Chapter 3 2
Go Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,
And thou in Military prowess next [ 45 ]
Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By Thousands and by Millions rang for fight;
Equal in number to 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 is ready to open 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, reluctant flames, the signe
Of wrauth awakt: nor with less dread the loud
Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: [ 60 ]
At which command the Powers Militant,
That stood for Heavn, in mighty Quadrate joynd
Of Union irresistible, movd on
In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound
Of instrumental Harmonie that breathed [ 65 ]
Heroic Ardor to adventurous deeds
Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause
Of God and his Messiah. On they move
Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill
Nor streitning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides [ 70 ]
Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground
Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore
Thir nimble tread, as when the total kind
Of Birds in orderly array on wing
Came summoned over Eden to receive [ 75 ]
Thir names of thee; so over many a tract
Of Heavn they marched, and many a Province wide
Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last
Farr in th Horizon to the North appeer
From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretched [ 80 ]
In battailous aspect, and neerer view
Bristld with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid Spears, and Helmets thronged, and Shields
Various, with boastful Argument portrait,
The banded Powers of Satan hasting on [ 85 ]
With furious expedition; for they weend
That self same day by fight, or by surprise
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 strange to us it seemsd
At first, that Angel should with Angel warr,
And in fierce hosting meet, who won't to meet
So oft in Festivals of joy 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 onset ended soon each milder thought.