Chapter 8 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 retreat Where erst was thickest fight, th Angelic throng, And left large field, unsafe within the wind Of such commotion, such as to set forth [ 310 ] 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, Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound. [ 315 ] Together both with next to Almightie Arme,

Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim That might determine, and not need repeat, As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd In might or swift prevention; but the sword [ 320 ] Of Michael from the Armorie of God Was givn him tempered so, that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge: it met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, [ 325 ] But with swift wheel reverse, deep entry shard All his right side; then Satan first knew pain, And writh d him to and fro convolvd; so sore The gridding sword with discontinuous wound

Passd through him, but th Ethereal substance closed [ 330 ] Not long divisible, and from the gash A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flowd Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed, And all his Armor stain ere while so bright. Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run [ 335 ] By Angels many and strong, who interposd Defense, while others bore him on thir Shields Back to his Chariot; where it stood retired From off the files of warr; there they him laid Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame [ 340 ] To find himself not matchless, and his pride Humbold by such rebuke, so farr beneath

His confidence to equal God in power.