Hear all ye Angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs! Hear My decree, which unrevok'd 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 My Self have fworn, to Him fhall bow
All knees in heav'n, and shall confefs Him Lord.
Under His great Vice-gerent reign abide
United, as one individual soul,
For ever happy: Him who disobeys,
Me difobeys, breaks union, and that day
Caft out from God, and bleffed vifion, falls
Into utter darkness, deep in-gulf'd, his place
Ordain'd without redemption, without end.
So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with His words All feem'd well pleas'd: all feem'd, but were not all. That day, as other folemn days, they spent In fong, and dance, about the sacred hill; Mystical dance! (which yonder starry sphere Of Planets, and of Fix'd, in all her wheels Resembles neareft; mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular,
Then most, when moft irregular they feem,)
And in their motions harmony divine
So fmooths her charming tones, that God's own ear
Liftens 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 fweet repaft they turn
Defirous: all in circles as they stood,
Tables are fet, and on a fudden pil'd
With Angels food, and rubied Nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold;
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of heav'n! 635
On flow'rs repos'd, and with rich flow'rets crown'd,
They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet
Quaff immortality, and joy, (fecure
Of furfeit, where full measure only bounds
Excefs) before th' all-bounteous King, who showr'd
With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. 641
Now when ambrofial night, with clouds exhal'd
From that high mount of God, whence light and fhade
Spring both, the face of brightest heav'n had chang'd
To grateful twilight; (for night comes not there 645
In darker veil) and rofeate dews difpos'd
All but th' unfleeping eyes of God to rest;
Wide over all the plain, and wider far
Than all this globofe earth in plain out-spread,
(Such are the courts of God!) th' angelic throng
Dispers'd in bands, and files, their camp extend 651
By living streams, among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberlefs! and fudden rear'd,
Coeleftial tabernacles, where they slept
Fann'd with cool winds; fave those who, in their
Melodious hymns about the fov'reign throne
Alternate all night long. But, not fo wak'd
Satan: (fo call him now; his former name
Is heard no more in heaven) He of the firft,
If not the first Arch-Angel, great in pow'r,
In favor, and pre-eminence; yet fraught
With envy against the Son of God, that day
Honor'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd
Meffiah, King anointed, could not bear
Thro' pride that fight, and thought himself impair'd.
Deep malice thence conceiving, and disdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour,
Friendliest to fleep, and filence, he refolv'd
With all his legions to diflodge, and leave
Un-worship'd, un-obey'd, the throne fupreme, 670
Contemptuous; and his next fubordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake.
Sleep'ft thou, companion dear! what fleep can clofe Thy eye-lids, and remember'st what decree Of yesterday, fo late hath pafs'd the lips Of heav'n's Almighty? Thou to me thy thoughts Waft wont, I mine to thee was wont t' impart : Both waking we were one; how then can now Thy fleep diffent? New laws thou feeft impos'd: New laws from Him who reigns, new minds may raise In us who ferve; new counfels; to debate What doubtful may enfue: more in this place To utter is not safe
Of all thofe myriads which we lead the chief:
Tell them that by command, e'er yet dim night 685
Her fhadowy cloud withdraws, I am to hafte
(And all who under me their banners wave)
Homeward, with flying march, where we poffefs
The quarters of the north; there to prepare
Fit entertainment to receive our King,
The great Meffiah, and his new commands;
Who speedily through all the hierarchies
Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws
So fpake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd
Bad influence into th' unwary breast
Of his affociate: he together calls,
Or feveral one by one, the regent Pow'rs,
(Under him regent) tells, as he was taught,
That the Most High commanding, now e'er night,
Now e'er dim night had dif-incumber'd heav'n, 700
The great hierarchal standard was to move:
Tells the fuggefted cause, and casts between
Ambiguous words, and jealoufies; to found,
Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted fignal, 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 ftarry flock, allur'd them; and with lies
Drew after him the third part of heav'n's hoft.
Mean-while th' Eternal Eye, whofe fight difcerns Abftrufeft thoughts, from forth His holy mount, And from within the golden lamps that burn Nightly before Him, faw, without their light, Rebellion rifing; faw, in whom, how fpread 715 Among the Sons of Morn, what multitudes Were banded to oppose His high decree; And fmiling, to His only Son thus faid.
Son! Thou in whom My glory I behold
In full refplendence, Heir of all My might!
Nearly it now concerns Us to be fure
Of our Omnipotence; and with what arms
We mean to hold, what antiently We claim
Of Deity, or empire: fuch a foe
Is rifing, who intends t 'erect his throne
Equal to Ours, throughout the fpacious north.
Nor fo content, hath in his thought to try
In battel, what Our pow'r is, or Our right.
Let Us advife, and to this hazard draw
With speed what force is left, and all employ
In our defense: left unawares we lose
This Our high place, Our fanctuary, Our hill.
To whom the Son, with calm afpect, and clear,
(Light'ning divine, in-effable, ferene!)
Made answer. Mighty Father! Thou Thy foes
Juftly haft in derifion, and secure.
736 Laugh'ft 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 dext'rous to fubdue Thy rebels, or be found the worst in heav'n. So fpake the Son: but Satan, with his Pow`rs, Far was advanc'd on winged speed; an hoft Innumerable! as the stars of night,
Or (stars of morning) dew-drops, which the fun
Impearls! on every leaf, and ev'ry flow'r,
Regions they pafs'd, and mighty regencies
Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones,
|