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PARADISE LOST.

The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow, Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence Of Ramiel, scorched and blasted, overthrew. I might relate of thousands, and their names Eternise here on Earth; but those elect Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, Seek not the praise of men; the other sort, In might though wondrous, and in acts of war, Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. For strength from truth divided, and from just, Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise And ignominy; yet to glory aspires, Vain-glorious, and through ignominy seeks fame; Therefore eternal silence be their doom.

And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, With many an inroad gored; deformed rout Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground With shivered armour strown, and on a heap Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled, O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanic host, Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, Fled ignominious, to such evil brought By sin of disobedience; till that hour Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, In cubic phalanx firm advanced entire, Invulnerable, impenetrably armed. Such high advantages their innocence Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned, Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained By wound, though from their place by violence moved.

By angels many and strong, who interposed Defence, while others bore him on their shields Back to his chariot, where it stood retired From off the files of war. There they him laid Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, To find himself not matchless, and his pride Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath His confidence to equal God in power. Yet soon he healed; for spirits that live throughout Vital in every part, not as frail man In entrails, heart, or head, liver or reins, Cannot but by annihilating die; Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound Receive, no more than can the fluid air. All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, All intellect, all sense; and, as they please, They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size, Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

Meanwhile, in other parts, like deeds deserved Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied, And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound Threatened, nor from the Holy One of heaven Refrained his tougue blasphemous; but anon, Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms, And uncouth pain, fled bellowing. On each wing, Uriel and Raphael, his vaunting foe, Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, Vanquished Adramelech and Asmadai, Two potent thrones, that to be less than gods Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

¹ Uncouth pain - Disfiguring, strange.