Side 129 af 239

Now Night her course began, and, over heaven Inducing darkness, grateful truce¹ imposed, And silence on the odious din of war.

Under her cloudy covert both retired,

Victor and vanquished. On the foughten field Michael and his angels, prevalent

Encamping, placed in guard their watches round Cherubic waving fires: on the other part,

Satan with his rebellious disappeared,

Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest,

His potentates to council called by night,

And in the midst thus undismayed began:

Oh now in danger tried, now known in arms Not to be overpowered, companions dear, Found worthy not of liberty alone, 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 powerfulest to send Against us from about his throne, and judged Sufficient to subdue us to his will, But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, Of future we may deem him, though, till now, Omniscient thought. True is,3 less firmly armed, Some disadvantage we endured, and pain, Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned; Since now we find this our empyreal form Incapable of mortal injury, Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. Of evil, then, so small, as easy think The remedy. Perhaps more valid arms, Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

^&lt;sup>1</sup> Grateful truce.—Welcome truce.

² Fallible of future.—Not knowing the future.

³ True is.—True it is.