His laws our laws; all honor to him done
Returns our own. Ceafe then this impious rage, 845
And tempt not thefe; but haften to appease
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 rafh, whereat rejoic'd
Th' Apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
That we were form'd then fay'st thou? and the work
Of fecondary hands, by task transferr'd
From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new! 855
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd; who
When this creation was? remember'ft thou
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, felf-begot, felf-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.
Our puiffance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by fupplication we intend
Addrefs, and to begirt th' almighty throne
Befeeching or befieging. This report,
These tidings carry to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He faid, and as the found of waters deep
Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applaufe
Through the infinite hoft; nor lefs for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Incompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold.
O alienate from God, O Spi'rit accurs'd,
Forfaken of all good; I fee thy fall
Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In this perfidious fraud, contagion fpread
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of God's Meffiah; thofe indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchfaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That golden fcepter, which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod to brúife 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
Diftinguish not for foon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learn,
When who can uncreate thee thou fhalt know. 895
So fpake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found
Among the faithlefs, faithful only be;
Among innumerable falfe, unmov'd,
Unfhaken, unfeduc'd, unterrify'd,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;
Nor number, nor example with him wrought
To fwerve from truth, or change his conftant mind
Though fingle. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way thro' hoftile scorn, which he fustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought;
And with retorted fcorn his back he turn'd.
On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd.
The End of the Fifth Book.
THE ARGUMENT.
Raphael continues to relate bow Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battle against Satan and bis Angels. The first fight defcrib'd: Satan and his Powers retire under night: He calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and bis Angels to fome diforder: but they at length pulling up mountains overwhelm'd both the force and machines, of Satan: Yet the tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends Meffiab his Son, for whom be bad referv'd the glory of that victory: He in the power of bis Father coming to the place, and caufing all bis legions to ftand still on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, purfues them unable to refift towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with borror and confufion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the deep: Meffiab returns with triumph to his Father.
LL night the dreadless Angel unpurfued
Through Heav'n's wide champain held his way;
'till morn,
Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave
Within the mount of God, faft by his throne,
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes through
Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;
Light iffues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darkness enters, till her hour
To veil the Heav'n, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: and now went forth the morn
Such as in highest Heav'n, array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanifh'd night,
Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain
Cover'd with thick inbattel'd fquadrons bright, 16
Chariots and flaming arms, and fiery steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
War he perceiv'd, war in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mix'd
Among thofe friendly Pow'rs, who him receiv'd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one,
That of fo many myriads fall'n, yet one,
Return'd not loft: On to the facred hill
They led him high applauded, and prefent
Before the feat fupreme; from whence a voice
From midst a golden cloud thus mild was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought
The better fight, who fingle haft maintain'd
Against revolted multitudes the cause
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms;
And for the teftimony' of truth haft born
Univerfal reproach, far worfe to bear
Than violence; for this was all thy care
To stand approv'd in fight of God, though worlds
Judg'd thee perverfe: the eafier conqueft now
Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Than fcorn'd thou didst depart, and to fubdue.
By force, who reafon for their law refuse,
Right reafon for their law, and for their king
Meffiah, who by right of merit reigns.
Go Michael of celeftial armies prince,
And thou in military prowess next
Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By thousands and by millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that Godlefs crew
Rebellious; them with fire and hostile arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of Heaven
Pursuing drive them out from God and blifs,
Into their place of punishment, the gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.
So fpake the fovran voice, and clouds began
To darken all the hill, and fmoke to roll
In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the fign
Of wrath awak'd; nor with lefs dread the loud
Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow:
At which command the Powers militant,
That stood for Heav'n, in mighty quadrate join'd
Of union irrefiftible, mov'd on
In filence their bright legions, to the found
Of inftrumental harmony, that breath'd
Heroic ardor to adventrous deeds
Under their God-like leaders, in the cause
Of God and his Meffiah. On they move
Indiffolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor ftrait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream divides
Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground
Their march was, and the paffive air upbore
Their nimble tread; as when the total kind
Of birds, in orderly array on wing,
L
|