Así habló el príncipe de los Ángeles; a quien así El Adversario:
«Ni pienses que con viento De vanas amenazas intimidarás a quien aún con obras No puedes. ¿Has puesto al menor de estos En fuga —o, si a caer, sino para que se alcancen Invencictos—, para tratar más fácil conmigo Que esperes, imperioso, y con amenazas De echarme de aquí? No te engañes de que así acabará La lid que llamas mal, mas nosotros titulamos La lid de la gloria; que pensamos ganar, O convertir este mismo Cielo en el Infierno Que fábula creas; aquí, con todo, morar libres, Si no reinar. Entre tanto, tu mayor fuerza (Y une al llamado Todopoderoso en tu auxilio) No huyo, sino que te he buscado lejos y cerca».
“They ended parle, and both addressed for fight Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift Human imagination to such highth Of godlike power? for likest gods they seemed, Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood In horror; from each hand with speed retired, Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng, And left large field, unsafe within the wind Of such commotion: such as (to set forth Great things by small) if, Nature’s concord broke, Among the constellations war were sprung, Two planets, rushing from aspect malign Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. Together both, with next to almighty arm Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimed That might determine, and not need repeat, As not of power at once; nor odds appeared In might or swift prevention. But the sword Of Michael from the armoury of God Was given him tempered so, that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge: it met The sword of Satan, with steep force