The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (78 page)

355

Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,

356

And with fierce ensigns
³⁸⁶³
pierced the deep array
³⁸⁶⁴

357

Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied,

358

And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound

359

Threat’ned, nor from the Holy One of Heav’n

360

Refrained his tongue blasphemous. But anon
³⁸⁶⁵

361

Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms

362

And uncouth
³⁸⁶⁶
pain, fled bellowing. On each wing
³⁸⁶⁷

363

Uriel and Raphael his
³⁸⁶⁸
vaunting
³⁸⁶⁹
foe,

364

Though huge and in a rock of diamond armed,

365

Vanquished Adramelech
³⁸⁷⁰
and Asmadai,
³⁸⁷¹

366

Two potent Thrones,
³⁸⁷²
that to be less than gods

367

Disdained, but meaner
³⁸⁷³
thoughts learned in their flight,

368

Mangled
³⁸⁷⁴
with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.

369

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

370

The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow

371

Ariel,
³⁸⁷⁵
and Arioch,
³⁸⁷⁶
and the violence

372

Of Ramiel
³⁸⁷⁷
scorched and blasted, overthrew.

373

   
“I might relate of thousands, and their names

374

Eternize here on earth, but those elect

375

Angels, contented with their fame in Heav’n,

376

Seek not the praise of men. The other sort,

377

In might though wondrous and in acts of war,

378

Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom
³⁸⁷⁸

379

Cancelled from Heav’n and sacred memory,

380

Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.

381

For strength from truth divided, and from just,
³⁸⁷⁹

382

Illaudable,
³⁸⁸⁰
nought merits but dispraise

383

And ignominy,
³⁸⁸¹
yet to glory aspires,

384

Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame.

385

Therefore eternal silence be their doom.
³⁸⁸²

386

   
“And now, their mightiest quelled,
³⁸⁸³
the battle swerved,
³⁸⁸⁴

387

With many an inroad
³⁸⁸⁵
gored.
³⁸⁸⁶
Deformèd
³⁸⁸⁷
rout

388

Entered, and foul disorder, all the ground

389

With shivered armor strewn, and on a heap

390

Chariot and charioteer lay overturned,

391

And fiery-foaming steeds. What stood, recoiled

392

O’er-wearied, through the faint
³⁸⁸⁸
Satanic host

393

Defensive scarce, or with pale
³⁸⁸⁹
fear surprised
³⁸⁹⁰

394

(Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain)

395

Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

396

By sin of disobedience, till that hour

397

Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain.

398

Far otherwise th’ inviolable
³⁸⁹¹
Saints,

399

In cubic phalanx
³⁸⁹²
firm, advanced entire,
³⁸⁹³

400

Invulnerable, impenetrably armed,

401

Such high advantages their innocence

402

Gave them above their foes, not to have sinned,

403

Not to have disobeyed. In fight they stood

404

Unwearied, unobnoxious
³⁸⁹⁴
to be pained

405

By wound, though from their place by violence moved.

406

   
“Now Night her course began and, over Heav’n

407

Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,

408

And silence on the odious
³⁸⁹⁵
din of war.

409

Under her cloudy covert both retired,

410

Victor and vanquished. On the foughten field

411

Michael and his Angels prevalent
³⁸⁹⁶

412

Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,
³⁸⁹⁷

413

Cherubic
³⁸⁹⁸
waving fires. On th’ other part,
³⁸⁹⁹

414

Satan with his rebellious disappeared,

415

Far in the dark dislodged
³⁹⁰⁰
and, void
³⁹⁰¹
of rest,

416

His potentates to council called by night,

417

And in the midst thus, undismayed, began:

418

   
“‘O now in danger tried, now known in arms

419

Not to be overpowered, companions dear,

420

Found worthy not of liberty alone,

421

Too mean pretence!
³⁹⁰²
but what we more affect,
³⁹⁰³

422

Honor, dominion, glory, and renown,

423

Who have sustained one day in doubtful
³⁹⁰⁴
fight

424

(And if one day, why not eternal days?

425

What Heaven’s Lord had powerfullest to send

426

Against us from about His throne, and judged

427

Sufficient to subdue us to His will,

428

But proves not so. Then fallible, it seems,

429

Of future we may deem Him, though till now

430

Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed,

431

Some disadvantage we endured and pain,

432

Till now not known, but known, as soon contemned,
³⁹⁰⁵

433

Since now we find this our empyreal
³⁹⁰⁶
form

434

Incapable of mortal injury,

435

Imperishable, and though pierced with wound,

436

Soon closing, and by native vigor healed.

437

Of evil then so small, as easy think
³⁹⁰⁷

438

The remedy. Perhaps more valid
³⁹⁰⁸
arms,

439

Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

440

May serve to better us, and worse our foes,

441

Or equal what between us made the odds,

442

In Nature none. If other hidden cause

443

Left them superior, while we can preserve