To make us lefs, bent rather to exalt
Our happy ftate, under one head more near
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself, tho' great and glorious, dost 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
All things, ev'n thee; and all the fpi'rits of heaven By him created in their bright degrees,
Crown'd them with glory', and to their glory nam'd
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers,
Effential powers; nor by his reign obfcur'd,
But more illustrious made; fince he the head
One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease 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 at thou. and the work
Of fecondary hands, by tafk transferr'd
From Father to his Son? Strange point, and new! 855
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who
When this creation was? remember't nou
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 circled his full orb the birth mature
Of this our native heaven, ethereal fons.
Our puissance 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,
Hoarfe 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 fpi'rit accurs'd,
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 Mefliah; those indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchfaf'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
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 shalt know.
So fpake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithlefs, faithful only he;
Among innumerable falfe, unmov'd,
Unfhaken, unfeduce'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 through hoftile fcorn, which he fuftain'd
Superiour, nor of violence fear'd ought;
And with retorted fcorn his back he turn'd
On thofe proud towers to swift destruction doom'd.
Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The firft fight defcribed: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the fecond day's fight put Michael and his angels to fome diforder; but they at length pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan: yet the tumult not fo ending, God in the third day fends Meffiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: he in the power of his Father coming to the place, and caufing all his legions to Stand ftill on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midft of his enemies, pursues them, unable to refift, towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horrour and confufion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deeps Messiah returns in triumph to his Father.
LL night the dreadless angel, unpurfu'd, Through heaven's wide champain held his way. till Morn,
Wak'd by the circling hours, with rofy hand
Unbarr'd the gates of light. There is a cave
Within the mount of God, faft by his throne,
Where light and darknefs in perpetual round
Lodge and diflodge by turns, which makes thro' heaven
Grateful viciffitude, like day and night;
Light iffues forth, and at the other door
Obfequious darknefs enters, till her hour
To veil the heaven, tho' darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: and now went forth the Morn
Such as in higheft heaven, array'd in gold
Empyreal; from before her vanifh'd Night,
Shot thro' with orient beams; when all the plain
Cover'd with thick embattled fquadrons, bright,
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery fteeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, firft 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 those friendly powers, who him receiv'd..
With joy and acclamations loud, that one,
|