BOOK THE SIXTH.

LIVRE SIXIÈME.

THE ARGUMENT.

RAPHAEL Continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battel against Satan and his angels. The first fight described : Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council; invents devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan: yet, the tumult not so ending, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory. He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horrour and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.

ARGUMENT.

RAPHAEL Continue à raconter comment Michel et Gabriel furent envoyés pour combattre contre Satan et ses anges. La première bataille décrite. Satan, avec ses Puissances, se retire pendant la nuit : il convoque un conseil, invente des machines diaboliques qui, au second jour de la ba taille, mirent en désordre Michel et ses anges. Mais à la fin, arrachant les montagnes, ils ensevelirent les forces et les machines de Satan. Cependant le tumulte ne cessant pas, Dieu, le troisième jour, envoya son fils le Messie, auquel il avait réservé la gloire de cette victoire. Le Fils, dans la puissance de son Père, venant au lieu du combat, ordonnant à toutes ses légions de rester tranquilles des deux côtés, se précipitant avec son char et son tonnerre au milieu des ennemis, les poursuit, incapables qu'ils étaient de résister, vers la muraille du Ciel. Le Ciel s'ouvrant, ils tombent en bas avec horreur et confusion, au lieu du châtiment préparé pour eux dans l'abîme: le Messie retourne triomphant à son père.

BOOK VI.

LL night the dreadless angel, unpursued,
Through heaven's wide champain held his way; till M
Waked by the circling hours, with rosy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave

Within the mount of God, fast by his throne,

Where light and darkness in perpetual round

Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through heaven
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;

Light issues forth, and at the other door

Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour

To veil the heaven, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here :

And now went forth the Morn,

Such as in highest heaven, array'd in gold

Empyreal from before her vanish'd Night,

Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain,

Cover'd with thick embattel'd squadrons bright,