Celestial tabernacles, where they slept,
Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who in their
Melodious hymns about the sovereign throne
Alternate all night long: but not so waked Satan; so call him now, his former name Is heard no more in heaven; he of the first, If not the first archangel, great in power, In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught With envy against the Son of God, that day Honour'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd Messiah King anointed, could not bear,
Through pride, that sight, and thought himself impair'd.
Deep malice thence conceiving, and disdain, Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved With all his legions to dislodge, and leave Unworshipp'd, unobey'd, the throne supreme, Contemptuous; and his next subordinate Awakening, thus to him in secret spake : "Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can close
Thy eyelids? and remember'st what decree Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips
Of heaven's Almighty? Thou to me thy thoughts Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; Both waking we were one; how, then, can now Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed; New laws from him who reigns, new minds may
In us who serve; new counsels, to debate What doubtful may ensue: more in this place To utter is not safe. Assemble thou,
Of all those myriads which we lead, the chief; Tell them that, by command, ere yet dim night Her shadowy clouds withdraws, I am to haste, And all who under me their banners wave, Homeward, with flying march, where we possess The quarters of the north; there to prepare Fit entertainment to receive our King, The Great Messiah, and his new commands; Who speedily, through all the hierarchies, Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.'
"So spake the false archangel, and infused Bad influence into the unwary breast Of his associate: he together calls,
Or several one by one, the regent powers, Under him regent; tells, as he was taught, That the Most High commanding, now ere night, Now ere dim night had disencumber'd heaven, The great hierarchal standard was to move; Tells the suggested cause, and casts between Ambiguous words, and jealousies, to sound Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted signal, and superior voice, Of their great potentate; for great, indeed, His name, and high was his degree in heaven: His countenance, as the morning-star that guides The starry flock, allured them, and with lies Drew after him the third part of heaven's host. Meanwhile, the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns
Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, And from within the golden lamps that burn Nightly before him, saw without their light Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread Among the sons of morn, what multitudes Were banded to oppose his high decree; And, smiling, to his only Son thus said: "Son, thou in whom my glory I behold In full resplendence, heir of all my might, Nearly it now concerns us to be sure Of our omnipotence, and with what arms We mean to hold what anciently we claim Of deity or empire: such a foe
Is rising, who intends to erect his throne Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; Nor so content, hath in his thought to try, In battle, what our power is, or our right. Let us advise, and to this hazard draw With speed what force is left, and all employ In our defence, lest unawares we lose
This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.'
"To whom the Son, with calm aspéct and clear, Lightning divine, ineffable, serene,
Made answer: 'Mighty Father, thou thy foes Justly hast in derision, and, secure,
Laugh'st at their vain designs and tumults vain; Matter to me of glory, whom their hate Illustrates, when they see all regal power Given me to quell their pride, and in event Know whether I be dextrous to subdue Thy rebels, or be found the worst in heaven.'
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