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One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;

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His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease
Th' incensed Father, and th' incensed Son,
While pardon may be found, in time besought.'
"So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal
None seconded, as out of season judg'd,
Or singular and rash; whereat rejoic'd
Th' Apostate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
'That we were form'd, then, say'st thou ? and the work
Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd

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From Father to his Son? Strange point and new! Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd.

Who saw

When this creation was? remember'st thou

Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd
By our own quick'ning pow'r, when fatal course
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, etherial sons.

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860

Our puissance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 865
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by supplication we intend

Address, and to begirt th' Almighty throne
Beseeching or besieging. This report,
These tidings, carry to th' anointed King:
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.'

870

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"He said, and, as the sound of waters deep, Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite host; nor less for that The flaming Seraph, fearless, though alone Encompass'd round with foes thus answer'd bold. "O alienate from God, O Spirit accurs'd, Forsaken of all good; I see thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread

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Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchsaf'd: other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That golden sceptre which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod to bruise and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise;
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly
These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame,
Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learn,

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When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.' 895 "So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he;

Among innumerable false, unmov'd
Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrify'd,

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;

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Nor number nor example, with him wrought

To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Tho' single. From amidst them forth he pass'd, Long way thro' hostile scorn, which he sustain'd Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought;

And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd

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On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd."

END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

ODL

Sonat

Paradise Lost.

BOOK VI.

ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels. The first fight described. Satan and his Powers retire under night. He calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan. Yet the tumult not so ending, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: He, in the Power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.

Paradise Lost.

"A

BOOK VI.

LL night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, Through Heav'n's wide champaign held his way; till morn,

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Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy hand Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven

Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;

Light issues forth, and at the other door
Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour

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To veil the Heav'n, tho' darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: and now went forth the morn,
Such as in highest Heav'n, array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanish'd night,
Shot thro' with orient beams; when all the plain,
Cover'd with thick embattled squadrons bright, 16
Chariots and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view.
War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found
Already known, what he for news had thought 20
To have reported: gladly then he mix'd
Among those friendly Pow'rs, who him receiv'd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one,
That of so many myriads fall'n, yet one
Return'd not lost. On to the sacred hill

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They led him high applauded, and present

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