Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who
When this creation was? rememberst thou [faw
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 power, when fatal course
Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons.
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
Beseeching or befieging. This report,
These tidings carrie to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He said, and as the found of waters deep
Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause 870
Through the infinite Hoft, nor less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answerd bold.
O alienate from God, O fpirit accurst,
Forfak'n of all good; I fee thy fall
Determind, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In this perfidious fraud, contagion fpred
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke
Of Gods Meffiah; those indulgent Laws
Will not be now voutfaf't, other Decrees
Against thee are gon forth without recall;
That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject
Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly
These wicked Tents devoted, leaft the wrauth
Impendent, raging into fudden flame
Distinguish not: for foon expect to feel
His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learne,
When who can uncreate thee thou fhalt know.
So fpake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found,
Among the faithlefs, faithful only hee;
Among innumerable false, unmov'd,
Unshak'n, unseduc'd, unterrifi'd
His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale;
Nor number, nor example with him wrought
To fwerve from truth, or change his constant mind
Though fingle. From amidst them forth he passd,
Long way through hoftile fcorn, which he fufteind
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;
And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd.
The End of the Fifth Book.
LL night the dreadless Angel unpurfu'd Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,
Wak't by the circling Hours, with rofie hand
Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within the Mount of God, faft by his Throne,
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes through
Grateful viciffitude, like Day and Night; [Heav'n
Light iffues forth, and at the other dore
Obfequious darkness enters, till her houre [well
To veile the Heav'n, though darkness there might
Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heav'n, arrayd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,
Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain
Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
Warr he perceav'd, warr in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mixt
Among those friendly Powers who him receav'd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one
That of fo many Myriads fall'n, yet one
Returnd not loft: On to the facred hill
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the feat fupream; from whence a voice
From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The better fight, who fingle haft maintaind
Against revolted multitudes the Caufe
Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;
And for the testimonie of Truth haft born
Univerfal reproach, far worse to beare
Then violence: for this was all thy care
To stand approv'd in fight of God, though Worlds
Judg'd thee perverfe: the easier conqueft now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue
By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,
Right reafon for thir Law, and for thir King
Meffiah, who by right of merit Reigns.
Goe Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,
And thou in Military prowess next
Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that Godless crew
Rebellious, them with Fire and hoftile Arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of Heav'n
Pursuing drive them out from God and blifs,
Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall.
So fpake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began
To darken all the Hill, and fmoak to rowl
In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the figne
Of wrauth awak't: nor with lefs dread the loud
Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow :
At which command the Powers Militant,
That stood for Heav'n, in mighty Quadrate joyn'd
Of Union irresistible, mov'd on
In filence thir bright Legions, to the found
Of inftrumental Harmonie that breath'd
Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds
Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Caufe
Of God and his Meffiah. On they move
Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious Hill,
Nor ftreit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides
Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground 71
Thir march was, and the paffive Air upbore
Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind
Of Birds in orderly array on wing
Came fummond over Eden to receive
Thir names of thee; fo over many a tract
Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a Province wide
Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last
Farr in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd
From fkirt to fkirt a fierie Region, stretcht
In battailous aspect, and neerer view
Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throng'd, and Shields
Various, with boastful Argument portraid,
The banded Powers of Satan hasting on
With furious expedition; for they weend
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