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Each warrior, single as in chief, expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of battle, open when, and when to close The ridges of grim war. No thought of flight, None of retreat, no unbecoming deed That argued fear; each on himself relied, As only in his arm the moment lay Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread That war, and various; sometimes on firm ground A standing fight; then, soaring on main wing, Tormented all the air; all air seemed then Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale The battle hung; till Satan, who that day Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms No equal, ranging through the dire attack Of fighting seraphim confused, at length Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down Wide-wasting. Such destruction to withstand He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, A vast circumference. At his approach The great Archangel from his warlike toil Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end Intestine war in heaven, the arch-foe subdued, Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown And visage all inflamed, first thus began:

Author of evil unknown till thy revolt,

Unnamed in heaven, now plenteous, as thou seest

These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

Though heaviest, by just measure, on thyself

And thy adherents; how hast thou disturbed

Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought

Misery, uncreated till the crime