Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/211

 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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