to smite Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stayed, But, with swift wheel reverse, deep entering shared All his right side. Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore The griding sword with discontinuous wound Passed through him; but the ethereal substance closed, Not long divisible, and from the gash A stream of nectarous humour issuing flowed Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, And all his armour stained, everwhile so bright Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run By Angels many and strong, who interposed Defence, while others bore him on their shields Back to his chariot, where it stood retired From off the files of war; there they him laid Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame To find himself not matchless, and his pride Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath His confidence to equal God in power. Yet soon he healed; for Spirits, that live throughout Vital in every part—not, as frail Man, In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins— Cannot but by annihilating die; Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound Receive, no more than can the fluid air: All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, All intellect, all sense; and as they please They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.
“Mientras, en otras partes, como las obras lo merecían, quedó memoria del lugar donde luchó el poder de Gabriel, y con fieros estandartes penetró en la densa formación de Moloc, rey furioso, que lo desafió y amenazó con arrastrarlo atado a las ruedas de su carro, ni refrenó su lengua blasfema contra el Santo del Cielo; mas al punto, hendido hasta la cintura, con las armas destrozadas y un dolor extraño, huyó mugiendo. En cada ala, Uriel y Rafael vencieron a su vanaglorioso enemigo, aunque gigantesco y armado con roca de diamante: a Adramelec y Asmodeo, dos poderosos Tronos que desdeñaban ser menos que dioses, pero que aprendieron pensamientos más humildes en su huida, destrozados por horribles heridas a través de placas y cota. Tampoco dejó Abdiel de hostigar a la impía caterva, sino que, con golpe redoblado, derribó a Ariel, a Arioc y al violento Ramiel, abrasados y fulminados. Podría