Book 6: Satan keeps losing. But the plot thickens

THE ARGUMENT.—Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels. The first fight described: Satan and his Powers retire under night. He calls a council; invents devilish engines, which, in the second day’s fight, put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan. Yet, the tumult not so ending, God, on the third day, sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory. He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the Deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.

tl;dr 
Raphael spills more about Satan’s rebellion. Abdiel leave’s Satan’s side and comes back to God—he’s praised and welcome. Michael and Gabriel are then sent to lead God’s army, which is the exact same size as Satan’s army because equality. Satan loses, and for revenge he plans on corrupting man. 


 
Text

tl;dr
“ALL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,

The brave angel Abdiel traveled
Through Heaven’s wide champaign held his way, till Morn,


Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand

all night.
Unbarred the gates of Light. There is a cave

In Heaven, there's a cave
Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,
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by God's throne.
Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round

It's where light and darkness take turns   
Lodge and dislodge by turns—which makes through Heaven

coming out of it to travel through Heaven,  
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;

similar to day and night. 
Light issues forth, and at the other door

Obsequious Darkness enters, till her hour
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To veil the heaven, though darkness there might well

Seem twilight here. And now went forth the Morn

Such as in highest heaven, arrayed in gold

Empyreal; from before her vanished Night,

Shot through with orient beams; when all the pain
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Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright,

Abdiel came across a plain,
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,

packed with chariots all reflecting the morning light. 
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view.

War he perceived, war in precinct, and found

It was God's army, ready for war.
Already known what he for news had thought
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They knew what was coming before Abdiel even got there to report it. 
To have reported. Gladly then he mixed

Abdiel was happy to be home, 
Among those friendly Powers, who him received

With joy and acclamations loud, that one,

they all greeted him and praised him
That of so many myriads fallen yet one,

for being the only one
Returned not lost. On to the sacred Hill
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the deny Satan. 
They led him, high applauded, and present

The angels led Abdiel to 
Before the Seat supreme; from whence a voice,

God's throne. 
From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard:—

From a golden cloud, God spoke, 
  “‘Servant of God, well done! Well hast thou fought

"Well done Abdiel, 
The better fight, who single hast maintained
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you were alone and still prevailed against 
Against revolted multitudes the cause

the clouded masses.
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms,

By speaking the truth, you are stronger than them.
And for the testimony of truth hast borne

Universal reproach, far worse to bear

Than violence; for this was all thy care—
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To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds

You were outnumbered, faced with 
Judged thee perverse. The easier conquest now

threats, but you stood your ground because you cared
Remains thee—aided by this host of friends,

about getting. my approval and grace. 
Back on thy foes more glorious to return

Don't worry, you are among friends and my army now. So your next victory will be even easier.  
Than scorned thou didst depart: and to subdue,
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We must use force
By force who reason for their law refuse—

against all those who reject their King Messiah. 
Right reason for their law, and for their King

Messiah, who by right of merit reigns.

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince,

Michael, you 
And thou, in military prowess next,
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are my greatest military leader.
Gabriel; lead forth to battle these my sons

Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints,

And Gabriel, the both of you will lead the army to battle. 
By thousands and by millions ranged for fight,

Equal in number to that godless crew

Take as many angels with you to make sure our numbers equal theirs. 
Rebellious. Them with fire and hostile arms
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Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven

Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss

Drive our enemies away from Heaven 
Into their place of punishment, the gulf

and straight into Hell. 
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

For Hell is waiting for 
His fiery chaos to receive their fall.’
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them to fall." 
  “So spake the Sovran Voice; and clouds began

To darken all the Hill, and smoke to rowl

Heaven grew dark 
In dusky wreaths reluctant flames, the sign

fiery
Of wrauth awaked; nor with less dread the loud

and loud. God is angry. 
Ethereal trumpet from on high gan blow.
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It was as dreadful as the trumpet that blew. 
At which command the Powers Militant

Upon its sound, 
That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined

all of Heaven's solider angels 
Of union irresistible, moved on

came out. 
In silence their bright legions to the sound

It motivated their morale and gave them strength to fight. 
Of instrumental harmony, that breathed
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Heroic ardour to adventurous deeds

Under their godlike leaders, in the cause

And they went. 
Of God and his Messiah. On they move,

Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill,

Nothing stopped them. Neither the hills,
Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides
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woods, streams, or anything. 
Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground

For they flew above them. 
Their march was, and the passive air upbore

Their nimble tread. As when the total kind

Of birds, in orderly array on wing,

 
Came summoned over Eden to receive
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Their names of thee; so over many a tract

Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide,

They traveled far and wide across the land.
Tenfold the length of this terrene. At last

Until they caught a glimpse
Far in the horizon, to the north, appeared

From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched
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In battailous aspect; and, nearer view,

Bristled with upright beams innumerable

of something in the distance. 
Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields

Rows of spears and shields spread across the horizon.
Various, with boastful argument portrayed,

The banded Powers of Satan hasting on
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It was Satan's army on the move. 
With furious expedition: for they weened

That self-same day, by fight or by surprise,

It seems like they were planning on taking God by surprise.
To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne

To set the envier of his state, the proud

Aspirer. But their thoughts proved fond and vain
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In the mid-way; though strange to us it seemed

At first that Angel should with Angel war,

To us, it also seems strange to even consider angels taking up arms to fight other angels. 
And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet

So oft in festivals of joy and love

But that's exactly what is going to happen here. 
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire,
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Hymning the Eternal Father. But the shout

Of battle now began, and rushing sound

The shout of battle began. 
Of onset ended soon each milder thought.

