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《Paradise Lost Ⅵ》
THE ARGUMENT
Raphael tio relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels. The first Fight describd: Satan and his Pow.99liｂ.ers retire under Night: He calls a cel, is devilish Engines, whi the sed dayes Fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; But, they at length pulling up Mountains overwhelmd both the ford Mas of Satahe Tumult not so ending, God on the .99lib.third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reservd the glory of that Victory: Hee in the Power of his Father ing to the place, and causing all his Legions to stand still oher side, with his Chariot and Thunder driving into the midst of his Enemies, pursues them uo resist towards the wall ９9lｉb?of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horrour and fusion into the place of punishment prepard for them in the Deep: Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.
1
ALL night the dreadless Angel unpursud
Through Heavns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,
Wakt by the cirg Hours, with rosie hand
Unbarrd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne, [ 5 ]
Where light and darkness iual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heavn
Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;
Light issues forth, and at the other dore
Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre [ 10 ]
To veile the Heavn, though darkhere might well
Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heavn, arrayd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,
Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain [ 15 ]
Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds
Refleg blaze on blaze, first met his view:
Warr he perceavd, warr in proct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought [ 20 ]
To have reported: gladly then he mixt
Among those friendly Powers who him receavd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one
That of so many Myriads fall one
Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill [ 25 ]
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the seat supream; from whence a voice
From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The better fight, who single hast maintaind [ 30 ]
Against revolted multitudes the Cause
Of Trut藏书网h, in word mightier then they in Armes;
And for the testimonie of Truth hast born
Universal reproach, far worse to beare
Then violence: for this was all thy care [ 35 ]
To stand approvd in sight of God, though Worlds
Judgd thee perverse: t>he easier quest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Ba thy foes mlorious to return
Then sd thou didst depart, and to subdue [ 40 ]
By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,
Right reason f99lｉb?or thir Law, and for thir King
Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns.
2
Go Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,
And thou in Military prowess [ 45 ]
Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By Thousands and by Millid fht;
Equal in o that Godless crew
Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms [ 50 ]
Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heavn
Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss,
Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall. [ 55 ]
So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began
To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl
In duskie wreathes, relut flames, the signe
Of wrauth awakt: nor with less dread the loud
Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: [ 60 ]
At whiand the Powers Militant,
That stood for Heavn, in mighty Quadrate joynd
Of Union irresistible, movd on
In silehir bright Legions, to the sound
Of instrumental Harmohat breathd [ 65 ]
Heroic Ardor to adventrous deeds
Uhir God-like Leaders, in the Cause
Of God and his Messiah. On they move
Indissolubly fibbr>９9lｉb?rm; nor obvious Hill
Nor streitning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides [ 70 ]
Thir perfet ranks; fh above the ground
Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore
Thir nimble tread, as wheal kind
Of Birds in orderly array on wing
Came summond over Eden to receive [ 75 ]
Thir names of thee; so over many a tract
Of Heavn they marchd, and many a Province wide
Tenfold the length of this terre last
Farr in th Horizon to the North appeerd
From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht [ 80 ]
In battailous aspect, and neerer view
Bristld with upright beams innumerable
id Spears, as throngd, and Shields
Various, with boastful Argument portraid,
The banded Powers of Satan hasting on [ 85 ]
With furious expedition; for they weend
That self same day by fight, or by surprize
To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne
To set the envier of his State, the proud
Aspirer, but thir thoughts provd fond and vain [ 90 ]
In the mid way: though strao us it seemd
At first, that Angel should with Angel warr,
And in fierce hosti, who wont to meet
So oft iivals of j?oy and love
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire [ 95 ]
Hymning th Eternal Father: but the shout
Of Battel now began, and rushing sound
Of o ended soon each milder thought.
3
High in the midst exalted as a God
Th Apostate i9９ｌｉｂ.n his Sun-bright Chariot sate [ 100 ]
Idol of Majesty Divine, enclosd
With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;
Then lighted from his geous Throne, for now
Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left,
A dreadful intervall, and Front to Front [ 105 ]
Preseood in terrible array
Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van,
On the rough edge of battel ere it joynd,
Satan with vast and haughtie strides advanct,
Came t, armd in Adamant and Gold; [ 110 ]
Abdiel that sight endurd not, where he stood
Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,
And thus his own undaunted heart explores.
