8

Yet soon he heald; for Spirits that live throughout

Vital in every part, not as frail man [ 345 ]

In Entrailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines;

Cannot but by annihilating die;

Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound

Receive, no more then can the fluid Aire:

All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, [ 350 ]

All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,

They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size

Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd

Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, [ 355 ]

And with fierce Ensignes piercd the deep array

Of Moloc furious King, who him defid

And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound

Threatnd, nor from the Holie One of Heavn

Refreind his tongue blasphemous; but anon [ 360 ]

Down clovn to the waste, with shatterd Armes

And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing

Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe,

Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,

Vanquishd Adramelec, and Asmadai, [ 365 ]

Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods

Disdaind, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight,

Mangld with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile,

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

The Atheist crew, but with redoubld blow [ 370 ]

Ariel and Arioc, and the violence

Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew.

I might relate of thousands, and thir names

Eternize here on Earth; but those elect

Angels contented with thir fame in Heavn [ 375 ]

Seek not the praise of men: the other sort

In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr,

Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome

Canceld from Heavn and sacred memorie,

Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. [ 380 ]