The Dragon Cast Down

Et draco pugnabat, et angeli ejus... Angeli Satanae non illi tantum qui ei natura sunt et voluntate similes, sed et homines eorum laqueis irretiti, sunt intelligendi. Et non valuerunt. Silicet, toto tempore. Neque locus inventus est eorum amplius in coelo. Et projectus est draco ille magnus in terram. Antiquus hostis de spiritualibus expulsus, arctius in terrenis includitur. Hoc est de coelo praecipitari, et in terram mitti. Cui dicitur: Terram comedes cunctis diebus. In qua terra sanctorum pedibus conteritur, sicut scriptum est: Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis. Sanctus Beda, Explanatio Apocalyspsis, Liber II, Caput XII Source: Migne PL 93.167c

And the dragon fought, and his angels... 1 The angels of Satan are to be understood not only as those who are like him in nature and will, but even men who have been caught in their snares. And they did not prevail... That is, for all time. There was no place in heaven for them anymore. And the great dragon was cast down to earth. The ancient enemy, expelled from spiritual things, is closely shut up in the earth. This is to be thrown from heaven and to be cast onto the earth. To whom it is said: 'You shall eat of the earth all of your days.' 2 Which earth is trodden down by the feet of the holy, as it is written: 'You shall walk on the serpent and the basilisk.' 3 St Bede, Commentary On The Apocalypse, Book 2, Chapter 12 1 Apoc 12.7-9 2 Gen 3.14 3 Ps 90.13