Chapter 4 3
High in the midst exalted as a God
Th Apostate in his Sun-bright Chariot sate [ 100 ]
Idol of Majesty Divine, enclosed
With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;
Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now
Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left,
A dreadful intervall, and Front to Front [ 105 ]
Presented stood 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 towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; [ 110 ]
Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood
Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,
And thus his own unaunted heart explores.
O Heavn! that such resemblance of the Highest
Should yet remain, where faith and realtie [ 115 ]
Remain not; wherefore should not strength and might
There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove
Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable?
His puissance, trusting 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 in debate of Truth hath won,
Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike
Victor; though brutal that contest and foule,
When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so [ 125 ]
Most reason is that Reason overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed Peers
Forth stepping opposite, half way he met
His daring foe, at this prevention more
Incenst, 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
Abandon 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 the smallest things could without end
Have raided incessant Armies to defeat
Thy folly;
Reaching beyond all limit at one blow [ 140 ]
Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmed
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.