By lik'ning spiritual to corp'ral forms,
As may express them best: though what if Earth
Be but the shadow of Heav'n, and things therein
Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild
Reign'd where these Heav'ns now roll, where Earth now rests Upon her centre poised; when on a day (For time, though in eternity, apply'd
To motion, measures all things durable
By present, past, and future) on such day
As Heav'n's great year brings forth, th' empyreal host
Of angels by imperial summons call'd,
Innumerable before th' Almighty's throne
Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appear'd Under their Hierarchs in order bright:
Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear Stream in the air, and for distinction serve Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; Or in their glitt'ring tissues bear emblazed Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs Of circuit inexpressible they stood, Orb within orb, the Father infinite, By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son,
Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top
Brightness had made invisible, thus spake: Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs,
Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand:
This day I have begot whom I declare
My only Son; and on this holy hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow
All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord: Under his great vicegerent reign abide
United as one individual soul,
For ever happy. Him who disobeys, Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day Cast out from God, and blessed vision, falls Into utter darkness, deep ingulph'd, his place Ordain'd without redemption, without end.
So spake th' Omnipotent: and with his words
All seem'd well pleased; all seem'd, but were not all. That day, as other solemn days, they spent
In song and dance about the sacred hill;
Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere Of planets and of fix'd, in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem;
And in their motions harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear
Listens delighted. Ev'ning now approach'd
(For we have also our ev'ning and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Desirous; all in circles as they stood, Tables are set, and on a sudden piled
With angels' food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heav'n.
On flow'rs reposed, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd,
They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet
Quaff immortality and joy, secure
Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds
Excess, before th' All-bounteous King, who show'r'd
With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.
Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled
From that high mount of God, whence light and shade
Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had chang'd To grateful twilight (for night comes not there In darker veil) and roseate dews disposed
All but th' unsleeping eyes of God to rest: Wide over all the plain, and wider far
Than all this globous earth in plain outspread (Such are the courts of God) th' angelic throng, Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend By living streams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberless, and sudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they slept
Fann'd with cool winds; save those who in their course
Melodious hymns about the sov'reign throne
Alternate all night long: but not so waked Satan; so call him now, his former name Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first, If not the first Arch-Angel, great in pow'r, In favour, and pre-eminence, yet fraught With envy 'gainst 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. 665 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
Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake:
Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can close
Thy eye-lids? and remember'st what decree
Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips
Of Heav'n'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 raise 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 cloud 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 Arch-Angel, and infused
Bad influence into th' unwary breast
Of his associate: he together calls,
Or sev'ral one by one, the regent pow'rs,
Under him regent: tells, as he was taught,
That the Most High commanding, now ere night, Now ere dim night had disencumber'd Heav'n, 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 Heav'n! His count'nance, as the morning star that guides The starry flock, allured them, and with lies Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's host. Mean while th' 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 pow'r 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 pow'r Giv'n me to quell their pride, and in event Know whether I be dextrous to subdue Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n. So spake the Son; but Satan with his pow'rs Far was advanced on winged speed, an host Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the Sun
Impearls on ev'ry leaf and ev'ry flow'r.
Regions they pass'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 sea, from one entire globose Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd, At length into the limits of the north They came, and Satan to his royal seat
High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount
« PreviousContinue » |