O Heavn! that such resemblance of the Highest
Should yet remain, where faith aie [ 115 ]
Remain not; wherefore should not strength and might
There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove
Where boldest; though to sight unquerable?
His puissarusting in th Almighties aide,
I mean to try, whose Reason I have trid [ 120 ]
Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,
That he who ie of Truth hath won,
Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike
Victor; though brutish that test and foule,
When Reason hath to deal with force, yet s..o [ 125 ]
Most reason is that Reason overe.
So p, and from his armed Peers
Forth stepping opposite, half way he met
His daring foe, at this prevention more
I, and thus securely him defid. [ 130 ]
Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht
The highth of thy aspiring unopposd,
The Throne of God unguarded, and his side
Abandond at the terror of thy Power
Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain [ 135 ]
Against th Omnipotent to rise in Arms;
Who out of smallest things could without end
Have raisd incessant Armies to defeat
Thy folly; or with solitarie hand
Reag beyond all limit at one blow [ ?140 ]
Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmd
Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest
All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith
Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then
To thee not visible, when I alone [ 145 ]
Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent
From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late
How few somtimes may know, when thousands err.
4
Whom the grand foe with sful eye askance
Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre [ 150 ]
Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst
From flight, ?9９ｌiｂ?seditious Ao receave
Thy merited reward, the first assay
Of this right hand provokt, since first that tongue
Inspird with tradi durst oppose [ 155 ]
A third part of the Gods, in Synod met
Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel
Vigour Divihin them, allow
Omnipoteo none. But well thou st
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win [ 160 ]
From me som Plume, that thy success may show
Destru to the rest: this pause between
(.Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;
At first I thought that Libertie and Heavn
To heavnly Soules had bin all one; but now [ 165 ]
I see that most through sloth had rather serve,
Ministring Spirits, traind up i and Song;
Such hast thou armd, the Minstrelsie of Heavn,
Servilitie with freedom to tend,
As both thir deeds pard this day shall prove. [ 170 ]
To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replid.
Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find
, from the path of truth remote:
Unjustly thou depravst it with the name
Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains, [ 175 ]
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 rebelld
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, [ 180 ]
Thy self not free, but to thy self enthralld;
Yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid.
Reign thou ihy Kingdom, let mee serve
In Heavn God ever blest, and his Divine
Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyd, [ 185 ]
Yet s in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while
F..rom mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.
5
So saying, a roke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell [ 190 ]
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
His massie Spear upstaid; as if oh [ 195 ]
Winds under ground or waters f way
Sidelong, had pusht a Mountain from his seat
Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seisd
The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see
Thus foild thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout, [ 200 ]
Presage of Victorie and fierce desire
Of Battel: whereat Michael bid sound
Th Argel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven
It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung
Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze [ 205 ]
The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joynd
The horrid shoow st furie rose,
And clamour such as heard in Heavn till now
Was never, Arms on Armour clashing brayd
Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles [ 210 ]
Of brazen Charid; dire was the noise
Of flict; over head the dismal hiss
Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew,
And flying vaulted either Host with fire.
So under fierie Cope together rushd [ 215 ]
Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault
And iinguishable rage; all Heavn
Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth
Had to her ter shook. What wonder? when
Millions of fiertring Angels fought [ 220 ]
Oher 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
Dreadful bustion warring, and disturb, [ 225 ]
Though not destroy, thir happie Native seat;
Had not th Eternal King Omnipotent
From his strong hold of Heavn high over-ruld
And limited thir might; though numberd such
As each divided Legion might have seemd [ 230 ]
A numerou..s 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
Of Battel, open whe.９9lｉb.n, and when to close [ 235 ]
The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbeing deed
That argud fear; ea himself relid,
As onely in his arm the moment lay
Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame [ 240 ]
Were don, but infinite: for wide red
That Warr and various; somtimes on firm ground
A standing fight, then s on main wing
Tormented all the Air; all Air seemd then
flig Fire: long time in eeven scale [ 245 ]
The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day
Prodigious power had shewn, a in Armes
No equal, raunging through the dire attack
Of fighting Seraphim fusd, at length
Saw where the Sword of Michael smote, and felld [ 250 ]
Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway
Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down
Wide wasting; such destru to withstand
He hasted, and opposd the rockie Orb
Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield [ 255 ]
A vast circumfere his approach
The great Argel from his warlike toile
Surceasd, and glad as hopio end
Iine War in bbr>..Heavn, the arch foe subdud
Or Captive dragd in s, with hostile frown [ 260 ]
And visage all enflamd first thus began.
