Go Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,
And thou in Military prowess [ 45 ]
Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By Thousands and by Millid fht;
Equal in o that Godless crew
Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms [ 50 ]
Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heavn
Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss,
Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall. [ 55 ]
So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began
To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl
In duskie wreathes, relut flames, the signe
Of wrauth awakt: nor with less dread the loud
Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: [ 60 ]
At whiand the Powers Militant,
That stood for Heavn, in mighty Quadrate joynd
Of Union irresistible, movd on
In silehir bright Legions, to the sound
Of instrumental Harmohat breathd [ 65 ]
Heroic Ardor to adventrous deeds
Uhir God-like Leaders, in the Cause
Of God and his Messiah. On they move
Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill
Nor streitning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides [ 70 ]
Thir perfet ranks; fh above the ground
Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore
Thir nimble tread, as wheal kind
Of Birds in orderly array on wing
Came summond over Eden to receive [ 75 ]
Thir names of thee; so over many a tract
Of Heavn they marchd, and many a Province wide
Tenfold the length of this terre last
Farr in th Horizon to the North appeerd
From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht [ 80 ]
In battailous aspect, and neerer view
Bristld with upright beams innumerable
id Spears, as throngd, and Shields
Various, with boastful Argument portraid,
The banded Powers of Satan hasting on [ 85 ]
With furious expedition; for they weend
That self same day by fight, or by surprize
To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne
To set the envier of his State, the proud
Aspirer, but thir thoughts provd fond and vain [ 90 ]
In the mid way: though strao us it seemd
At first, that Angel should with Angel warr,
And in fierce hosti, who wont to meet
So oft iivals of joy and love
Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire [ 95 ]
Hymning th Eternal Father: but the shout
Of Battel now began, and rushing sound
Of o ended soon each milder thought.