“All night the dreadless Angel unpursued, Through Heaven’s wide champain held his way, till Morn, Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; Light issues forth, and at the other door Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well Seem twilight here. And now went forth the Morn Such as in highest Heaven, arrayed in gold Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: War he perceived, war in procinct, and found Already known what he for news had thought To have reported; gladly then he mixed Among those friendly powers, who him received With joy and acclamations loud, that one, That of so many myriads fallen yet one, Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill They led him high applauded, and present Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard:
“ ‘Servant of God, well done! Well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintained Against revolted multitudes the cause Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; And for the testimony of truth hast borne Universal reproach, far worse to bear Than violence; for this was all thy care— To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds Judged thee perverse. The easier conquest now Remains thee—aided by this host of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return Than scorned thou didst depart, and to subdue By force who reason for their law refuse, Right reason for their law, and for their King Messiah, who by