Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/412

406 Such wondrous power God to his Saint will lend, Though present in his Angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire —By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire— To guide them in their journey, and remove Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues. All night he will pursue, but his approach Darkness defends between till morning-watch; Then, through the fiery pillar and the cloud, God looking forth will trouble all his host, And craze their chariot-wheels; when by command Moses once more his potent rod extends Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys; On their embattled ranks the waves return, And overwhelm their war. The race elect Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance, Through the wild Desert, not the readiest way; Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed, War terrify them inexpert, and fear Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather Inglorious life with servitude; for life To noble and ignoble is more sweet Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on. This also shall they gain by their delay In the wide wilderness, there they shall found Their government, and their great Senate choose,