Thus far his bold difcourfe without controll
Had audience, when among the Seraphim
Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd 805
The Deity', and divine commands obey'd,
Stood up, and in a flame of zeal fevere
The current of his fury thus oppos'd.
O argument blafphémous, falfe and proud!
Words which no ear ever to hear in Heav'n
Expected, leaft of all from thee, Ingrate,
In place thyself fo high above thy peers.
Canft thou with impious obloquy condemn
The juft decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn,
That to his only Son by right indued
With regal scepter, every foul in Heaven
Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due
Confefs him rightful king? unjust, thou fay'st,
Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,
And equal over equals to let reign,
One over all with unfucceeded power.
Shalt thou give law to God, fhalt thou dispute
With him the points of liberty, who made
Thee what thou art, and form'd the Pow'rs of Heaven
Such as he pleas'd, 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 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 though great and glorious doft 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 Spirits 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 Pow'rs; nor by his reign obfcur'd,
But more illuftrious made; fince he the head
One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honor to him done
Returns our own.
Ceafe 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 rash, whereat rejoic'd
Th' Apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
That we were form'd then, say'st thou? and the work
Of fecondary hands, by task transferr'd
From Father to his Son? strange point and new! 855
Doctrin which we would know whence learn'd: who faw
When this creation was? remember'st thou
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 pow'r, when fatal courfe
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, ethereal fons.
Our puiffance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us higheft deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou fhalt behold
Whether by fupplication we intend
Addrefs, and to begirt th' almighty throne
Befeeching or befieging. This report,
Thefe tidings carry to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He faid, and as the found of waters deep
Hcarfe murmur echo'd to his words applaufe
Through the infinite hoft; nor lefs for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Incompafs'd round with foes, thus anfwer'd bold.
O alienate from God, O Spi'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 Meffiah; thofe indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchfaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That golden fcepter, 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
Thefe 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, unfeduc'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 pafs'd,
Long way through hoftile fcorn, which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought;
And with retorted fcorn his back he turn'd
On thofe proud tow'rs to swift deftruction doom'd.
THE END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.
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