19

Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assignd;

That they may have thir wish, to trie with mee

In Battel which the stronger proves, they all,

Or I alone against them, since by strength [ 820 ]

They measure all, of other excellence

Not emulous, nor care who them excells;

Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe.

So spake the Son, and into terrour changd

His countnance too severe to be beheld [ 825 ]

And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies.

At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings

With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes

Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound

Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. [ 830 ]

Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove,

Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheeles

The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout,

All but the Throne it self of God. Full soon

Among them he arrivd; in his right hand [ 835 ]

Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent

Before him, such as in thir Soules infixd

Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost,

All courage; down thir idle weapons dropd;

Ore Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode [ 840 ]

Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,

That wisht 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 fourfold-visagd Foure, [ 845 ]

Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels,

Distinct alike with multitude of eyes,

One Spirit in them ruld, and every eye

Glard lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire

Among th accurst, that witherd all thir strength, [ 850 ]

And of thir wonted vigour left them draind,

Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, falln.