The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (82 page)

710

      

Go then, thou mightiest, in thy Father’s might.

711

      

Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels

712

      

That shake Heav’n’s basis, bring forth all my war,

713

      

My bow and thunder. My almighty arms

714

      

Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh.

715

      

Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out

716

      

From all Heav’n’s bounds into the utter deep.

717

      

There let them learn, as likes them,
⁴⁰³⁴
to despise

718

      

God, and Messiah his anointed King.

719

      

   
“He said, and on His Son with rays direct

720

      

Shone full. He all his Father full expressed

721

      

Ineffably
⁴⁰³⁵
into his face received,

722

      

And thus the Filial Godhead, answering, spoke:

723

      

   
“‘O Father, O Supreme of Heav’nly Thrones,

724

      

First, Highest, Holiest, Best! Thou always seek’st

725

      

To glorify Thy Son, I always Thee,

726

      

As is most just. This I my glory account,
⁴⁰³⁶

727

      

My exaltation, and my whole delight,

728

      

That Thou, in me well pleased, declar’st Thy will

729

      

Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss.

730

      

Scepter and power, Thy giving, I assume,

731

      

And gladlier shall resign, when in the end

732

      

Thou shalt be all in all, and I in Thee

733

      

Forever, and in me all whom Thou lov’st.

734

      

But whom Thou hat’st, I hate, and can put on

735

      

Thy terrors, as I put Thy mildness on,

736

      

Image of Thee in all things, and shall soon,

737

      

Armed with Thy might, rid Heav’n of these rebelled,

738

      

To their prepared ill mansion driven down,

739

      

To chains of darkness, and th’ undying worm,
⁴⁰³⁷

740

      

That from Thy just obedience could revolt,

741

      

Whom to obey is happiness entire.

742

      

Then shall Thy Saints unmixed,
⁴⁰³⁸
and from th’ impure

743

      

Far separate, circling Thy holy mount,

744

      

Unfeignèd Halleluiahs to Thee sing,

745

      

Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.

746

      

   
“So said, he o’er his scepter bowing, rose

747

      

From the right hand of Glory where he sat.

748

      

And the third sacred morn began to shine,

749

      

Dawning through Heav’n. Forth rushed with whirlwind sound

750

      

The chariot of paternal Deity,

751

      

Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn,
⁴⁰³⁹

752

      

Itself instinct
⁴⁰⁴⁰
with Spirit, but convoyed
⁴⁰⁴¹

753

      

By four Cherubic shapes. Four faces each

754

      

Had wondrous. As with stars, their bodies all

755

      

And wings were set with eyes, with eyes the wheels

756

      

Of beryl, and careering
⁴⁰⁴²
fires between.

757

      

Over their heads a crystal firmament,

758

      

Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure

759

      

Amber, and colors of the showery
⁴⁰⁴³
arch.
⁴⁰⁴⁴

760

      

He in celestial panoply all armed

761

      

Of radiant Urim,
⁴⁰⁴⁵
work divinely wrought,

762

      

Ascended. At his right hand victory

763

      

Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow

764

      

And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored,

765

      

And from about him fierce effusion
⁴⁰⁴⁶
rolled

766

      

Of smoke, and bickering
⁴⁰⁴⁷
flame, and sparkles dire.

767

      

Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,

768

      

He onward came. Far off his coming shone,

769

      

And twenty thousand (I their number heard)

770

      

Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen.

771

      

He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime
⁴⁰⁴⁸

772

      

On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned,

773

      

Illustrious
⁴⁰⁴⁹
far and wide, but by his own

774

      

First seen. Them unexpected joy surprised,

775

      

When the great ensign of Messiah blazed

776

      

Aloft, by Angels borne, his sign in Heav’n,

777

      

Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced
⁴⁰⁵⁰

778

      

His army, circumfused
⁴⁰⁵¹
on either wing,

779

      

Under their head
⁴⁰⁵²
embodied
⁴⁰⁵³
all in one.

780

      

Before him Power Divine his way prepared;

781

      

At his command the uprooted hills retired
⁴⁰⁵⁴

782

      

Each to his place. They heard his voice, and went

783

      

Obsequious.
⁴⁰⁵⁵
Heav’n his wonted
⁴⁰⁵⁶
face renewed,

784

      

And with fresh flow’rets hill and valley smiled.

785

      

This saw his hapless
⁴⁰⁵⁷
foes, but stood obdured,
⁴⁰⁵⁸

786

      

And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers,

787

      

Insensate,
⁴⁰⁵⁹
hope conceiving
⁴⁰⁶⁰
from despair.

788

      

   
“In Heav’nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?

789

      

But to convince the proud what signs avail,

790

      

Or wonders move th’ obdurate to relent?

791

      

They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,
⁴⁰⁶¹

792

      

Grieving to see his glory, at the sight

793

      

Took envy and, aspiring to his height,

794

      

Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud

795

      

Weening
⁴⁰⁶²
to prosper, and at length prevail

796

      

Against God and Messiah, or to fall

797

      

In universal ruin last.
⁴⁰⁶³
And now

798

      

To final battle drew, disdaining flight,

799

      

Or faint retreat. When the great Son of God

800

      

To all his host on either hand thus spoke: