Chapter 20 19

Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assign; That they may have thir wish, to try with mee In Battel which the stronger proves, they all, Or I alone against them, since by strength [ 820 ] They measure all, of other excellence Not emulous, nor care who them excells; Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe. So spake the Son, and into terror changd His countnance too severe to be held [ 825 ] And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies. At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. [ 830 ]

Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove, Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheels The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout, All but the Throne it self of God. Full soon Among them he arrid; in his right hand [ 835 ] Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent Before him, such as in thir Soules infixed Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost, All courage; down thir idle weapons drop; Ore Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode [ 840 ] Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostate, That wish the Mountains now might be again Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire.

Nor less on either side tempestuous fell His arrows, from the fourfold-visagd Foure, [ 845 ] Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels, Distinct alike with multiple of eyes, One Spirit in them ruld, and every eye Glad lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire Among th accurst, that witherd all thir strength, [ 850 ] And of thir wonted vigour left them drained, Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, falln.