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But more illustrious made; since he the head
One of our number thus reduced becomes;
His laws our laws; all honor to him done
Returnes our own.
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease
The incensed 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: Hhereat rejoiced
The apostate, and, more haughty thus replied:

Cease then this impious rage,

'That we were form'd then, say'st thou? and 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 saw
When this creation was remember'st thou

Thy making, while 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, real sons.

ごん

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 begirt the Almighty throne
Beseeching our 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 echo'd 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 recal;
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 towers to swift destruction doom'

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK VI.

N*

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels.-The first fight described: Satan and his powers retire under night: He calls a council; invents Devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his Angels to some disorder, but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelming both the force ard machines of Satan: Yet the tumult not so ending, God, on the third day, sends MESSIAH his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heav en, which opening,they leap down with horror and confusion inte the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep; MESSIAH returns with triumph to his Father.

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