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
All things, ev'n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n By him created in thir bright degrees,
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?
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
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
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.
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
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
Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes; And for the teftimonie of Truth haft born Univerfal reproach, far worse to beare
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
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