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
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. | |
182 | | ||
183 | | Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom! Let me serve | |
184 | | In Heav’n God ever blest, and His divine | |
185 | | Behests | |
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 | |
189 | | | |
190 | | Which hung not, but so swift with tempest | |
191 | | On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight | |
192 | | Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, | |
193 | | ||
194 | | He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee, | |
195 | | His massy spear upstaid, | |
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 | |
201 | | Presage of victory, | |
202 | | Of battle. Whereat Michael | |
203 | | The Arch-Angel trumpet. Through the vast | |
204 | | It sounded, and the faithful armies rung | |
205 | | Hosanna to the Highest. | |
| | “Nor stood at gaze | |
206 | | The adverse legions, nor less hideous, joined, | |
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 | |
210 | | Horrible discord, and the madding | |
211 | | ||
212 | | Of conflict. Overhead the dismal hiss | |
213 | | Of fiery darts | |
214 | | And flying vaulted | |
215 | | So under fiery cope | |
216 | | ||
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 | |
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 | |
229 | | And limited their might, though numbered | |
230 | | As each divided | |
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 | | ||
237 | | None of retreat, no unbecoming deed | |
238 | | That argued fear. Each on himself relied, | |
239 | | ||
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 | |
244 | | Tormented | |
245 | | Conflicting | |
| | “Long time in even scale | |
246 | | The battle hung, till Satan, who that day | |
247 | | Prodigious | |
248 | | No equal, ranging through the dire attack | |
249 | | Of fighting Seraphim confused, | |
250 | | Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled | |
251 | | Squadrons at once: with huge two-handed sway | |
252 | | Brandished aloft, the horrid | |
253 | | Wide-wasting. Such destruction to withstand | |
254 | | He hasted, and opposed | |
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, | |
259 | | Intestine | |
260 | | Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown | |
261 | | And visage all inflamed first thus began: | |
262 | | | |
263 | | Unnamed in Heav’n, now plenteous, as thou see’st— | |
264 | | These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, |