890

These wicked tents devoted; left the wrath
Impendent, raging into fudden flame,
Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learn,

When who can uncreate thee thou fhalt know. 895
So fpake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithless, faithful only he;

Among innumerable falfe, unmov'd,
Unfhaken, unseduc'd, unterrify'd,

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;

Nor number, nor example with him wrought

900

To fwerve from truth, or change his conftant mind,
Though fingle. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way through hostile scorn; which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought;
And,with retorted scorn, his back he turn’d

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On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd.

The end of the Fifth Book.

THE

SIXTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels. The first fight defcrib'd: Satan and his Powers retire under night: He calls a council, invents devilish engins, which in the fecond day's fight put Michael and his Angels to fome diforder; but they at length pulling up mountains overwhelm'd both the force and machines of Satan: Yet the tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends Meffiah his Son, for whom he had referv'd the glory of that victory: He in the power of his Father coming to the place, and causing all his legions to ftand fill on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, purfues them unable to refift towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the deep: Meffiah returns with triumph to his Father.

PARADISE LOST.

A

BOOK VI.

LL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,

Through Heav'n's wide champain held his way; till morn,

5

Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave,
Within the mount of God, faft by his throne,
Where light and darkness, in perpetual round,
Lodge, and diflodge by turns, which makes through
Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;
Light iffues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour

(Heaven

To veil the Heav'n, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: and now went forth the morn,
Such as in highest Heav'n, array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanish'd night,

16

Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain
Cover'd with thick imbattel'd squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought

A a

20

To