"So spake the Son; but Satan with his powers Far was advanced, on winged speed, an host Innumerable, as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun
Impearls on every leaf, and every flower.
Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies
Of seraphim, and potentates, and thrones,
In their triple degrees; regions to which
All thy dominion, Adam, is no more
Than what this garden is to all the earth,
And all the sea, from one entire globose
Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd,
At length, into the limits of the north
They came; and Satan to his royal seat
High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount
Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers,
From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold,
The palace of great Lucifer, so call
That structure, in the dialect of men
Interpreted, which not long after, he,
Affecting all equality with God,
In imitation of that mount, whereon
Messiah was declar'd, in sight of Heaven,
The mountain of the congregation call'd;
For thither he assembled all his train,
Pretending, so commanded, to consult
About the great reception of their King,
Thither to come; and, with calumnious art
Of counterfeited truth, thus held their ears.
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues,
If these magnificent titles yet remain
Not merely titular; since, by decree,
Another now hath to himself engross'd
All power, and us eclipsed, under the name
Of King anointed; for whom all this haste
Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,
This only to consult, how we may best,
With what may be devis'd of honours new,
Receive him, coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute, yet unpaid, prostration vile,
Too much to one, but double how endur'd,
To one, and to his image now proclaim'd?
But what if better counsels might erect
Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke?
Will
ye submit your necks, and choose to bend
The souple knee? ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right; or if ye know yourselves
Natives and sons of Heaven, possess'd before
By none, and if not equal all, yet free,'
Equally free; for orders and degrees
Jar no: with liberty, but well consist.
Who can in reason then or right assume
Monarchy over such as live by right
His equals? if in power and splendour less,
In freedom equal: or can introduce
Law and edict on us, who without law
Err not? much less for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration, to the abuse
Of those imperial titles, which assert
Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.'
"Thus far his bold discourse, without control.
Had audience, when among the seraphim
Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored
The Deity, and divine commands obey'd,
Stood up; and, in a flame of zeal severe,
The current of his fury thus oppos'd.
"O argument blasphemous, false, and proud!
Words, which no ear ever to hear in Heaven
Expected; least of all from thee, ingrate,
In place, thyself so high above thy peers.
Canst thou, with impious obloquy, condemn
The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn,
That to his only Son, by right endued
With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven
Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due,
Confess him rightful King? Unjust thou say'st,
Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,
And equal over equals to let reign,
One over all, with unsucceeded power.
Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute
With him the points of liberty, who made
Thee what thou art, & form'd the powers of Heaven
Such as he pleased, and circumscrib'd their being?
Yet by experience taught, we know how good,
And of our good, and of our dignity,
How provident he is; how far from thought
To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Our happy state, under one head more near
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself, though great & 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, even thee; & all the spirits of Heaven,
By him created in their bright degrees,
Crown'd them with glory, & to their glory nam'd
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers,
Essential powers; nor by his reign obscured,
But more illustrious made; since he the head
One of our number, thus reduced becomes;
His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease
The incens'd Father, and the incensed Son,
While pardon may be found, in time besought.'
"So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal
None seconded, as out of season judged,
Or singular and rash; whereat, rejoiced
The apostate, and more haughty thus replied.
'That we were form'd then, sayst thou? & the work
Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd
From Father to his Son? Strange point and new!
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who
When this creation was? remember'st thou [saw
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised
By our own quickening power; when fatal course
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons.
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 supplication we intend
Address, and to begird the Almighty throne
Beseeching, or besieging. This report,
These tidings carry to the anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.'
"He said, and, as the sound of waters deep,
Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause,
Through the infinite host; nor less for that,
The flaming seraph, fearless, though alone,
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold
"O alienate from God, O spirit accursed, Forsaken of all good; I see thy fall Determined, and thy hapless crew involved 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 Messiah; those indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchsafed: other decrees
Against thee are gone forth, without recall;
That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod, to bruise and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet, not for thy advice, or threats, I fly
These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame,
Distinguish not: for soon 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 spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found,
Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, unmoved,
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;
Nor number, nor example with him wrought,
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught:
And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd
On those proud tow'rs, to swift destruction doom'd "
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