Side 124 af 239

The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to see Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout, Presage of victory, and fierce desire Of battle; whereat Michael bid sound The archangle trumpet. Through the vast of Heaven It sounded, and the faithful armies rung Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, And clamour, such as heard in heaven till now Was never; arms on armour clashing betrayed Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise Of conflict; overhead the dismal hiss Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew, And flying vaulted either host with fire. So under fiery cope together rushed Both battles main, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage. All heaven Resounded; and had earth been then, all earth Had to her centre shook. What wonder? when Millions of fierce encountering angles fought On either side, the least of whom could wield 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, 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, As each divided legion might have seemed A numerous host, in strength each armed hand A legion · led in fight, yet leader seemed

Both battles main.—The mass on both sides.

And clamour, such as heard in heaven till now

Book VI., lines 207-209