Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand

He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,

A vast circumference. At his approach

The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil

Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end

Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued

Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown

And visage all inflamed first thus began.

‘Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest

These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

Though heaviest by just measure on thyself,

And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed

Heaven’s blessed peace, and into nature brought

Misery, uncreated till the crime

Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled

Thy malice into thousands, once upright

And faithful, now proved false! But think not here

To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out

From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss,

Brooks not the works of violence and war.

Hence then, and evil go with thee along,

Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell;

Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils,

Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom,

Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God,

Precipitate thee with augmented pain.’

So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus

The Adversary. ‘Nor think thou with wind

Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds

Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these

To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise

Unvanquished, easier to transact with me

That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats

To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end

The strife which thou callest evil, but we style

The strife of glory; which we mean to win,

Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell

Thou fablest; here however to dwell free,

If not to reign: Meanwhile thy utmost force,

And join him named Almighty to thy aid,

I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.’

They ended parle, and both addressed for fight

Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue

Of Angels, can relate, or to what things

Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift

Human imagination to such hight

Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed,

Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms,

Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.

Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air

Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields

Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood

In horror: From each hand with speed retired,

Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng,

And left large field, unsafe within the wind

Of such commotion; such as, to set forth

Great things by small, if, nature’s concord broke,

Among the constellations war were sprung,

Two planets, rushing from aspect malign

Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky

Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.

Together both with next to almighty arm

Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed

That might determine, and not need repeat,