Book Read Free

Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Milton

Page 49

by John Milton


  160

  Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

  From me som Plume, that thy success may show

  Destruction to the rest: this pause between

  (Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;

  At first I thought that Libertie and Heav’n

  165

  To heav’nly Souls had bin all one: but now

  I see that most through sloth had rather serve,

  Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;

  Such hast thou arm’d, the Minstrelsie13 of Heav’n,

  Servilitie with freedom to contend,

  170

  As both thir deeds compar’d this day shall prove.

  To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern repli’d.

  Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find

  Of erring, from the path of truth remote:

  Unjustly thou deprav’st it with the name

  175

  Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains,

  Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,

  When he who rules is worthiest, and excells

  Them whom he governs. This is servitude,

  To serve th’ unwise, or him who hath rebell’d

  180

  Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,

  Thy self not free, but to thy self enthrall’d;

  Yet leudly dar’st our ministring upbraid.

  Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve

  In Heav’n God ever blest, and his Divine

  185

  Behests obey, worthiest to be obey’d,

  Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while

  From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

  This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.

  So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

  190

  Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell

  On the proud Crest of Satan, that no sight,

  Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield

  Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge

  He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee

  195

  His massie Spear upstaid; as if on Earth

  Winds under ground or waters forcing way

  Sidelong, had push’t a Mountain from his seat

  Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seis’d

  The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see

  200

  Thus foil’d thir mightiest, ours joy fill’d, and shout,

  Presage of Victorie and fierce desire

  Of Battel: whereat Michael bid sound

  Th’ Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heav’n

  It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung

  205

  Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze

  The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joyn’d

  The horrid shock: now storming furie rose,

  And clamour such as heard in Heav’n till now

  Was never, Arms on Armour clashing bray’d

  210

  Horrible discord, and the madding Wheels

  Of brazen Chariots rag’d; dire was the noise

  Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss

  Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew,

  And flying vaulted either Host with fire.

  215

  So under fierie Cope14 together rush’d

  Both Battels main, with ruinous assault

  And inextinguishable rage; all Heav’n

  Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth

  Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when

  220

  Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought

  On either side, the least of whom could weild

  These Elements, and arm him with the force

  Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power

  Armie against Armie numberless to raise

  225

  Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,

  Though not destroy, thir happie Native seat;

  Had not th’ Eternal King Omnipotent

  From his strong hold of Heav’n high over-rul’d

  And limited thir might; though numberd such

  230

  As each divided Legion might have seemd

  A numerous Host, in strength each armed hand

  A Legion; led in fight, yet Leader seemd

  Each Warriour single as in Chief, expert

  When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

  235

  Of Battel, open when, and when to close

  The ridges15 of grim Warr; no thought of flight,

  None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

  That argu’d fear; each on himself reli’d,

  As onely in his arm the moment16 lay

  240

  Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame

  Were don, but infinite: for wide was spred

  That Warr and various; somtimes on firm ground

  A standing fight, then soaring on main wing

  Tormented all the Air; all Air seemd then

  245

  Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale

  The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day

  Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Armes

  No equal, raunging through the dire attack

  Of fighting Seraphim confus’d, at length

  250

  Saw where the Sword of Michael smote, and fell’d

  Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway

  Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down

  Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand

  He hasted, and oppos’d the rockie Orb

  255

  Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield

  A vast circumference: At his approach

  The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil

  Surceas’d, and glad as hoping here to end

  Intestine War in Heav’n, th’ arch foe subdu’d

  260

  Or Captive drag’d in Chains, with hostile frown

  And visage all enflam’d first thus began.

  Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

  Unnam’d in Heav’n, now plenteous, as thou seest

  These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

  265

  Though heaviest by just measure on thy self

  And thy adherents: how hast thou disturb’d

  Heav’ns blessed peace, and into Nature brought

  Miserie, uncreated till the crime

  Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instill’d

  270

  Thy malice into thousands, once upright

  And faithful, now prov’d false. But think not here

  To trouble Holy Rest; Heav’n casts thee out

  From all her Confines. Heav’n the seat of bliss

  Brooks not the works of violence and Warr.

  275

  Hence then, and evil go with thee along

  Thy ofspring, to the place of evil, Hell,

  Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils,

  Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doom,

  Or som more sudden vengeance wing’d from God

  280

  Precipitate thee with augmented pain.

  So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus

  The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind

  Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds

  Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these

  285

  To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise

  Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee

  That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats

  To chase me hence? err not that so shall end

  The strife which thou call’st evil, but wee style

  290

  The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win,

  Or turn this Heav’n it self into the Hell

  Thou fablest, here however t
o dwell free,

  If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force,

  And join him nam’d Almighty to thy aid,

  295

  I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh.

  They ended parle, and both addrest17 for fight

  Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue

  Of Angels, can relate, or to what things

  Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift

  300

  Human imagination to such highth

  Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd,

  Stood they or mov’d, in stature, motion, arms

  Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav’n.

  Now wav’d thir fierie Swords, and in the Air

  305

  Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields

  Blaz’d opposite, while expectation stood

  In horror; from each hand with speed retir’d

  Where erst was thickest fight, th’ Angelic throng,

  And left large field, unsafe within the wind

  310

  Of such commotion, such as to set forth

  Great things by small, if Natures concord broke,

  Among the Constellations warr were sprung,

  Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne

  Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie,

  315

  Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound.

