O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads He rode
Of Thrones, and mighty Seraphim prostrate; 841
That wish'd the mountains now might be again
Thrown on them, as a shelter from His ire.
Nor less on either side tempestuous fell
His arrows, from the four-fold-visag'd Four, 845
Distinct with eyes; and from the living wheels,
Distinct alike with multitude of eyes;
One spirit in them rul'd, and every eye
Glar'd light'ning, and shot forth pernicious fire
Among th' accurst, that wither'd all their strength,
And of their wonted vigor left them drain'd, 851
Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.
Yet, half His strength He put not forth, but check'd
His thunder in mid-volly; for He meant
Not to destroy, but root them out of heav'n. 855
The overthrown He rais'd, and as a herd
Of goats, or tim'rous flock, together throng'd,
Drove them before Him thunder-struck, pursu'd
With terrors, and with furies, to the bounds
And chrystal wall of heav'n; which op'ning wide
Rowl'd inward, and a spacious gap disclos'd 861
Into the wasteful Deep: the monstrous fight
Struck them with horror backward; but, far worse
Urg'd them behind: headlong themselves they threw
Down from the verge of heav'n; eternal wrath 865
Burn'd after them, to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard th' unsufferable noise; hell faw
Heav'n ruining from heav'n, and would have fled
Affrighted; but ftrift Fate had caft too deep
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870
Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roar'd,
And felt ten-fold confufion in their fall,
Through his wild anarchy; so huge a rout
Incumber'd him with ruin! hell at laft
Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd:
Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire
Un-quenchable, the house of woe, and pain.
Dif-burden'd heav'n rejoic'd, and foon repair'd
Her mural breach, returning whence it rowl'd.
Sole victor, from th'expulfion of His foes, 880
Meffiab His triumphal chariot turn'd:
To meet Him all His Saints, who filent stood
Eye-witnesses of His almighty acts,
With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went,
Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright 885
Sung triumph, and Him sung Victorious King,
Son, Heir, and Lord! to Him dominion giv'n,
Worthiest to reign. He celebrated rode
Triumphant through mid-heav'n, into the courts,
And temple, of His Mighty Father, thron'd
On high: who into glory Him receiv'd,
Where now He fits at the right hand of bliss.
Thus, measuring things in heav'n by things on earth,
At thy request, and that thou may'st beware
By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd
What might have else to human race been hid;
The difcord which befel, and war in heav'n
Among th' Angelic Pow'rs, and the deep fall
Of those too high afpiring, who rebell'd
With Satan: he who envies now thy state;
Who now is plotting how he may seduce
Thee also from obedience, that with him
(Bereav'd of happiness) thou may'st partake
His punishment, eternal misery:
Which would be all his solace, and revenge, 905 As a despite done against the Most High,
Thee once to gain companion of his woe.
But, listen not to his temptations: warn
Thy weaker: let it profit thee to have heard,
By terrible example, the reward
Of disobedience: firm they might have stood,
Yet fell. Remember! and fear to twanfgrefs!
The end of the Sixth Back.
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