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 fea; from one entire globofe
Stretch'd into longitude;) which having pafs'd,
At length into the limits of the north
They came; and Satan to his royal feat
High on a hill, far blazing (as a mount

Rais'd on a mount) with pyramids, and tow'rs,

750

755

760

From diamond quarries hew'n, and rocks of gold,
The Palace of great Lucifer; (fo call
That ftructure, in the dialect of men
Interpreted) which not long after he,
Affecting all equality with God,
In imitation of that mount whereon
Meffiab was declar'd in fight of heav'n,
The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
For thither he affembled all his train;
Pretending fo commanded, to confult

About the great reception of their King,

765

Thither to come: and with calumnious art 770, Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears.

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues,

If thefe magnific titles yet remain,

[Pow'rs!

Not merely titular! fince by decree

Another now hath to Himself ingrofs'd

All pow'r, and us eclips'd, under the name
Of King anointed: for Whom all this hafte
Of midnight-march, and hurry'd meeting here;
This only to consult, how we may beft,

775

With what may be devis'd of honors new,
Receive Him, coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute, yet un-paid : prostration vile!
Too much to One! but double, how indur'd!
To One, and to His image now proclaim'd!
But, what if better counsels might erect
Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke?
Will ye fubmit your necks, and chufe to bend
The fupple knee? Ye will not, if I trust

To know ye right; or if ye know your felves
Natives, and fons of heav'n; poffeft before
By none; and if not equal all, yet free,
Equally free: for orders, and degrees,
Jar not with liberty, but well confist.
Who can in reafon then, or right, affume
Monarchy over fuch as live by right

780

785

790

795

His equals? if in pow'r and splendor less,
In freedom equal. Or, can introduce
Law and edict on us, who without law

Err not? Much lefs, for This to be our Lord,
And look for adoration, to th' abuse

800

Of those imperial titles, which affert

Our being ordain'd to govern, not to ferve! -
Thus far his bold difcourfe without controul

Had audience; when among the Seraphim, Abdiel, (than whom none with more zeal ador'd The Deity, and divine commands obey'd)

Stood up, and in a flame of zeal fevere,

The current of his fury thus oppos'd.

O argument blafphemous, false, and proud!

806

Words! which no ear ever to hear in heav'n 810
Expected, least of all from Thee, ingrate!

In place thy felf so high above thy peers.
Canft thou with impious obloquy condemn

The juft decree of God, pronounc'd, and fworn:
That to his only Son, by right indu'd

With regal fceptre, every foul in heav'n

Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due
Confefs him rightful King? Unjust, thou say'st,
Flatly unjuft, to bind with laws the free,

And, equal over equals, to let reign
One over all, with unfucceeded pow'r -
"Shalt Thou give law to God? fhalt Thou difpute
With Him the points of liberty, who made

815

820

Thee what thou art? and form'd the Pow'rs of heav'n
Such as He pleas'd, and circumfcrib'd their Being?
Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, 826
And of our good, and of our dignity

How provident He is; how far from thought
To make us lefs: bent rather to exalt

Our happy state, under one Head more near

United.

But, to grant it thee unjust,

That equal over equals monarch reign:

830

Thy felf (though great and glorious) doft thou count,

Or all Angelic Nature join'd in one,

Equal to Him begotten Son? By Whom,

As by His Word, the mighty Father made

835

All things, ev'n Thee, and all the spirits of heav'n, By him created in their bright degrees :

Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs;
Effential Pow'rs! nor by his reign obfcur'd, 84
But more illuftrious made; fince He the Head-
One of our Number thus reduc'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honor to Him done
Returns our own.---Ceafe then this impious rage,
And tempt not these; but haften to appease 846
Th'incenfed Father, and th' incenfed Son,
While pardon may be found, in time befought.
So fpake the fervent Angel: but his zeal
None feconded, as out of feafon judg'd,
Or fingular, and rash: whereat rejoic'd
Th'apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
That we were form'd then, say'ft thou? and the work
Of secondary hands, by task transfer'd
854

T

8500

From Father to His Son? Strange point, and new!
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who
When this creation was? Remember'ft Thou [faw
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee Being?
We know no time when We were not as now;
Know none before us; self-begot, self-rais'd
By our own quick'ning pow'r, when fatal course
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native heav'n, ethereal fons.

860

Our puiffance is our own, our own right hand Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 865 Who is our equal: then! thou shale behold

Whether by fupplication we intend

Address, and to begird th' Almighty throne

Befeeching, or befieging. This report,

870

These tidings, carry to th' anointed King;
And fly, e'er evil intercept thy flight!

875

880

He faid, and, as the found of waters deep, Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause, Through the infinite hoft: nor less for that The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone Incompafs'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold. O alienate from God, O fpirit accurft, Forfaken of all good! I fee thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread Both of thy crime, and punishment. Henceforth No more be troubled how to quit the yoke Of God's Meffiab: those indulgent laws Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees Against thee are gone forth, without recall. That golden fceptre which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod, to bruife, and break Thy difobedience. Well thou didst advise; Yet not for thy advice, or threats, I fly These wicked tents devoted; left the wrath Impendent, raging into fudden flame Distinguish not: for foon expect to feet His thunder on thy head, devouring fire! Then! who created thee lamenting learn,

885

890

When who can un-create thee thou shalt know. 895
So fpake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found

Among the faithlefs, faithful only he:
Among innumerable falfe, un-mov'd,
Un-fhaken, un-feduc'd, un-terrify'd,