So fpake the Son; but Satan with his powers Far was advanc'd on winged speed, an host
Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the fun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
Regions they pafs'd, the mighty regencies
Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones
In their triple degrees; regions to which
All thy dominion, Adam, is no more
Than what this garden is to all the earth,
And all the fea, from one entire globofe
Stretch'd into longitude; which having pafs'd
At length into the limits of the north
They came, and Satan to his royal feat
High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount
Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers
From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold;
The palace of great Lucifer, (fo call
That structure in the dialect of men
Interpreted) which not long after, he
Affecting all equality with God,
In imitation of that mount whereon
Meffiah was declar'd in fight of Heaven,
The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
For thither he affembled all his train,
Pretending fo commanded to confult
About the great reception of their king,
Thither to come, and with calumnious art
Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears.
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,
This only to confult, how we may best
With what may be devis'd of honors new
Receive him coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute yet unpaid, proftration vile,
Too much to one, but double how indur'd
To one and to his image now proclam'd?
But what if better counfels might erect
Our minds, and teach us to caft off this yoke?
Will ye fubmit your necks, and choose to bend
The fupple knee? ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves
Natives and fons of Heav'n poffefs'd before
By none, and if not equal all, yet free,
Equally free for orders and degrees
Jar not with liberty, but well confist.
Who can in reason then or right affume
Monarchy over fuch as live by right
His equals, if in pow'r and splendor less,
In freedom equal? or can introduce
Law and edict on us, who without law
Err not? much less for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration to th' abuse
Of those imperial titles, which affert
Our being ordain`d to govern, not to serve.
Thus far his bold difcourfe without controll
Had audience, when among the Seraphim
Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd 805
The Deity', and divine commands obey'd,
Stood up, and in a flame of zeal fevere
The current of his fury thus oppos'd.
O argument blafphémous, false and proud!
Words which no ear ever to hear in Heav'n
Expected, leaft of all from thee, Ingrate,
In place thyself fo high above thy peers.
Canft thou with impious obloquy condemn
The juft decree of God, pronounc'd and fworn,
That to his only Son by right indued
With regal scepter, every foul in Heaven
Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due
Confefs him rightful king? unjust, thou fay'ft,
Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,
And equal over equals to let reign,
One over all with unfucceeded power.
Shalt thou give law to God, shalt thou dispute
With him the points of liberty, who made
Thee what thou art, and form'd the Pow'rs of Heaven
Such as he pleas'd, and circumfcrib'd their being?
Yet by experience taught we know how good,
And of our good and of our dignity
How provident he is, how far from thought
To make us lefs, bent rather to exalt
Our happy ftate under one head more near
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals monarch reign :
Thyself though great and glorious doft thou count,
Or all angelic nature join'd in one,
Equal to him begotten Son? by whom
As by his Word the mighty Father made
All things, ev'n thee; and all the Spi'rits of Heaven By him created in their bright degrees,
Crown'd them with glory', and to their glory nam'd
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
Effential Pow'rs; nor by his reign obscur'd,
But more illuftrious made; fince he the head
One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honor to him done
Returns our own.
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease
Th' incenfed Father, and th' incenfed Son,
While pardon may be found in time besought.
So fpake the fervent Angel; but his zeal
None feconded, as out of season judg’d,
Or fingular and rash, whereat rejoic'd
Cease then this impious rage, 845
Th' Apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
That we were form'd then, fay't thou? and the work
Of fecondary hands, by task transferr'd
From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new! 855
Doctrin which we would know whence learn'd: who faw
When this creation was? remember'ft thou
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, felf-begot, self-rais'd
By our own quick'ning pow'r, when fatal courfe
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, ethereal fons.
Our puiffance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by fupplication we intend
Address, and to begirt th' almighty throne
Befeeching or befieging. This report,
These tidings carry to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He faid, and as the found of waters deep
Hoarfe murmur echo'd to his words applaufe
Through the infinite hoft; nor less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Incompafs'd round with foes, thus anfwer'd bold.
O alienate from God, O Spi'rit accurs'd,
Forfaken of all good; I fee thy fall
Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of God's Meffiah; thofe indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That golden scepter, which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod to bruise and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly
These wicked tents devoted, left the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame
Distinguish not: for foon expect to feel
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