6
Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,
Unnamd in Heavn, now plenteous, as thou seest
These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,
Though heaviest by just measure on thy self [ 265 ]
And thy adherents: how hast thou disturbd
Heavns blessed peace, and into Nature brought
Miserie, ued till the crime
Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instilld
Thy malito thousands, once upright [ 270 ]
And faithful, now provd false. But think not here
To trouble Holy Rest; Heavn 藏书网casts thee out
From all her fines. Heavn the seat of bliss
Brooks not the works of violend Warr.
Hehen, and evil go with thee along [ 275 ]
Thy , to the place of evil, Hell,
Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles,
Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome,
Or som more sudden vengeance wingd from God
Precipitate thee with augmented paine. [ 280 ]
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 st not. Hast thou turnd the least of these
To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise [ 285 ]
Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee
That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats
To chase me hence? erre not that so shall end
The strife which thou ca..llst evil, but wee style
The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win, [ 290 ]
Or turn this Heavn it self into the Hell
Thou fablest, here however to dwell free,
If not tn: mean while thy utmost force,
And join him namd Almighty to thy aid,
I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh. [ 295 ]
They ended parle, and both addresst fht
Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue
Of Angels, relate, or to what things
Liken oh spicuous, that may lift
Human imagination to such highth [ 300 ]
Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd,
Stood they or movd, in stature, motion, arms
Fit to decide the Empire of great Heavn.
7
Now wavd thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire
Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields [ 305 ]
Blazd opposite, while expectation stood
In horror; from each hand with speed retird
Where erst was thickest fight, th Angelic throng,
A large?９９ｌｉb. field, uhin the wind
Of suotion, such as to set forth [ 310 ]
Great things by small, If Natures cord broke,
Among the stellations warr were sprung,
Two Plas rushing from aspect maligne
Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie,
Should bat, and thir jarring Sphears found. [ 315 ]
Together both with o Almightie Arme,
Uplifted immi oroke they aimd
That might determine９９lｉｂ?
, and not need repeate,
As not of power, at onor odds appeerd
In might or swift prevention; but the sw藏书网ord [ 320 ]
Of Michael from the Armorie of God
Was givn him temperd so, that her keen
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met
The sword of Satan with steep forite
Desding, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, [ 325 ]
But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shard
All his right side; then Satan first knew pain,
And writh d him to and fro volvd; so sore
The griding sword with distinuous wound
Passd through him, but th Ethereal substance closd [ 330 ]
Not long divisible, and from the gash
A stream of arous humor issuing flowd
Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed,
And all his Armour staind ere while sht.
Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run [ 335 ]
By Angels many and strong, who interposd
Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields
Back to his Chariot; where it stood retird
From off the files of warr; there they him laid
Gnashing fuish ae and shame [ 340 ]
To find himself not matchless, and his pride
Humbld by such rebuke, so farr beh
His fideo equal God in power.
8
Yet soon he heald; for Spirits tha..t live throughout
Vital in every part, not as frail man [ 345 ]
Irailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines;
ot but by annihilating die;
Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound
Receive, no more then the fluid Aire:
All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, [ 350 ]
All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,
They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size
Assume, as likes them best, dense or rare.
Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, [ 355 ]
And with fiersignes piercd the deep array
Of Moloc furious King, who him defid
And at his Chariot wheeles t him bound
Threatnd, nor from the Holie One of Heavn
Refreind his tongue blasphemous; but anon [ 360 ]
Down to the waste, with shatterd ?t>Armes
And uh paine fled bellowing. On each wing
Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe,
Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,
Vanquishd Adrameled Asmadai, [ 365 ]
Two potent Throhat to be less then Gods
Disdaind, but meahoughts learnd in thir flight,
Mangld with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile,
Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
The Atheist crew, but with redoubld blow [ 370 ]
Ariel and Ariod the violence
Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew.
I might relate of thousands, and thir names
Eternize here oh; but those elect
Angels tented with thir fame in Heavn [ 375 ]
Seek no>t the praise of men: the other sort
In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr,
Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome
celd from Heavn and sacred memorie,
Nameless in dark obliviohem dwell. [ 380 ]
9
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:
Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome. [ 385 ]
And now thir Mightiest quelld, the battel swervd,
With many an i