7
His confidence to equal God in power.
Not long divisible, and from the gash
Uplifted imminent one stroke they aimd
And left large field, unsafe within the wind
Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame [ 340 ]
From off the files of warr; there they him laid
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met
Hu藏书网mbld by such rebuke, so farr beneath
Now wavd thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire
Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound. [ 315 ]
Where erst was thickest fight, th Angelic throng,
Blazd opposite, while expectation stood
And writh d him to and fro convolvd; so sore
Sanguin, such as C九-九-藏-书-网elestial Spirits may bleed,
Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields [ 305 ]
Great things by small, If Natures concord broke,
Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne
All his right side; then Satan first knew pain,
By Angels many and strong, who interposd
Of Michael from the Armorie of G藏书网od
A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flowd
As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd
Among the Constellations warr were sprung,
But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shard
Passd through him, but th Ethereal substance closd [ 330 ]
Of such commotion, such as to set forth [ 310 ]
Back to his Char99lib.netiot; where it stood retird
Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie,
Was givn him temperd so, that neither keen
The griding sword with discontinuous wound
To find himself not matchless, and his pride
In horror; from each hand with speed retird
Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, [ 325 ]
And all his Armour staind ere while so bright.
In might or swift prevention; but the sword [ 320 ]
Together both with next to Almightie Arme,
That might determine, and not need repeate,
Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run [ 335 ]
The sword of Satan with steep force to smite
Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields