So much the rather thou, celestial Light, Of things invisible to mortal sight. 55 Now had the Almighty Father from above, From the pure empyrean where he sits High throned above all height, bent down his eye His own works and their works at once to view: "About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 60 Stood thick as stars, and from his sight received The radiant image of his glory sat, 65 In blissful solitude; he then survey'd 70 To stoop with wearied wings and willing feet, 75 Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds Prescribed, no bars of Hell, nor all the chains Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss, Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems On desperate revenge, that shall redound Upon his own rebellious head. And now, Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, 80 85 Directly towards the new created world, Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. Such I created all the ethereal Powers 100 And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd; Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. Not free, what proof could they have given sincere Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love, Where only what they needs must do appear'd, 105 Not what they would? what praise could they receive 110 Not me? They therefore, as to right belong'd, Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, As if predestination overruled Their will disposed by absolute decree 115 Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew, Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, 120 Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. Both what they judge and what they choose; for so Till they enthral themselves; I else must change 125 Their nature, and revoke the high decree Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd Their freedom; they themselves ordain'd their fall. Self-tempted, self-depraved: Man falls, deceived 130 Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 135 140 150 O Father, gracious was that word which closed 144 Thy sov'reign sentence, that man should find grace; For which both Heaven and Earth shall high extol Thy praises, with the innumerable sound Of hynms and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne Encompass'd shall resound thee ever bless'd. For should Man finally be lost? should Man, Thy creature late so loved, thy youngest son, Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd With his own folly? That be from thee far, That far be from thee, Father, who art judge Of all things made, and judgest only right. Or shall the Adversary thus obtain His end, and frustrate thine? shall he fulfil His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought; Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell Draw after him the whole race of mankind, By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself Abolish thy creation, and unmake For him, what for thy glory thou hast made 155 160 So should thy goodness and thy greatness both To whom the great Creator thus replied: 165 170 Man shall not quite be lost, but saved who will; 175 His lapsed powers, though forfeit, and enthrall'd 180 The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd 185 190 My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, 195 200 But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, 205 210 Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? Which of ye will be mortal, to redeem Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? 215 Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? He ask'd, but all the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in Heaven: On Man's behalf Patron or intercessor none appear'd, Much less that durst upon his own head draw 220 Must have been lost, adjudged to Death and Hell 225 By doom severe, had not the Son of God, His dearest mediation thus renew'd: Father, thy word is pass'd, Man shall find grace; And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, Comes unprevented, unimplored, unsought? 230 Happy for Man, so coming: he her aid Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; Atonement for himself, or offering meet, Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; 235 Behold me then me for him, life for life Account me Man. I for his sake will ieave Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee Freely put off, and for him lastly die 240 |