Alas! what dares--what dares the great Archangel Attempt? Oh! if I only could in time 90 Have brought him to desist. However, now Describe to me the aspect of their march, And with what show the Prince his legions led.
Surrounded by his staff and retinue In green, he, wickedly impelled by hate Irreconcilable, in golden mail, That brightly shone upon his martial vest Of glowing purple, mounted then his car, Whose golden wheels with rubies were emblazed. The lion and the dragon fell, prepared 100 For speedy flight, with backs sown full of stars And to the chariot joined by pearly traces, Panted for strife, and for destruction flamed. Within his hand a battle-axe he bore, And from his left arm hung a glimmering shield, Wherein his morning-star was artfully Embossed: thus stood he poised to venture all.
O Lucifer, thou shalt this pride repent. Thou phoenix 'mongst God's worshippers on high. How grand thou dost appear amid thy legions, 110 With helm, head, neck, and shoulders eminent! How gloriously thine armor thee becomes, As if by nature fitted to thy form! Oh! Chief of Spirits, no farther go; turn back.
Confronted thus they stood embattled, troop By troop, each in his air and station placed, All ranked by files 'neath their respective chiefs, Both sides arrayed with fairest pomp to view. When furious drum and clarion trumpet sound, Their medley resonance nerves every arm 120 And sharpens every sword; and mounts on high Into the firmament of the holy Light Supreme, a din whereat a pregnant cloud Of darts doth burst with pealing thunder-showers Of fiery hail, a storm and tempest fierce, That makes afraid the very Heaven and shakes The pillars of its palaces. The stars And spheres, perplexed, from their appointed paths And orbits err, or on their circled watch Bewildered stand, not knowing where to turn: 130 Or East or West, or upwards or below. All that is seen is lightning flash and flame; All that is heard is thunder. What remains In its primeval place? That which was once The highest now becomes the thing most low. The squadrons, when the deep-vibrating shock Of their artillery's first volleyed roar Has died away, now struggle hand to hand With halberd, sabre, dagger, club, and spear. All stab and slash, that can. All formed by nature 140 For fell destruction and for greedy spoil Now haste to strike the violating blow. All thoughts of kin and brotherhood have ceased; Nor knoweth any one his fellow more. Above are whirling, like a cloud of dust, Proud crests of pearl with curlèd locks of hair, And plumes and wings refulgent with a gleam Drawn from the singeing lightning's glow. Behold! In rich confusion mingled, blue turquoise, With gold and diamond, necklaces of pearl, 150 And all that can adorn the hair or head. Wings lopped in twain, and broken arrows, whirl Athwart the sky. A horrid battle-cry Rises from out the cohorts clad in green: Their regiments, in danger, are compelled By our hot onset to retreat. Three times The maddened Lucifer the fight renews, And proudly stays his faltering followers, Even as a rock beats back the ocean surge That, wave on wave, with foaming rage assails 160 In vain attempt.