satan with vast and haughtie strides advanct； came towring； armd in adamant and gold； ＇ 110 ＇ abdiel that sight endurd not； where he stood among the mightiest； bent on highest deeds； and thus his own undaunted heart explores。 o heavn！ that such resemblance of the highest should yet remain； where faith and realtie ＇ 115 ＇ remain not； wherefore should not strength and might there fail where vertue fails； or weakest prove where boldest； though to sight unconquerable？ his puissance； trusting in th almighties aide； i mean to try； whose reason i have trid ＇ 120 ＇ unsound and false； nor is it aught but just； that he who in debate of truth hath won； should win in arms； in both disputes alike victor； though brutish that contest and foule； when reason hath to deal with force； yet so ＇ 125 ＇ most reason is that reason overe。 so pondering； and from his armed peers forth stepping opposite； half way he met his daring foe； at this prevention more incenst； and thus securely him defid。 ＇ 130 ＇ proud； art thou met？ thy hope was to have reacht the highth of thy aspiring unopposd； the throne of god unguarded； and his side abandond at the terror of thy power or potent tongue； fool； not to think how vain ＇ 135 ＇ against th omnipotent to rise in arms； who out of smallest things could without end have raisd incessant armies to defeat thy folly； or with solitarie hand reaching beyond all limit at one blow ＇ 140 ＇ unaided could have finisht thee； and whelmd thy legions under darkness； but thou seest all are not of thy train； there be who faith prefer； and pietie to god； though then to thee not visible； when i alone ＇ 145 ＇ seemd in thy world erroneous to dissent from all： my sect thou seest； now learn too late how few somtimes may know； when thousands err。 Paradise Lost Ⅵ4 whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance thus answerd。 ill for thee； but in wisht houre ＇ 150 ＇ of my revenge； first sought for thou returnst from flight； seditious angel； to receave thy merited reward； the first assay of this right hand provokt； since first that tongue inspird with contradiction durst oppose ＇ 155 ＇ a third part of the gods； in synod met thir deities to assert； who while they feel vigour divine within them； can allow omnipotence to none。 but well thou st before thy fellows； ambitious to win ＇ 160 ＇ from me som plume； that thy success may show destruction to the rest： this pause between （unanswerd least thou boast） to let thee know； at first i thought that libertie and heavn to heavnly soules had bin all one； but now ＇ 165 ＇ i see that most through sloth had rather serve； ministring spirits； traind up in feast and song； such hast thou armd； the minstrelsie of heavn； servilitie with freedom to contend； as both thir deeds pard this day shall prove。 ＇ 170 ＇ to whom in brief thus abdiel stern replid。 apostat； still thou errst； nor end wilt find of erring； from the path of truth remote： unjustly thou depravst it with the name of servitude to serve whom god ordains； ＇ 175 ＇ or nature； god and nature bid the same； when he who rules is worthiest； and excells them whom he governs。 this is servitude； to serve th unwise； or him who hath rebelld against his worthier； as thine now serve thee； ＇ 180 ＇ thy self not free； but to thy self enthralld； yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid。 reign thou in hell thy kingdom； let mee serve in heavn god ever blest； and his divine behests obey； worthiest to be obeyd； ＇ 185 ＇ yet chains in hell； not realms expect： mean while from mee returnd； as erst thou saidst； from flight； this greeting on thy impious crest receive。 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅵ5 so saying； a noble stroke he lifted high； which hung not； but so swift with tempest fell ＇ 190 ＇ on the proud crest of satan； that no sight； nor motion of swift thought； less could his shield such ruin intercept： ten paces huge he back recoild； the tenth on bended knee his massie spear upstaid； as if on earth ＇ 195 ＇ winds under ground or waters forcing way sidelong； had pusht a mountain from his seat half sunk with all his pines。 amazement seisd the rebel thrones； but greater rage to see thus foild thir mightiest； ours joy filld； and shout； ＇ 200 ＇ presage of victorie and fierce desire of battel： whereat michael bid sound th arch…angel trumpet； through the vast of heaven it sounded； and the faithful armies rung hosanna to the highest： nor stood at gaze ＇ 205 ＇ the adverse legions； nor less hideous joynd the horrid shock： now storming furie rose； and clamour such as heard in heavn till now was never； arms on armour clashing brayd horrible discord； and the madding wheeles ＇ 210 ＇ of brazen chariots ragd； dire was the noise of conflict； over head the dismal hiss of fiery darts in flaming volies flew； and flying vaulted either host with fire。 so under fierie cope together rushd ＇ 215 ＇ both battels maine； with ruinous assault and inextinguishable rage； all heavn resounded； and had earth bin then； all earth had to her center shook。 what wonder？ when millions of fierce encountring angels fought ＇ 220 ＇ on either side； the least of whom could weild these elements； and arm him with the force of all thir regions： how much more of power armie against armie numberless to raise dreadful bustion warring； and disturb； ＇ 225 ＇ though not destroy； thir happie native seat； had not th eternal king omnipotent from his strong hold of heavn high over…ruld and limited thir might； though numberd such as each divided legion might have seemd ＇ 230 ＇ a numerous host； in strength each armed hand a legion； led in fight； yet leader seemd each warriour single as in chief； expert when to advance； or stand； or turn the sway of battel； open when； and when to close ＇ 235 ＇ the ridges of grim warr； no thought of flight； none of retreat； no unbeing deed