High in the midst, exalted as a God,

And there, in the middle of the armed angel horde,
The Apostat in his sun-bright chariot sat,
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was Satan sitting in his fancy sun-bright chariot. 
Idol of majesty divine, enclosed

With flaming Cherubim and golden shields;

Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne—for now

He stepped off his throne. 
’Twixt host and host but narrow space was left,

And moved forward.
A dreadful interval, and front to front
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There was a narrow space between both armies. 
Presented stood, in terrible array

Of hideous length. Before the cloudy van,

On the rough edge of battle ere it joined,

Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced,

Came towering, armed in adamant and gold.
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Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood

Abdiel was there too, in the frontlines, right across from Satan. 
Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,

And thus his own undaunted heart explores:—

Abdiel said to himself, 
  “‘O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest

"Well, well, well... let's just see if Satan's power 
Should yet remain, where faith and realty
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is as stupid and phony as his words. 
Remain not! Wherefore should not strength and might

There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove

Where boldest, though to sight unconquerable?

His puissance, trusting in the Almighty’s aid,

God is on my side and will help me always. 
I mean to try, whose reason I have tried
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Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just

That he who in debate of truth hath won

I beat Satan before using words
Should win in arms, in both disputes alike

Victor. Though brutish that contest’ and foul,

and I can definitely do it with weapons too." 
When reason hath to deal with force, yet so
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Most reason is that reason overcome.’

  “So pondering, and from his armed peers

Forth-stepping opposite, half-way he met

Abdiel stepped up in front
His daring foe, at this prevention more

of Satan. 
Incensed, and thus securely him defied:—
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  “‘Proud, art thou met? Thy hope was to have reached

Abdiel said to satan "So, I guess you thought we'd
The highth of thy aspiring unopposed—

The Throne of God unguarded, and his side

Abandoned at the terror of thy power

run away and hide because of your gReAt PoWeR?
Or potent tongue. Fool! not to think how vain
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You are a fool. 
Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms;

Don't you know that God
Who, out of smallest things, could without end

could just keep making more armies to 
Have raised incessant armies to defeat

defeat you?
Thy folly; or with solitary hand,

Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow,
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Or if he wanted to, he could crush all of you in 
Unaided could have finished thee, and whelmed

a single blow literally singlehandedly. 
Thy legions under darkness! But thou seest

Just look around you!
All are not of thy train; there be who faith

Nobody likes you dude.
Prefer, and piety to God, though then

I'm not the only one that is loyal to God." 
To thee not visible when I alone
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Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent

From all: my Sect thou seest; now learn too late

How few sometimes may know when thousands err.’

  “Whom the grand Foe, with scornful eye askance,

Satan replied, 
Thus answered:—’Ill for thee, but in wished hour
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Of my revenge, first sought for, thou return’st

From flight, seditious Angel, to receive

"Hah, look at you. 
Thy merited reward, the first assay

You ran away and now you're back looking for glory. 
Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue,

Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose
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A third part of the Gods, in synod met

Their deities to assert: who, while they feel

Vigour divine within them, can allow

Omnipotence to none. But well thou com’st

Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
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From me some plume, that thy success may show

Step right up and show off,
Destruction to the rest. This pause between

I want everyone to see when I beat you down. 
(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know.—

At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven

I used to think Heaven was all about freedom and liberty
To heavenly souls had been all one; but now
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I see that most through sloth had rather serve,

but now that I think about it now, you're. all just lazy 
Ministering Spirits, trained up in feast and song;

and comfortable. All you do is sing hymns
Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of heaven—

Servility with freedom to contend,

and serve blindly like slaves. What an army! Full of fat choir boys! 
As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.’
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Let's see how they do on the battlefield."
  “To whom, in brief, thus Abdiel stern replied:—

Abdiel replied, 
‘Apostat! still thou err’st, no end wilt find

"You're stupid, and there's no hope for you. 
Of erring, from the path of truth remote.

Unjustly thou deprav’st it with the name

Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains,
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You claim it is slavery to serve God's son. 
Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same,

When he who rules is worthiest, and excels

There is no one else more worthy to rule over all of us. 
Them whom he governs. This is servitude—

To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled

The only slavery I see here 
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,
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is the way that your fallen angels serve you!
Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled;

You are a slave to your own self. 
Yet lewdly dar’st our ministering upbraid.

Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve

Go ahead and be a king. if you'd like, in Hell!
In Heaven god ever blest, and His Divine

I'll stay right here and serve God.
Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed.
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Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: meanwhile,

You'll be in chains in Hell." 
From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

This greeting on thy impious crest receive.’

  “So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell
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After speaking, Abdiel 
On the proud crest of Satan that no sight,

hit Satan so fast
Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,

he couldn't dodge or lift his shield to deflect it. 
Such ruin intercept. Ten paces huge

Satan stumbled backwards
He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee

and fell down to a knee
His massy spear upstayed: as if, on earth,
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only supporting his weight with his spear. 
Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,

Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat,

He was like a mountain crumbling from an earthquake.  
Half-sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized

The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see

His rebel angels were shocked like Pikachu. 
Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout,
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While God's army cheered and shouted for joy. 
Presage of victory, and fierce desire

Of battle: whereat Michaël bid sound

The angel Michael sounded the trumpets. 
The Archangel trumpet. Through the vast of Heaven

It sounded, and the faithful armies rung

Hosannah to the Highest; nor stood at gaze
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God's army praised God before running into battle. 
The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined

The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose,

And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now.

Such violence was never heard before in Heaven. 
Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed

Swords clashed with shields and armor.  
Horrible discord, and the madding wheels
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Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise

Chariots charged in, 
Of conflict; overhead the dismal hiss

and the hissing sound of burning arrows soared in the air. 
Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew,

And, flying, vaulted either host with fire.

So under fiery cope together rushed
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Both battles main with ruinous assault

And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven

Resounded; and, had Earth been then, all Earth

If our Earth had been present, 
Had to her centre shook. What wonder, when

the whole planet would have shake. 
Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought
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But this is what happens when millions of fierce angels
On either side, the least of whom could yield

fight. 
These elements, and arm him with the force

Of all their regions? How much more of power

Army against army numberless to raise

Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,
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Though not destroy, their happy native seat;

Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent

From his strong hold of Heaven high overruled

And limited their might, though numbered such

It was as if each legion was like an army,
As each divided legion might have seemed
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and each angel was like a legion, 
A numerous host, in strength, each armèd hand

and every individual warrior 
A legion! Led in fight, yet leader seemed

was like a leader and an expert fighter and 
Each warrior single as in chief; expert

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

military strategist. 
Of battle, open when, and when to close
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The ridges of grim war. No thought of flight,

No angel thought about retreat. 
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

That argued fear; each on himself relied

It was as if the whole outcome of the battle
As only in his arm the moment lay

depended on each angel. 
Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame
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Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread

Each of their bravery and courage was infinite. 
That war, and various: sometimes on firm ground

Some angels fought on the ground
A standing fight; then, soaring on main wing,

while others fought in the air.
Tormented all the air; all air seemed then

Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale
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The battle hung; till Satan, who that day

Across every battle, it seemed like it was a draw and an even match. 
Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms

But Satan happened to be beating every angel 
No equal, ranging through the dire attack

he fought with. 
Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length

Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled
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The angel Michael was beating down entire squadrons
Squadrons at once: with huge two-handed sway

left and right. 
Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down

Satan immediately went after Michael. 
Wide-wasting. Such destruction to withstand

He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,
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A vast circumference. At his approach

Michael saw him coming from the corner of his eye
The great Archangel from his warlike toil

Surceased, and, glad, as hoping here to end

and was actually glad, because he 
Intestine war in Heaven, the Arch-foe subdued,

could end things once and for all by defeating Satan. 
Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown
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And visage all inflamed, first thus began:—

Michael said, 
  “‘Author of Evil, unknown till thy revolt,

"Author of Evil! 
Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest

You're the one causing all of this misery and pain. You brought evil to Heaven!
These acts of hateful strife—hateful to all,

Though heaviest, by just measure, on thyself
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And thy adherents—how hast thou disturbed

Heaven’s blessed peace, and into Nature brought

Misery, uncreated till the crime

Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled

Thy malice into thousands, once upright
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You've corrupted thousands of angels to your evil cause. 
And faithful, now proved false! But think not here

You will stop this immediately. 
To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out

From all her confines; Heaven, the seat of bliss,

Brooks not the works of violence and war.

Hence, then, and Evil go with thee along,
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Leave now and go to Hell where you belong
Thy offspring, to the place of Evil, Hell—

Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils!

Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom,

before I destroy you with my sword. 
Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God,

Or God does even worse to you."
Precipitate thee with augmented pain.’
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  “So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus

Satan replied, 
The Adversary:—’Nor think thou with wind

"Yeah okay, cool story bro. 
Of airy threats to awe whom yet with deeds

All I hear are empty threats.
Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these

That doesn't scare me at all!
To flight—or, if to fall, but that they rise
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None of my men have run away from you, and when they do get knocked down they get right back up again to keep fighting. 
Unvanquished—easier to transact with me

Your words do nothing to me. 
That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats

To chase me hence? Err not that so shall end

The strife which thou call’st evil, but we style

What you perceive and call 'evil,' 
The strife of glory; which we mean to win,
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we call glory. 
Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell

We will win and turn this Heaven into 
Thou fablest; here, however, to dwell free,

what you're calling Hell. 
If not to reign. Meanwhile, thy utmost force—

We will live here free.
And join Him named Almighty to thy aid—

Go ahead and get help from God, 
I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.’
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I've been trying to find you on the field for a while and nothing will stop me from destroying you."
  “They ended parle, and both addressed for fight

Their shouting match ended 
Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue

and they began to fight 
Of Angels, can relate, or to what things

in a way that I can't even describe (seriously, the orginal text also admits that Raphael is unable to find a way to describe it. 
Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift

Human imagination to such highth
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Of godlike power? for likest gods they seemed,

you would literally need the "imagination of God" to understand it)
Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms,

Michael and Satan fought like gods,
Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.

the way they moved and fought it seemed like the entire battle would be determined by their actions.  
Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air

The waved their fiery swords
Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields
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and their shields burned like suns. 
Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood

In horror; from each hand with speed retired,

Where erst was thickest fight, the Angelic throng,

Angels around them even stopped fighting to give them room to fight. 
And left large field, unsafe with the wind

Of such commotion: such as (to set forth
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How about this to describe the fight,
Great things by small) if, Nature’s concord broke,

Among the constellations war were sprung,

imagine two planets in the sky 
Two planets, rushing from aspect’ malign rushing toward each other about to collide.
Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky

Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.
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Together both, with next to Almighty arm

Both angels lifted them arms
Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimed

ready to strike each other. 
That might determine, and not need repeat

As not of power, at once; nor odds appeared

In might or swift prevention. But the sword
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Of Michaël from the armoury of God

Michael's sword was from God's armory 
Was given him tempered so that neither keen

so nothing would be able
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met

to resist its cutting edge. 
The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite

It met with Satan's sword and cut it in half like butter. 
Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stayed,
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But, with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared

As Michael swung his sword back 
All his right side. Then Satan first knew pain,

it cut open Satan's side. It was the first time he felt and knew pain. 
And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore

It was a deep wound and caused him to writhe in pain. 
The griding sword with discontinuous wound

Passed through him. But the ethereal substance closed,
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Blood gushed out all over his 
Not long divisible; and from the gash

A stream of nectarous humour issuing flowed

Sanguin, such as celestial Spirits may bleed,

And all his armour stained, erewhile so bright,

armor staining it. 
Forthwith, on all sides, to his aid was run
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His rebel angels ran to his aid,
By Angels many and strong, who interposed

Defence, while others bore him on their shields

some defended his retreat while others carried Satan on their shields. 
Back to his chariot where it stood retired

They took him back to his chariot.
From off the files of war: there they him laid

Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame
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He laid there on his chariot, moaning in anguish
To find himself not matchless, and his pride

Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath

His confidence to equal God in power.

due to pain and a bruised ego. His thoughts of being equal to God's power were crushed. 
Yet soon he healed; for Spirits, that live throughout

Since he was an angel, he still healed fairly quickly. 
Vital in every part—not, as frail Man,
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In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins—

Cannot but by annihilating die;

It's difficult to kill any angel
Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound

as they aren't built like men. You have to totally destroy angels to get rid of them.
Receive, no more than can the fluid air:

All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
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Angels' bodies are malleable and ever-changing at will. 
All intellect, all sense; and as they please

They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size

Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

  “Meanwhile, in other parts, like deeds deserved

I also want to give an honorable mention to more things that happened on the battlefield...
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
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And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array

Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied,

Gabriel was fighting Moloch 
And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound

who had threatened to tie Gabriel up and drag him behind his chariot.
Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven

Refreined his tongue blasphémous, but anon,
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Gabriel ended up cutting Moloch
Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms

in half down to his waist making him run away screaming. 
And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing

Uriel and Raphaël his vaunting foe,

Uriel and Raphael 
Though huge and in a rock of diamond armed,

Vanquished—Adramelech and Asmadai,
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vanquished Adramelech and Asmodeus
Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods

who were two powerful rebel angels armed with diamond weapons. 
Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight,

They wanted to be like gods
Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.

but were cut down to size when they fled. 
Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

The smart-mouthed Abdiel
The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow
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continued to mock and irritate the rebel angels. He tended to take on two angels at a time easily. 
Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence

Of Ramiel, scorched and blasted, overthrew.

I might relate of thousands, and their names

I could go on and on about other angels and their glorious battles, but they they don't 
Eternize here on Earth; but those elect

Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven,
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want fame on Earth. 
Seek not the praise of men: the other sort,

In might though wondrous and in acts of war,

Nor or renown less eager, yet by doom

Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory,

Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell
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For strength from truth divided, and from just,

For having strength doesn't necessarily 
Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise

equal truth and justice. 
And ignominy, yet to glory aspires,

Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame:

And evil doesn't bring fame at all, only silence. 
Therefore eternal silence be their doom!
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  “And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved,

Satan and his army was losing. 
With many an inroad gored; deformed rout

The battlefield was 
Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground

full of scattered broken armor,
With shivered armour strown, and on a heap

Chariot and charioter lay overturned,
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overturned chariots, 
And fiery foaming steeds; what stood recoiled,

and tired horses. 
O’er-wearied, through the faint Satanic host,

Satan's rebels retreated,
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised—

and they were all expecting 
Then first with fear surprised and sense of pain—

impending doom and pain
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought
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By sin of disobedience, till that hour

because of their sin. 
Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain.

Far otherwise the inviolable Saints

In cubic phalanx firm advanced entire,

On the other side, 
Invulnerable, impenetrably armed;
        400
God's army marched on in formation. 
Such high advantages their innocence

Their innocence gave them 
Gave them above their foes—not to have sinned,

advantage on the field. 
Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood

Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained

By wound, though from their place by violence moved.
        405
  “Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven

When night came, 
Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,

And silence on the odious din of war.

there was no fighting. 
Under her cloudy covert both retired,

Victor and Vanquished. On the foughten field
        410
Michael and his Angels, prevalent

Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,

Everyone camped to rest. 
Cherubic waving fires: on the other part,

Satan with his rebellious disappeared,

However, Satan's army couldn't rest or sleep at all. 
Far in the dark dislodged, and, void of rest,
        415
His Potentates to council called by night,

Satan held a meeting to try and raise morale, 
And in the midst thus undismayed began:—

  “‘O now in danger tried, now known in arms

"...okay, we were able to survive one battle so far,
Not to be overpowered, companions dear,

so we know were are able to survive more to come!
Found worthy not of liberty alone—
        420
Too mean pretence—but, what we more affect,

Honour, dominion, glory and renown;

Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight

(And, if one day, why not eternal days?)

What Heaven’s Lord had powerfullest to send
        425
God sent his most powerful armies against us, 
Against us from about his Throne, and judged

Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,

but he failed to truly defeat us all!
Of future we may deem him, though till now

Omniscient thought! True is, less firmly armed,
        430
Maybe he isn't as all-powerful as we thought!
Some disadvantage we endured, and pain—

Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned;

Sure, we suffered losses
Since now we find this our empyreal form

and experienced mild defeat
Incapable of mortal injury,

Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound,
        435
but one thing is for sure: we cannot die. 
Soon closing, and by native vigour healed.

Our wounds heal. Mine did!
Of evil, then, so small as easy think

The remedy: perhaps more valid arms,

Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

What I think we need, are more violent weapons.
May serve to better us and worse our foes,
        440
Or equal what between us made the odds,

Just to level the playing field a little bit, 
In nature none. If other hidden cause

Left them superior, while we can preserve

as long as have our minds and cleverness
Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,

Due search and consultation will disclose,’
        445
we can figure something out."
  “He sat; and in the assembly next upstood

Satan sat down. 
Nisroch, of Principalities the prime.