  Together both with next t’ Almightie Arm,

  Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim’d

  That might determine,18 and not need repeat,

  As not of power, at once; nor odds19 appeerd

  320

  In might or swift prevention; but the sword

  Of Michael from the Armorie of God

  Was giv’n him temperd so, that neither keen

  Nor solid might resist that edge; it met

  The sword of Satan with steep force to smite

  325

  Descending, and in half cut sheer, not staid,

  But with swift wheel reverse, deep entring shar’d

  All his right side; then Satan first knew pain,

  And writh’d him to and fro convolv’d; so sore

  The griding20 sword with discontinuous wound

  330

  Pass’d through him, but th’ Ethereal substance clos’d

  Not long divisible, and from the gash

  A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow’d

  Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed,

  And all his Armour staind ere while so bright.

  335

  Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run

  By Angels many and strong, who interpos’d

  Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields

  Back to his Chariot; where it stood retir’d

  From off the files of warr; there they him laid

  340

  Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame

  To find himself not matchless, and his pride

  Humbl’d by such rebuke, so farr beneath

  His confidence to equal God in power.

  Yet soon he heal’d; for Spirits that live throughout

  345

  Vital in every part, not as frail man

  In Entrails, Heart or Head, Liver or Reins,

  Cannot but by annihilating die;

  Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound

  Receive, no more then can the fluid Air:

  350

  All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Ear,

  All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,

  They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size

  Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

  Mean while in other parts like deeds deserv’d

  355

  Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,

  And with fierce Ensignes pierc’d the deep array

  Of Moloc furious King, who him defi’d,

  And at his Chariot wheels to drag him bound

  Threat’n’d, nor from the Holie One of Heav’n

  360

  Refrein’d his tongue blasphemous; but anon

  Down clov’n to the waste, with shatterd Armes

  And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing

  Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe,

  Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,

  365

  Vanquish’d Adramelec, and Asmadai,

  Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods

  Disdain’d, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight,

  Mangl’d with gastly wounds through Plate and Mail.

  Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

  370

  The Atheist crew, but with redoubl’d blow

  Ariel and Arioc, and the violence

  Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew.

  I might relate of thousands, and thir names

  Eternize here on Earth; but those elect

  375

  Angels contented with thir fame in Heav’n

  Seek not the praise of men: the other sort

  In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr,

  Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doom

  Canceld from Heav’n and sacred memorie,

  380

  Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.

  For strength from Truth divided and from Just,

  Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise

  And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires

  Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame:

  385

  Therfore Eternal silence be thir doom.

  And now thir mightiest quell’d, the battel swerv’d,

  With many an inrode gor’d; deformed rout

  Enter’d, and foul disorder; all the ground

  With shiverd armour strown, and on a heap

  390

  Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd

  And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld

  Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host

  Defensive scarse, or with pale fear surpris’d,

  Then first with fear surpris’d and sense of pain

  395

  Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

  By sin of disobedience, till that hour

  Not liable to fear or flight or pain.

  Far otherwise th’ inviolable Saints

  In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc’t entire,

  400

  Invulnerable, impenitrably arm’d:

  Such high advantages thir innocence

  Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinn’d,

  Not to have disobei’d; in fight they stood

  Unwearied, unobnoxious21 to be pain’d

  405

  By wound, though from thir place by violence mov’d

  Now Night her course began, and over Heav’n

  Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos’d,

  And silence on the odious dinn of Warr:

  Under her Cloudie covert both retir’d,

  410

  Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field

  Michael and his Angels prevalent22

  Encamping, plac’d in Guard thir Watches round,

  Cherubic waving fires: on th’ other part

  Satan with his rebellious disappeerd,

  415

  Far in the dark dislodg’d, and void of rest,

  His Potentates to Councel call’d by night;

  And in the midst thus undismai’d began.

  O now in danger tri’d, now known in Armes

  Not to be overpowerd, Companions dear,

  420

  Found worthy not of Libertie alone,

  Too mean pretense, but what we more affect,

  Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renown,

  Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight

  (And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?)

  425

  What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send


  Against us from about his Throne, and judg’d

  Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

  But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,

  Of future we may deem him, though till now

  430

  Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm’d,

  Some disadvantage we endur’d and pain,

  Till now not known, but known as soon contemn’d,

  Since now we find this our Empyreal form

  Incapable of mortal injurie

  435

  Imperishable, and though peirc’d with wound,

  Soon closing, and by native vigour heal’d.

  Of evil then so small as easie think

  The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes,

  Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

  440

  May serve to better us, and worse our foes,

  Or equal what between us made the odds,

  In Nature none: if other hidden cause

  Left them Superiour, while we can preserve

  Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,

  445

  Due search and consultation will disclose.

  He sat; and in th’ assembly next upstood

  Nisroc,23 of Principalities the prime;

  As one he stood escap’t from cruel fight,

  Sore toild, his riv’n Armes to havoc hewn,

  450

  And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake.

  Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free

  Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard

  For Gods, and too unequal work we find

  Against unequal armes to fight in pain,

  455

  Against unpaind, impassive;24 from which evil

  Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails

  Valour or strength, though matchless, quell’d with pain

  Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands

  Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well

  460

  Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,

  But live content, which is the calmest life:

  But pain is perfet miserie, the worst

  Of evils, and excessive, overturns

 

‹ Prev