Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/202

A standing fight, then soaring on main wing
Tormented all the air; all air seemed then
Conflicting fire.—Long time in even scale
The battle hung; till Satan, who that day
Prodigious power had shewn, and met in arms
No equal, ranging through the dire attack
Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length
Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled
Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway251
Brandished aloft the horrid edge came down,
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 Archangel 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 frown260
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