Chapter 21 20
Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked
His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant
Not to destroy, but root them out of Heavn: [ 855 ]
The overthrown he raided, and as a Heard
Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd
Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursed
With terrors and with furies to the bounds
And Chrystal wall of Heavn, which opning wide, [ 860 ]
Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclosed
Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight
Strook them with horror backward, but far worse
Urgd them behind; headlong themselves they threw
Down from the verge of Heavn, Eternal wrauth [ 865 ]
Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard th unsufferable noise, Hell saw
Heavn ruining from Heavn and would have fled
Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. [ 870 ]
Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos road,
And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall
Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout
Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last
Yawning receavd them whole, and on them closd, [ 875 ]
Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine.
Disburdnd Heavn rejoiced, and soon repaired
Her mural breach, returning when it rowld.
Sole Victor from th explosion of his Foes [ 880 ]
Messiah his triumphal Chariot turn:
To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood
Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts,
With Jubilie advancd; and as they went,
Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright, [ 885 ]
Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,
Son, Heir, and Lord, to him Dominion givn,
Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode
Triumphant through mid Heavn, into the Courts
And Temple of his mightie Father Thrond [ 890 ]
On high: who into Glorie him received,
Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.
Thus measuring things in Heavn by things on Earth
At thy request, and that thou maist beware
By what is past, to thee I have revealed [ 895 ]
What might have else to human Race bin hid;
The discord which befel, and Warr in Heavn
Among th Angelic Powers, and the deep fall
Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled
With Satan, hee who envies now thy state, [ 900 ]
Who now is plotting how he may seduce
Thee also from obedience, that with him
Bereaved of happiness thou maist partake
His punishment, Eternal miserie;
Which would be all his solace and revenge, [ 905 ]
As a despite don against the most High,
Thee once to gain Companion of his woe.
But listn not to his Temptations, warne
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard
By terrible Example the reward [ 910 ]
Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,
Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.