“ ‘Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, Son in whose face invisible is beheld Visibly, what by Deity I am, And in whose hand what by decree I do, Second Omnipotence! two days are passed, Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, Since Michael and his powers went forth to tame These disobedient. Sore hath been their fight, As likeliest was when two such foes met armed; For to themselves I left them; and thou know’st, Equal in their creation they were formed, Save what sin hath impaired⁠—which yet hath wrought Insensibly, for I suspend their doom: Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last Endless, and no solution will be found. War wearied hath performed what war can do, And to disordered rage let loose the reins, With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. Two days are, therefore, passed, the third is thine: For thee I have ordained it, and thus far Have suffered, that the glory may be thine Of ending this great war, since none but thou Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace