Uriel monologue (Act 3) — Vondel's Lucifer

He waves his battle-axe aloft to fell God's banner, that, descending, darts the beams And fairer radiance of God's name into His glowing face. Oh! think what envy then Him filled, to see this portent on our side. 250 With battle-axe in hand, now here, now there, He parries every stroke, or breaks their force Upon his shield, till Michael comes before Him, clad in glittering armor, like a God Amid a ring of suns: "Cease, Lucifer; Give God the victory. Lay down your arms And standard; yield to God. Come, lead away This wicked crew, this impious horde. Or else, Beware thy head!" Thus shouts he from on high. The Grand Foe of God's name, stiff-necked, unmoved, 260 And more defiant at these words, renews The fight with haste precipitate, and thrice With war-axe strives to cleave the diamond shield Where glowed God's holy name. But who provokes The Deity shall feel His wrath. The axe The holy diamond strikes, but lo! rebounds, And shivers into fragments. Then aloft His right hand Michael lifts, and through the helm And head of that rebellious one he smites, Helped by the great Omnipotent, his lightnings, 270 Cleaving unto his eyes with violence So great that he falls backward, and is hurled Down from his chariot, that forthwith follows Him, whirling round and round in its descent; Thus lion, dragon, driver, all plunge down. The standard of the Star doth cease to shine, When feels Apollion my flaming sword. Whereon his banner, straightway, he doth leave As plunder in my hands; while in fierce swarms Tumultuous their warring myriads 280 Attempt, in vain, to stay the falling Chief Of all the hosts infernal, and to save Him from this fate and great calamity. Here fights Prince Belzebub, and there opposed Stands Belial. Thus their squadrons are confused: And with the Stadtholder's important fall The crescent's bow soon into shivers breaks. Then comes Apollion into the field, With all the monsters from the firmament. The giant Orion shrieks, until the sound 290 The very air makes faint; then with his club He strives to crush the head of our assault, That, heedless of Orion or his club, Moves grandly on. The Northern Bears rear back Upon their haunches, that their brutish strength May blindly us oppose. The Hydra gapes With fifty throats, that vomit poison forth. I view a gallery of battle-scenes, All happening in the fray, as far as eye Can see.