Page 127 of 239

Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air Made horrid circles: two broad suns their shields Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood In horror. From each hand with speed retired, Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng, And left large field, unsafe within the wind Of such commotion—such as to set forth Great things by small, if, Nature's concord broke, Among the constellations war were sprung, Two planets, rushing from aspect malign Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. Together both, with next to almighty arm Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimed That might determine, and not need repeat, As not of power at once; nor odds appeared In might or swift prevention. But the sword Of Michael from the armoury of God, Was given him tempered so, that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge: it met The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stayed, But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared1 All his right side; then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore The griding sword² with discontinuous wound³ Passed through him. But the ethereal substance closed, Not long divisible; and from the gash A stream of nect'rous humour issuing flowed, Sanguine, such as celestial spirits may bleed, And all his armour stained, erewhile so bright. Forthwith, on all sides, to his aid was run

Shared.—Ploughed down.

With discontinuous wound.—A wound severing the proper continuity of parts.

Then Satan first knew pain,

And writhed him to and fro.

Book VI., lines 327, 328.