not require Abdiel's warning, for the
all-seeing eye has already descried what, has occurred, and has
pointed out to the Son how Lucifer, devoured by pride, is about to
rise up against them.

_Book VI._ In spite of the speed with which he travels, Abdiel
requires all night to cross the distance which separates the apostate
angels from the heavenly throne. The news he bears being already known
in heaven, the angels welcome him and conduct him to the throne,
whence, from a golden cloud, issues a voice proclaiming "well done."
Next God bids Michael lead forth a host equal in number to the godless
crew arraying itself in battle order to dispute from the Almighty the
sovereignty of heaven. The divine orders are to oppose Lucifer and
hurl him into the gulf of Tartarus, whose fiery mouth will open wide
to receive him. A moment later trumpets sound in heaven, and the
angelic legions sally forth to battle for God and for his Messiah,
hymning the Eternal Father. The evil angels, whose glory has not yet
been dimmed, meet this host in squadrons, at the head of which rides
Lucifer (or Satan as he is generally called after he becomes an
apostate), in his sun-bright chariot. On beholding him, Abdiel marvels
because he still retains a God-like semblance, and warns him he will
soon pay the penalty of his folly. In return Satan terms Abdiel a
common deserter, and overwhelms him with scorn, to which this angel
pays little heed, realizing that by serving a divine master he is
freer than independent Satan.

After exchanging Homeric taunts, these two begin fighting, and
Abdiel's first dart causes the archenemy to recoil and almost sink to
the ground. But, when the divine host clamor that Satan is overcome,
he promptly recovers his footing, and, retreating into the ranks of
his army, directs their resistance to the foe. The battle now rages
with such fury that the heavens resound. Many deeds of eternal fame
are wrought, for Satan proves almost equal to Michael, who with his
two-handed sword strikes down whole squadrons at one blow. But wounds
inflicted on angels, even when fallen, are no sooner made than healed,
so those who sink down disabled are soon back in the thick of the
night as strong as ever. The moment comes, however, when Michael's
sword inflicts so deep a wound in Satan's side that, for the first
time, he experiences pain. Seeing him fall, his adherents bear him
away from the field of battle, where he is immediately healed, "for