The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (76 page)

179

To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled

180

Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,

181

Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled.
³⁷⁸⁷

182

Yet lewdly
³⁷⁸⁸
dar’st our minist’ring
³⁷⁸⁹
upbraid.
³⁷⁹⁰

183

Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom! Let me serve

184

In Heav’n God ever blest, and His divine

185

Behests
³⁷⁹¹
obey, worthiest to be obeyed.

186

Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect. Meanwhile,

187

From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

188

This greeting on thy impious crest
³⁷⁹²
receive.

189

   
“So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

190

Which hung not, but so swift with tempest
³⁷⁹³
fell

191

On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight

192

Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,

193

Such ruin
³⁷⁹⁴
intercept. Ten paces huge
³⁷⁹⁵

194

He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee,

195

His massy spear upstaid,
³⁷⁹⁶
as if on earth

196

Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,

197

Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat,

198

Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized

199

The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see

200

Thus foiled
³⁷⁹⁷
their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout,

201

Presage of victory,
³⁷⁹⁸
and fierce desire

202

Of battle. Whereat Michael
³⁷⁹⁹
bid sound

203

The Arch-Angel trumpet. Through the vast
³⁸⁰⁰
of Heav’n

204

It sounded, and the faithful armies rung

205

Hosanna to the Highest.

“Nor stood at gaze
³⁸⁰¹

206

The adverse legions, nor less hideous, joined,
³⁸⁰²

207

The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose,

208

And clamor such as heard in Heav’n till now

209

Was never. Arms on armor clashing brayed
³⁸⁰³

210

Horrible discord, and the madding
³⁸⁰⁴
wheels

211

Of brazen
³⁸⁰⁵
chariots raged. Dire
³⁸⁰⁶
was the noise

212

Of conflict. Overhead the dismal hiss

213

Of fiery darts
³⁸⁰⁷
in flaming vollies flew,

214

And flying vaulted
³⁸⁰⁸
either host with fire.

215

So under fiery cope
³⁸⁰⁹
together rushed

216

Both battles
³⁸¹⁰
main,
³⁸¹¹
with ruinous assault

217

And inextinguishable rage. All Heav’n

218

Resounded, and had earth been then, all earth

219

Had to her center shook.

“What wonder, when

220

Millions of fierce encount’ring Angels fought

221

On either side, the least of whom could wield

222

These elements, and arm him with the force

223

Of all their regions? How much more of power

224

Army against army numberless to raise

225

Dreadful combustion
³⁸¹²
warring, and disturb,

226

Though not destory, their happy native seat,

227

Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent,

228

From His stronghold of Heav’n high, over-ruled
³⁸¹³

229

And limited their might, though numbered
³⁸¹⁴
such

230

As each divided
³⁸¹⁵
legion might have seemed

231

A numerous host, in strength each armèd band

232

A legion. Led in fight, yet leader seemed

233

Each warrior single as in chief, expert

234

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

235

Of battle, open when, and when to close

236

The ridges
³⁸¹⁶
of grim
³⁸¹⁷
war. No thought of flight,

237

None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

238

That argued fear. Each on himself relied,

239

As
³⁸¹⁸
only in his arm the moment
³⁸¹⁹
lay

240

Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame

241

Were done, but infinite, for wide was spread

242

That war and various. Sometimes on firm ground

243

A standing fight; then soaring on main
³⁸²⁰
wing

244

Tormented
³⁸²¹
all the air. All air seemed then

245

Conflicting
³⁸²²
fire.

“Long time in even scale

246

The battle hung, till Satan, who that day

247

Prodigious
³⁸²³
power had shown, and met in arms

248

No equal, ranging through the dire attack

249

Of fighting Seraphim confused,
³⁸²⁴
at length

250

Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled

251

Squadrons at once: with huge two-handed sway
³⁸²⁵

252

Brandished aloft, the horrid
³⁸²⁶
edge came down

253

Wide-wasting. Such destruction to withstand

254

He hasted, and opposed
³⁸²⁷
the rocky orb

255

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,

256

A vast circumference. At his approach

257

The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil

258

Surceased,
³⁸²⁸
and glad, as hoping here to end

259

Intestine
³⁸²⁹
war in Heav’n, th’ arch-foe subdued

260

Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown

261

And visage all inflamed first thus began:

262

   
“‘Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

263

Unnamed in Heav’n, now plenteous, as thou see’st—

264

These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,