Nisroch, the leader of Principalities, stood up to speak next.
As one he stood escaped from cruel fight

Sore toiled, his riven arms to havoc hewn,

His armor was all messed up.
And, cloudy in aspect’, thus answering spake:—
        450
  “‘Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free

He said "This sucks.
Enjoyment of our right as Gods! yet hard

For Gods, and too unequal work, we find

Against unequal arms to fight in pain,

We're getting hammered out there!
Against unpained, impassive; from which evil
        455
And. the pain is terrible, I don't like the feeling. 
Ruin must needs ensue. For what avails

It seems like God's army doesn't even feel pain at all.
Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain,

Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands

Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well


Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
        460
But live content—which is the calmest life;

I don't mind going back to a calm life, this pain is just too much right now." 
But pain is perfect misery, the worst

Of evils, and, excessive, overturns

All patience. He who, therefore, can invent

With what more forcible we may offend
        465
Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm

Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves

No less than for deliverance what we owe.’

  “Whereto, with look composed, Satan replied:—

Satan replied, 
‘Not uninvented that, which thou aright
        470
"You know what, maybe the answer is 
Believ’st so main to our success, I bring.

Which of us who beholds the bright surface

Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand—

right under our feet. 
This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned

With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems and gold—
        475
Look at all these flowers and plants, and gems and gold. 
Whose eye so superficially surveys

These things as not to mind from whence they grow

These beautiful things came from 
Deep under ground: materials dark and crude,

deep underground, from crude materials 
Of spirituous and fiery spume, till, touched

With Heaven’s ray, and tempered, they shoot forth
        480
So beauteous, opening to the ambient light?

Let's dig it all up
These in their dark nativity the Deep

Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame;

and stuff it
Which, into hollow engines long and round

into long hollow engines
Thick-rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire
        485
and then light the other end with fire. 
Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth

From far, with thundering noise, among our foes

It's like a cannon! 
Such implements of mischief as shall dash

The explosion will certainly do some damage. 
To pieces and o’erwhelm whatever stands

Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed
        490
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.

They'll think we stole some weapons from God for our own use. 
Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn

Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive;

Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined

I don't think these weapons will be hard to build, you can have them ready soon. 
Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired.’
        495
So get yourselves together and get building!"
  “He ended; and his words their drooping cheer

After he spoke, his rebel angels felt some hint of hope. 
Enlightened, and their languished hope revived.

The invention all admired, and each how he

They admired Satan's problem-solving and innovation. 
To be the inventor missed; so easy it seemed,

Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought
        500
They all thought to themselves, "why didn't I think of that?!"
Impossible! Yet, haply, of thy race,

In future days, if malice should abound,

In the future, if evil should spread among humans
Some one, intent on mischief, or inspired

beware of weapons like this. 
With devilish machination, might devise

It's just going to cause more misery,
Like instrument to plague the sons of men
        505
endless pain, and endless killing. 
For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent.

Forthwith from council to the work they flew;

None arguing stood; innumerable hands

The rebel angels went to work. 
Were ready; in a moment up they turned

Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath
        510
The originals of Nature in their crude

Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam

They dug up sulfur, and nitrous foam
They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art

Concocted and adusted, they reduced

To blackest grain, and into store conveyed.
        515
and created a form of gunpowder. 
Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this Earth

They dug up minerals and stone
Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,

Whereof to found their engines and their balls

to make cannonballs that could be 
Of missive ruin; part incentive reed

fired by lighting a reed on fire. 
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
        520
So all ere day-spring, under conscious Night,

They all worked during the night and were done by morning. 
Secret they finished, and in order set,

With silent circumspection, unespied.

  “Now, when fair Morn orient in Heaven appeared,

When morning arrived, God's angels
Up rose the victor Angels, and to arms
        525
woke up and the trumpets called them to arms. 
The matin trumpet sung. In arms they stood

Of golden panoply, refulgent host,

Soon banded; others from the dawning hills

Looked round, and scouts each coast light-armèd scour,

Scouts ran to the hills to see if the enemy was around anywhere. 
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe,
        530
Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,

In motion or in halt. Him soon they met

Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow

But firm battalion: back with speediest sail

The scouts saw Satan's army approaching. 
Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing,
        535
The cherub Zophiel shouted, 
Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried:—


  “‘Arm, Warriors, arm for fight! The foe at hand,

"To arms! Get ready! The enemy approaches!"
Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit

 
This day; fear not his flight; so thick a cloud

He comes, and settled in his face I see
        540
Sad resolution and secure. Let each

His adamantine coat gird well, and each

Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbèd shield,

Borne even or high; for this day will pour down,

If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower,
        545
But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.’

  “So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon

Satan's army was 
In order, quit of all impediment.

Instant, without disturb, they took alarm,

And onward more embattled: when, behold,
        550
Not distant far, with heavy pace the Foe

Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube

Training his devilish enginery, impaled

in formation along with his hidden, devilish siege weaponry. 
On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,

To hide the fraud. At interview both stood
        555
A while; but suddenly at head appeared

Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud:—

Soon both armies were face to face again. 
  “‘Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold,

Satan shouted and ordered his men to move left and right to reveal the new weapons.  
That all may see who hate us how we seek


Peace and composure, and with open breast
        560
Stand ready to receive them, if they like

Our overture, and turn not back perverse:

Satan mentioned to his men that this is a gesture of "peace." 
But that I doubt. However, witness Heaven!

Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge

Freely our part. Ye, who appointed stand,
        565
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch

What we propound, and loud that all may hear.’

  “So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce

This is just to show Heaven how sincere we can be. 
Had ended, when to right and left the front

Divided, and to either flank retired;
        570
Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange,

The rebel angels in front moved aside to reveal the weapons.  
A triple mounted row of pillars laid

It was a strange arrangement of hollowed-out
On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed,

columns on wheels with 
Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir,

With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled),
        575
Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths

With hideous orifice gaped on us wide,

openings in the front that looked like mouths. 
Portending hollow truce. At each, behind,

A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed

Behind each was a Seraph holding a reed lit on fire. 
Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense,
        580
Collected stood within our thoughts amused.

God's angels stood by to see what would happen. 
Not long! for sudden all at once their reeds

Suddenly, they all lit the cannons at the same time. 
Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied

With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,

There was a roar, 
But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared,
        585
smoke, 
From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar

Embowelled with outrageous noise the air,

And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul

Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail

Of iron globes; which, on the Victor Host
        590
and a shower of cannonballs rained down on God's army
Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote,

That whom they hit none on their feet might stand,

Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell

By thousands, Angel on Archangel rowled,

Thousands of angels were knocked down, 
The sooner for their arms. Unarmed, they might
        595
and they could have dodged everything but their armor made it hard for them to move quickly. 
Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift

By quick contraction or remove; but now

Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout;

Nor served it to relax their serried files.

This was all so new, the angels didn't know what to do. 
What should they do? If on they rushed, repulse
        600
Repeated, and indecent overthrow

Doubled, would render them yet more despised,

They didn't want to retreat, but the rebel angels were already loading a second barrage of cannonballs to fire. 
And to their foes a laughter—for in view

Stood ranked of Seraphim another row,

In posture to displode their second tire
        605
Of thunder; back defeated to return

They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight,

And to his mates thus in derision called:—

Satan made fun of God's angels to his men, 
  “‘O friends, why come not on these victors proud?

"Look at them! 
Erewhile they fierce were coming; and, when we,
        610
To entertain them fair with open front

And breast (what could we more?), propounded terms

Of composition, straight they changed their minds,

They were too proud to surrender and. now they 
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,

As they would dance. Yet for a dance they seemed
        615
dance and dodge!
Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps

For joy of offered peace. But I suppose,

If our proposals once again were heard,

We should compel them to a quick result.’

Let's keep sending them our 'peace offerings'!"
  “To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood:
        620
Belial continued the mocking, 
‘Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight,

Of hard contents, and full of force urged home,

"We sent our terms of 'hard contents,' and we urged them 'forcefully.' 
Such as we might perceive amused them all,

And stumbled many. Who receives them right

Had need from head to foot well understand;
        625
Now they're crawling around on all fours, are they confused or something?"
Not understood, this gift they have besides—

They shew us when our foes walk not upright.’

  “So they among themselves in pleasant vein

The rebel angels continued to mock them, 
Stood scoffing, heightened in their thoughts beyond

they were certain they would win the war after all. 
All doubt of victory; Eternal Might
        630
To match with their inventions they presumed

They were completely confident their cannon inventions were more powerful than what God could muster. 
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn,

And all his host derided, while they stood

A while in trouble. But they stood not long;

Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms
        635
God's angels grew angry. 
Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.

Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power,

Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!)

With God's power running through their bodies, 
Their arms away they threw, and to the hills

they threw down their arms, ran to the hills,
(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven
        640
Of pleasure situate in hill and dale)

Light as the lightning-glimpse they ran, they flew,

and lifted the hills themselves straight up out of the ground. 
From their foundations, loosening to and fro,

They plucked the seated hills, with all their load,

Hills that also had their waters and woods still attached. 
Rocks, waters, woods, and, by the shaggy tops
        645
Uplifting, bore them in their hands. Amaze,

Be sure, and terror, seized the rebel Host,

The rebel army was shocked at this quick display of strength and power. 
When coming towards them so dread they saw

God's angels threw the mountains at the rebel angels. 
The bottom of the mountains upward turned,

Till on those cursed engines’ triple row
        650
They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence

Smashing the siege weapons and crushing the rebel angels' spirits. 
Under the weight of mountains buried deep;

Themselves invaded next, and on their heads

More and more mountains flung through the air 
Main promontories flung, which in the air

landing on the rebel angels' heads. 
Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed.
        655
Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised,

Their armor made things worse as the crushed and pierced
Into their substance pent—which wrought them pain

their bodies causing more pain. 
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,

Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind

Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light,
        660
Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.

The rebel angels decided to start throwing mountains and hills too. 
The rest, in imitation, to like arms

Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore;

So hills amid the air encountered hills,

Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire,
        665
That underground they fought in dismal shade:

And so mountains were flying through the air while more angles fought under their shadow.
Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game

It was a ridiculous sight. 
To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped

Upon confusion rose. And now all Heaven

They were all in the process of destroying Heaven. 
Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread,
        670
but God saw all this coming. He even predicted it happening. 
Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits

Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure,

Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen

This tumult, and permitted all, advised,

That his great purpose he might so fulfil,
        675
To honour his Anointed Son, avenged

Because it would give God's son the chance to 
Upon his enemies, and to declare

All power on him transferred. Whence to his Son,

The assessor of his Throne, he thus began:—

use his power to sort things out. God said, 
  “‘Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved,
        680
"Go forth my Son, 
Son in whose face invisible is beheld

it is your visible face that makes my 
Visibly, what by Deity I am,

invisible presence known and tangible. 
And in whose hand what by decree I do,

Second Omnipotence! two days are passed,

Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven,
        685
It's been two days since Michael led my army into battle
Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame

against Satan's army. 
These disobedient. Sore hath been their fight,

As likeliest was when two such foes met armed:

The fight was intense as you would expect such a battle to be. 
For to themselves I left them; and thou know’st

Equal in their creation they were formed,
        690
Both sides were equal in power so you know it would've been a war that would go on forever. 
Save what sin hath impaired—which yet hath wrought

However, sin and evil will inevitably weaken Satan and his forces. 
Insensibly, for I suspend their doom:

Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last

Endless, and no solution will be found.

War wearied hath performed what war can do,
        695
And to disordered rage let loose the reins,

With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes

Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main.

Two days are, therefore, passed; the third is thine:

Two days have passed, but this third day will be yours my Son. 
For thee I have ordained it, and thus far
        700
I've put. up with this nonsense, all just so you
Have suffered, that the glory may be thine

Of ending this great war, since none but thou

could be the one to end it.
Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace

For that's what I have planned all along. 
Immense I have transfused, that all may know

You have enough power within you to win. the war singlehandedly. 
In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare,
        705
This will show everyone that you are the worthy one to be king and ruler above all. 
And this perverse commotion governed thus,

To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir

Of all things—to be Heir, and to be King

By sacred unction, thy deserved right.

Go, then, thou Mightiest, in thy Father’s might;
        710
Go forth. You have all my power at your immediate disposal.
Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels

Take my chariot and go. 
That shake Heaven’s basis; bring forth all my war;

My bow and thunder, my Almighty arms,

Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh;

Pursue these Sons of Darkness, drive them out
        715
Chase these Sons of Darkness out of Heaven
From all Heaven’s bounds into the utter Deep;

and throw them into the depths of Hell. 
There let them learn, as likes them, to despise

There they will sit for all eternity and suffer."
God, and Messiah his anointed King.’

  “He said, and on his Son with rays direct

Shon full. He all his Father full expressed
        720
Ineffably into his face received;

And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake:—

The Son replied, 
  “‘O Father, O Supreme of Heavenly Thrones,

First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou always seek’st

"Father, 
To glorify thy Son; I always thee,
        725
you are always praising me and glorifying me. 
As is most just. This I my glory account,

My exaltation, and my whole delight,

I feel the same way about you. 
That thou in me, well pleased, declar’st thy will

All I want. todo is please you in all your glory. 
Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss.

Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume,
        730
I will take all this power that you have given me and put it to good use. 
And gladlier shall resign when in the end

Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee

For ever, and in me all whom thou lov’st.

But whom thou hat’st I hate, and can put on

Whoever you hate, I will hate too
Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,
        735
and I can be as tough as I can be loving. 
Image of thee in all things: and shall soon,

Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled,

I will clean Heaven out and drive these devils away. 
To their prepared ill mansion driven down,

To chains of darkness and the undying Worm,

Hell is waiting for them. 
That from thy just obedience could revolt,
        740
Whom to obey is happiness entire.

Then shall thy Saints, unmixed, and from the impure

You can be sure that all the pure angels around you will be 
Far separate, circling thy holy Mount,

Unfeigned halleluiahs to thee sing,

singing hymns knowing that the impure angels will be gone."
Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief,’
        745
  “So said, He, o’er his sceptre bowing, rose

The Son stood up from his throne and bowed. 
From the right hand of Glory where He sat;

And the third sacred morn began to shine,

Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirlwind sound

The chariot of Paternal Deity,
        750
God's chariot swung into view, it 
Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel; undrawn,

Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed

By four cherubic Shapes. Four faces each

was followed by four cherubs, each with four faces,
Had wondrous; as with stars, their bodies all

their wings were covered with eyes, 
And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels
        755
and the wheels of the chariot
Of beryl, and careering fires between;

were lined with jewels. 
Over their heads a crystal firmament,

Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure

Amber and colours of the showery arch.

He, in celestial panoply all armed
        760
Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,

Ascended; at his right hand Victory

Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow,

The Son climbed into the chariot, he was wearing divine armor. 
And quiver, with three-bolted thunder stored;

Next to him was a bow and a supply of arrows. 
And from about him fierce effusion rowled
        765
Of smoke and bickering flame and sparkles dire.

Attended with ten thousand Saints,

He onward came; far off his coming shon;

And twenty thousand (I their number heard)

Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen.
        770
He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime

God's angels were the first to see the Son approaching the battlefield. 
On the crystallin sky, in saphir throned—

Illustrious far and wide, but by his own

First seen. Them unexpected joy surprised

They were all overjoyed and cheering at his arrival. 
When the great ensign of Messiah blazed
        775
Aloft, by Angels borne, his Sign in Heaven;

Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced

Michael immediately turned his army and 
His army, circumfused on either wing,

authority over to the Son. 
Under their Head embodied all in one.

Before him Power Divine his way prepared;
        780
At his command the uprooted hills retired

At the Son's command, all the uprooted hills returned to where they were. As if nothing happened. 
Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went

Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed,

And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled.

  “This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured,
        785
The rebel angels weren't impressed with anything.
And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers,

Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.

Because they were so defeated on the inside, they were equally desperate. 
In Heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?

