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Paradife Loft.

BOOK VI.

The ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan and his Angels. The firft Fight defcrib'd: Satan and his Powers retire under Night: He calls a Council, invents devilish Engines, which in the fecond days Fight put Michael and his Angels to fome diforder; but they at length pulling up Mountains overwhelm'd both the force

Lib. V

and Machins of Satan: Yet the Tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends Meffiah his Son, for whom he had referv'd the glory of that Vi&tory: He in the Power of his Father coming to the place, and caufing all his Legions to ftand still on either fide, with his Chariot and Thunder driving into the midst of his Enemies, pursues them unable to refift towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horreur and confufion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the Deep: Meffiah returns with triumph to his Father.

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Α

LL night the dreadlefs Angel unpurfu'd

Thro' Heav'ns wide Champain held his way,till
Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rofie hand [Morn,
Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within the Mount of God, faft by the Throne, s
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes thro' Heav'n
Grateful viciffitude, like Day and Night;

Light iffues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darknefs enters, till her hour

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To veile 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 vanquisht Night, Shot thro' with orient Beams, when all the Plain 15 Cover'd with thick embattl'd Squadrons bright, Chariots and flaming Arms, and fiery Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze, firft meet 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 mixt Among thofe friendly Powers who him receiv'd With joy and acclamations loud, that one That of fo many Myriads fall'n, yet one Return'd not loft: On to the facted hill They led him high applauded, and present Before the feat fupream; from whence a voice From midft a Golden Cloud thus mild was heard.

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Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought

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