Hea- ven,
Seek not the praise of men: the other sort, In might though wondrous and in acts of
war,
Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom Cancelled from Heaven and sacred mem- ory,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell For strength from truth divided, and from
just, 381
Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise And ignominy, yet to glory aspires, Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks
fame:
Therefore eternal silence be their doom ! " And now, their mightiest quelled, the
battle swerved,
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