It's hard to believe that angels could seems so stubborn, 
But to convince the proud what signs avail,

Or wonders move the obdurate to relent?
        790
They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,

Grieving to see his glory, at the sight

Took envy, and, aspiring to his highth,

Stood re-imbattled fierce, by force or fraud

Weening to prosper, and at length prevail
        795
Against God and Messiah, or to fall

they actually thought they could successfully win against God. 
In universal ruin last; and now
To final battle drew, disdaining flight,

Or faint retreat: when the great Son of God

The Son of God spoke, 
To all his host on either hand thus spake:—
       800
  “‘Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand,

"Those of you who have been good and faithful to God, 
Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest. you can rest now. 
Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God

You fought against the rebel angels, but your work is now done.
Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause;
And, as ye have received, so have ye done,
805
Invincibly. But of this cursed crew God has assigned me to finish this, and I will do it alone. 
The punishment to other hand belongs;

Vengeance is his, or whose He sole appoints.
Number to this day’s work is not ordained,

Nor multitude; stand only and behold 810
God’s indignation on these godless poured

It has to be me, because I am the one
By me. Not you, but me, they have despised, that they hate and despise so much to go to war with Heaven. 
Yet envied; against me is all their rage,

Because the Father, to whom in Heaven supreme
Kingdom and power and glory appertains,
815
Hath honoured me, according to his will. Here I am now to fulfill their wish. 
Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned,

That they may have their wish, to try with me It's me against all of them
In battle which the stronger proves—they all,

so let's see who comes out on top. 
Or I alone against them; since by strength 820 All the rebel angels care about his power, so 
They measure all, of other excellence

I will show them true power."
Not emulous, nor care who them excels;
Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe.’

  “So spake the Son, and into terror changed
His countenance, too severe to be beheld,
825
The Son of God's face changed into rage. 
And full of wrauth bent on his enemies.
At once the Four spread out their starry wings

With dreadful shade continguous, and the orbs
Of his fierce chariot rowled, as with the sound

Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. 830
He on his impious foes right onward drove,

Gloomy as Night. Under his burning wheels
The steadfast Empyrean shook throughout,

All but the Throne itself of God. Full soon
Among them he arrived, in his right hand
835
Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent The Son of God grabbed then thousand thunder arrows
Before him, such as in their souls infixed

and shot them directly into the souls of every rebel angel below.
Plagues. They, astonished, all resistance lost,
All courage; down their idle weapons dropt; They all dropped their weapons.
O’er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode
840
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostate,
That wished 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-visaged Four, 845 Even the four-faced, four angels with the Son of God shot arrows too. 
Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels,

And their eyes each show fire that 
Distinct alike with multitude of eyes;
One spirit in them ruled, and every eye

Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire drained the strength and mental fortitude from the rebel angels. 
Among the accursed, that withered all their strength,
850
And of their wonted vigour left them drained,
Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen,

Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked The Son of God wasn't even using his full strength either. 
His thunder in mid-volley; for he meant

Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven. 855 He stopped his attack because he didn't want to really destory anyone, he just wanted to drive them out of Heaven and into Hell. 
The overthrown he raised, and, as a herd

Of goats or timorous flock together thronged,
Drove them before him thunderstruck, pursued He made them run away like a flock of frightened goats toward 
With terrors and with furies to the bounds

the walls at the edge of Heaven. 
And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, 860 The wall then opened up like a gate
Rowled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed

which led to the blackness of Hell. 
Into the wasteful Deep. The monstrous sight
Strook them with horror backward; but far worse

The rebel angels were horrified at this sight, but they were even more afraid of 
Urged them behind: headlong themselves they threw the Son of God behind them. They then threw themselves into the black pit. 
Down from the verge of Heaven: eternal wrauth
865
Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.
  “Hell heard the unsufferable noise; Hell saw

Heaven ruining from Heaven, 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 roared,

Chaos was confused as to why so many angels were falling into the abyss. 
And felt tenfold confusion in their fall It took the angels nine days to fall.  
Through his wild Anarchy; so huge a rout

Incumbered him with ruin. Hell at last, Hell finally opened up wide and they all fell inside
Yawning, received them whole, and on them closed—
875
and Hell closed up, swallowing them all. 
Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. Hell was where these rebel angels belonged.
Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired

Heaven was happy to get rid of them. 
Her mural breach, returning whence it rowled.
Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes
880
The Son of God had done it all himself
Messiah his triumphal chariot turned. and won the war, so he turned hi chariot around. 
To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood

Eye-witnesses of His Almighty acts, All the angels came up to meet him, 
With jubilee advanced; and, as they went,

Shaded with branching palm, each order bright 885 they each carried palms and sang his praises for the victory. 
Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King,

Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, They sang songs describing that the Son of God deserves to be their rightful king.
Worthiest to reign. He celebrated rode

Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts
And temple of his mighty Father throned
890
On high; who into glory him received, The Son of God rode into the temple of his father, God. 
Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.

There he sat at the right hand of God. 
  “Thus measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth,
At thy request, and that thou may’st beware

And that's the story of the war in Heaven.
By what is past, to thee I have revealed 895 I did my best to describe it to you in terms and ways that you may understand as humans. 
What might have else to human race been hid—
The discord which befell, and war in Heaven

Among the Angelic Powers, and the deep fall
Of those too high aspiring who rebelled

With Satan: he who envies now thy state, 900 Just remember that satan envies you and your happy state.
Who now is plotting how he may seduce

Thee also from obedience, that, with him He only wants you to be as miserable and sad as he is. 
Bereaved of happiness, thou may’st partake

His punishment, eternal misery;
Which would be all his solace and revenge, 905 If he can make you fall too, then that would be his greatest 
As a despite done against the Most High, revenge against God. 
Thee once to gain companion of his woe.
But listen not to his temptations; warn So don't listen to him, and please
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard, warn your wife Eve too. 
By terrible example, the reward 910 Don't ever forget the lessons from this story, and most. ofall
Of disobedience. Firm they might have stood,

don't forget what happens when you disobey God. 
Yet fell. Remember, and fear to transgress.”

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