The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (76 page)

Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online

Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel

Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry

BOOK: The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems
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179

      

To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled

180

      

Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,

181

      

Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled.
3787

182

      

Yet lewdly
3788
dar’st our minist’ring
3789
upbraid.
3790

183

      

Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom! Let me serve

184

      

In Heav’n God ever blest, and His divine

185

      

Behests
3791
obey, worthiest to be obeyed.

186

      

Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect. Meanwhile,

187

      

From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

188

      

This greeting on thy impious crest
3792
receive.

189

      

   
“So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

190

      

Which hung not, but so swift with tempest
3793
fell

191

      

On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight

192

      

Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,

193

      

Such ruin
3794
intercept. Ten paces huge
3795

194

      

He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee,

195

      

His massy spear upstaid,
3796
as if on earth

196

      

Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,

197

      

Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat,

198

      

Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized

199

      

The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see

200

      

Thus foiled
3797
their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout,

201

      

Presage of victory,
3798
and fierce desire

202

      

Of battle. Whereat Michael
3799
bid sound

203

      

The Arch-Angel trumpet. Through the vast
3800
of Heav’n

204

      

It sounded, and the faithful armies rung

205

      

Hosanna to the Highest.

 

      

“Nor stood at gaze
3801

206

      

The adverse legions, nor less hideous, joined,
3802

207

      

The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose,

208

      

And clamor such as heard in Heav’n till now

209

      

Was never. Arms on armor clashing brayed
3803

210

      

Horrible discord, and the madding
3804
wheels

211

      

Of brazen
3805
chariots raged. Dire
3806
was the noise

212

      

Of conflict. Overhead the dismal hiss

213

      

Of fiery darts
3807
in flaming vollies flew,

214

      

And flying vaulted
3808
either host with fire.

215

      

So under fiery cope
3809
together rushed

216

      

Both battles
3810
main,
3811
with ruinous assault

217

      

And inextinguishable rage. All Heav’n

218

      

Resounded, and had earth been then, all earth

219

      

Had to her center shook.

 

      

“What wonder, when

220

      

Millions of fierce encount’ring Angels fought

221

      

On either side, the least of whom could wield

222

      

These elements, and arm him with the force

223

      

Of all their regions? How much more of power

224

      

Army against army numberless to raise

225

      

Dreadful combustion
3812
warring, and disturb,

226

      

Though not destory, their happy native seat,

227

      

Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent,

228

      

From His stronghold of Heav’n high, over-ruled
3813

      

229

      

And limited their might, though numbered
3814
such

230

      

As each divided
3815
legion might have seemed

231

      

A numerous host, in strength each armèd band

232

      

A legion. Led in fight, yet leader seemed

233

      

Each warrior single as in chief, expert

234

      

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

235

      

Of battle, open when, and when to close

236

      

The ridges
3816
of grim
3817
war. No thought of flight,

237

      

None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

238

      

That argued fear. Each on himself relied,

239

      

As
3818
only in his arm the moment
3819
lay

240

      

Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame

241

      

Were done, but infinite, for wide was spread

242

      

That war and various. Sometimes on firm ground

243

      

A standing fight; then soaring on main
3820
wing

244

      

Tormented
3821
all the air. All air seemed then

245

      

Conflicting
3822
fire.

 

      

“Long time in even scale

246

      

The battle hung, till Satan, who that day

247

      

Prodigious
3823
power had shown, and met in arms

248

      

No equal, ranging through the dire attack

249

      

Of fighting Seraphim confused,
3824
at length

250

      

Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled

251

      

Squadrons at once: with huge two-handed sway
3825

252

      

Brandished aloft, the horrid
3826
edge came down

253

      

Wide-wasting. Such destruction to withstand

254

      

He hasted, and opposed
3827
the rocky orb

255

      

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,

256

      

A vast circumference. At his approach

257

      

The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil

258

      

Surceased,
3828
and glad, as hoping here to end

259

      

Intestine
3829
war in Heav’n, th’ arch-foe subdued

260

      

Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown

261

      

And visage all inflamed first thus began:

262

      

   
“‘Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

263

      

Unnamed in Heav’n, now plenteous, as thou see’st—

264

      

These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

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