Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/216

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��PARADISE LOST

��Equal in their creation they were

formed, 690

Save what sin hath impaired which yet

hath wrought

Insensibly, for I suspend their doom: Whence in perpetual fight they needs must

last

Endless, and no solution will be found. War wearied hath performed what war can

do,

And to disordered rage let loose the reins, With mountains, as with weapons, armed;

which makes Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to

the main. Two days are, therefore, passed ; the third

is thine:

For thee I have ordained it, and thus far 700 Have suffered, that the glory may be thine Of ending this great war, since none but

thou Can end it. Into thee such virtue and

grace Immense I have transfused, that all may

know

In Heaven and Hell thy power above com- pare, And this perverse commotion governed

thus,

To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir Of all things to be Heir, and to be

King

By sacred unction, thy deserved right. Go, then, thou Mightiest, in thy Father's

might; 710

Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels That shake Heaven's basis; bring forth all

my war;

My bow and thunder, my almighty arms, Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant

thigh; Pursue these Sons of Darkness, drive them

out From all Heaven's bounds into the utter

Deep; There let them learn, as likes them, to

despise

God, and Messiah his anointed King.' " He said, and on his Son with rays di- rect

Shon full. He all his Father full ex- pressed 720 Ineffably into his face received; And thus the Filial Godhead answering

spake:

��" ' 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, declar'st thy

will

Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume, 730 And gladlier shall resign when in the end Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee For ever, and in me all whom thou lov'st.. But whom thou hat'st I hate, and can put

on

Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on, Image of thee in all things : and shall soon, Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of

these rebelled,

To their prepared ill mansion driven down, To chains of darkness and the undying

Worm,

That from thy just obedience could re- volt, 740 Whom to obey is happiness entire. Then shall thy Saints, unmixed, and from

the impure

Far separate, circling thy holy Mount, 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, Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed

with whirlwind sound

The chariot of Paternal Deity, 750

Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel ;

undrawn,

Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed 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

Of beryl, and careering fires between; Over their heads a crystal firmament, Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with

pure

Amber and colours of the showery arch. He, in celestial panoply all armed 760

Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,

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