ALL night the dreadless Angel unpursud
Through Heavns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,
Wakt by the circling Hours, with rosie hand
Unbarrd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne, [ 5 ]
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heavn
Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;
Light issues forth, and at the other dore
Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre [ 10 ]
To veile the Heavn, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heavn, arrayd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,
Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain [ 15 ]
Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
Warr he perceavd, warr in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought [ 20 ]
To have reported: gladly then he mixt
Among those friendly Powers who him receavd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one
That of so many Myriads falln, yet one
Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill [ 25 ]
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the seat supream; from whence a voice
From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The better fight, who single hast maintaind [ 30 ]
Against revolted multitudes the Cause
Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;
And for the testimonie of Truth hast born
Universal reproach, far worse to beare
Then violence: for this was all thy care [ 35 ]
To stand approvd in sight of God, though Worlds
Judgd thee perverse: the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue [ 40 ]
By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,
Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King
Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns.