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Thee what thou art, & formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n
Such as he pleafd, and circumfcrib'd thir being?
Yet by experience taught we know how good,
And of our good, and of our dignitie
How provident he is, how farr from thought
To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Our happie state under one Head more neer
United. But to grant it thee unjust,

That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:
Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count,
Or all Angelic Nature joind in one,

Equal to him begotten Son, by whom

As by his Word the mighty Father made

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All things, ev'n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n By him created in thir bright degrees,

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Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam'd
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Pow-
Effential Powers, nor by his Reign obscur'd, [ers
But more illuftrious made, fince he the Head
One of our number thus reduc't becomes,
His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done
Returns our own.
And tempt not these; but hast'n to appease
Th' incenfed Father, and th' incenfed Son,
While Pardon may be found in time befought.
So fpake the fervent Angel, but his zeale
None feconded, as out of season judg'd,
Or fingular and rash, whereat rejoic'd

Cease then this impious rage,

Th' Apoftat, and more haughty thus repli'd. 849 That we were formd then saist thou? & the work Of fecondarie hands, by task transferd

From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new!

Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who When this creation was? rememberst thou [saw Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?

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We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, felf-begot, felf-rais'd
By our own quick'ning power, when fatal course
Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons.
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
Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne
Befeeching or befieging. This report,
These tidings carrie to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

He faid, and as the found of waters deep
Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applaufe 870
Through the infinite Hoft, nor less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd round with foes, thus anfwerd bold.
O alienate from God, O fpirit accurst,
Forfak'n of all good; I fee thy fall
Determind, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke
Of Gods Meffiah; thofe indulgent Laws
Will not be now voutfaf't, other Decrees
Against thee are gon forth without recall;
That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject
Is now an Iron Rod to bruife and breake

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Thy disobedience.

Well thou didst advise,

Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly
These wicked Tents devoted, leaft the wrauth
Impendent, raging into fudden flame

Distinguish not for foon expect to feel
His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learne,
When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.
So fpake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found,
Among the faithlefs, faithful only hee;
Among innumerable false, unmov'd,
Unfhak'n, unfeduc'd, unterrifi'd

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His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale;
Nor number, nor example with him wrought
To fwerve from truth, or change his conftant mind
Though fingle. From amidst them forth he passd,
Long way through hoftile scorn, which he fufteind
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;

And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On thofe proud Towrs to fwift deftruction doom'd.

The End of the Fifth Book.

Paradife Loft.

BOOK VI.

LL night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,

Wak't by the circling Hours, with rofie hand
Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,
Where light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes through
Grateful viciffitude, like Day and Night; [Heav'n
Light iffues forth, and at the other dore

Obfequious darkness enters, till her houre [well
To veile the Heav'n, though darkness there might
Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest Heav'n, arrayd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,
Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain
Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, firft met his view:
Warr he perceav'd, warr in procinct, and found
Already known what he for news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mixt
Among those friendly Powers who him receav'd

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With joy and acclamations loud, that one
That of fo many Myriads fall'n, yet one
Returnd not loft: On to the facred hill
They led him high applauded, and present
Before the feat fupream; from whence a voice
From midft a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well haft thou fought
The better fight, who fingle haft maintaind
Against revolted multitudes the Cause

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Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes; And for the teftimonie of Truth haft born Univerfal reproach, far worse to beare

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Then violence: for this was all thy care
To ftand approv'd in fight of God, though Worlds
Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conqueft now
Remains thee, aided by this hoft of friends,
Back on thy foes more glorious to return
Then fcornd thou didst depart, and to fubdue
By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,
Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King
Meffiah, who by right of merit Reigns.
Goe Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,
And thou in Military prowess next
Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that Godless crew
Rebellious, them with Fire and hoftile Arms
Fearless affault, and to the brow of Heav'n
Pursuing drive them out from God and blifs,
Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf
Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

Sons

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