"Meanwhile the Eternal Eye, whose sight discerns "Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, "And from within the golden lamps1 that burn 66 Nightly before him, saw without their light “Rebellion rising-saw in whom—how spread "Among the sons of morn2-what multitudes "Were banded to oppose his high decree; "And, smiling,3 to his only Son thus said: "Son! thou in whom my glory I behold "In full resplendence, heir of all my might !4 715 720 "Is rising, who intends to erect his throne 725 "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 730 "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,5 ineffable, serene, "Made answer: 'Mighty Father! thou thy foes 735 Justly hast in derision, and, secure, 66 66 Laugh'st at their vain designs, and tumults vain ; 66 Illustrates, 6 when they see all regal power 1 Golden lamps,-See Rev. iv. 5. 740 2 The sons of morn,- Angels. Lucifer is so called, Isa. xiv. 12. The term may allude to the early creation of the angels. 3 Smiling,-See Psalm ii. 4, and comp. 1. 736, 737. 4 See Heb. i. 2, 3. 5 Lightning divine,-In Dan. x. 6, and Matt. xxviii. 3, an angel's countenance is compared to lightning 6 Illustrates,-renders conspicuous, or illustrious. "Know whether I be dexterous to subdue "Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.' "So spake the Son: but Satan, with his powers, "Far was advanced on wingèd speed; an host "Innumerable as the stars of night, 745 "Or stars of morning-dew-drops, which the sun "Impearls on every leaf and every flower. 750 "Stretched into longitude;) which having past, "At length into the limits of the north 755 66 They came; and Satan to his royal seat, 66 High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount "Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers "From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; "The palace of great Lucifer; (so call 700 "That structure in the dialect of men "Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, 765 "The Mountain of the Congregation2 called; "For thither he assembled all his train, "Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears: 770 "Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers! "If these magnific titles yet remain "Not merely titular, since, by decree, 1 Globose,-globose body, globe; the adjective being employed for the substantive, according to classical usage. 2 Mountain of the Congregation;-alluding to Isa. xiv. 13. 845 "Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,1840 "Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, "But more illustrious made; since he the head, "One of our number thus reduced, becomes; "His laws our laws; all honour to him done "Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, "And tempt not these; but hasten to appease "The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, "While pardon may be found in time besought.'2 "So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal "None seconded, as out of season judged, "Or singular, and rash: whereat rejoiced "The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied: 850 "That we were formed then, say'st thou? and the work "Of secondary hands, by task transferred "From Father to his Son? strange point, and new! 855 "Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw 3 "When this creation was? Remember'st thou "Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 860 865 "These tidings carry to the annointed King; "And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.' 870 1 John i. 3; Col. i. 15-18; Heb. i. 3. 2 See Ps. ii. 1, 12; Isa. lv. 6. 3 See Job Xxxviii. 4. 4 Fatal course,-the course appointed by Fate-destiny. 5 Puissance,-power: is our own,-Comp. Psalm xii. 4; Ps. xlv. 4. "He said; and, as the sound of waters1 deep, "Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause “Through the infinite host; nor less for that "The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone, 875 "Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold: "O alienate from God, O spirit accursed, "Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall 66 66 Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise: "Yet not for thy advice, or threats, I fly 880 885 66 "These wicked tents devoted ;3 lest the wrath 'Impendent, raging into sudden flame, 890 Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel "His thunder on thy head, devouring fire! 66 Then, who created thee, lamenting, learn, 66 When, who can uncreate thee, thou shalt know.' 895 "So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found "Among the faithless-faithful only he 900 1 Sound of waters,-The voice of a great multitude applauding, is, in like manner, compared to the voice of many waters, Rev. xix. 6. 2 Ps. ii. 9. 3 These wicked tents devoted,-referring probably to the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, as recorded in Numb. xvi. 26: before lest, supply [but I fly]. 905 ແ Superior, nor of violence feared aught; "And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned "On those proud towers1 to swift destruction doomed." BOOK VI. THE ARGUMENT. RAPHAEL Continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels. The first fight described: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council; invents devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan; yet the tumult not so ending, God, on the third day, sends Messiah, his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory. He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down, with horror and confusion, into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father. "ALL night the dreadless angel, unpursued, "Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, "Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand "Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave "Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, 5 "Where light and darkness, in perpetual round, 1 Proud towers,-may mean here those towering spirits, conformably to a similar personification in Isaiah xxx. 25. 2 Champain,-open plain. |