"Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd "With angels' food; and rubied nectar flows 635"Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of heaven. "On flowers repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd, They eat they drink; and in communion sweet "Quaff immortality and joy, (secure "Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 640 "Excess,) before the all-bounteous King, who shower'd "With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. "Now when ambrosial night, with clouds exhal'd "From that high mount of God, whence light and shade "Spring both, the face of brightest heaven had chang'd 645 "To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there "In darker veil,) and roseate dews dispos'd "All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; "Wide over all the plain, and wider far "Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, 650"(Such are the courts of God!) the angelic throng, 66 Dispers'd in bands and files, their camp extend "By living streams among the trees of life; "Pavilions numberless! and sudden rear'd 655 "Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who, in their course, "In favour, and pre-eminence, yet fraught 665 "Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair'd. 66 Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, "Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour "With all his legions to dislodge, and leave 670 "Unworshipp'd, unobey'd, the throne supreme- 666 Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can close "Thy eye-lids, and remember'st what decree 675"Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips "Of heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts "Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont, to impart; "Both waking we were one; how then can now 'Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest impos'd: "New laws from Him who reigns new minds "In us who serve-new counsels, to debate "What doubtful may ensue: more in this place "To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 680 690 66 6 may raise "Of all those myriads, which we lead, the chief; 685"Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night "Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, "And all who under me their banner wave, "Homeward, with flying march, where we possess "The quarters of the north; there to prepare "Fit entertainment to receive our King, "The great Messiah, and his new commands; "Who speedily through all the hierarchies "Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.' "So spake the false archangel, and infus'd "Bad influence into the unwary breast "Of his associate: he together calls, 695 700 705 "Or several one by one, the regent powers, Ambiguous words, and jealousies, to sound, "The wonted signal, and superior voice K 710 "His countenance, as the morning star that guides Nightly before him, saw without their light 715 "Rebellion rising-saw in whom-how spread "Among the sons of morn-what multitudes "Were banded to oppose his high decree; And, smiling, to his only Son thus said: "Son! thou in whom my glory I behold 720"In full resplendence, heir of all my might! Nearly it now concerns us to be sure 66 6 "Of our omnipotence; and with what arms 725 "Is rising, who intends to erect his throne "Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; "Nor so content, hath in his thought to try "In battle what our power is, or our right. "Let us advise, and to this hazard draw 730"With speed what force is left, and all employ "In our defence; lest unawares we lose "This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.' "To whom the Son, with calm aspéct, and clear, Light'ning divine, ineffable, serene! 735 "Made answer: Mighty Father! thou thy foes "Justly hast in derision, and, secure, 66 6 Laugh'st at their vain designs, and tumults vain ; "Matter to me of glory! whom their hate "Illustrates, when they see all regal power 740"Given me to quell their pride: and in event "Know whether I be dexterous to subdue 745 "Thy rebels, or be found the worst in heaven.' "Or stars of morning-dew-drops, which the sun 66 66 Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies "Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, 750"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, 755 "At length into the limits of the north 760 66 They came; and Satan to his royal seat High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount "Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers "That structure in the dialect of men Interpreted;) which, not long after, he, "Affecting all equality with God, "In imitation of that mount whereon 765 "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 770"Thither to come; and with calumnious art "Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears: "Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers! "If these magnific titles yet remain, "Not merely titular, since, by decree, "Another now hath to himself engross'd 775 780 "All power, and us eclips'd, under the name "To One, and to his image now proclaim'd? 785But what if better councils might erect "Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? "Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend "The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust "To know ye right; or if ye know yourselves 790"Natives and sons of heaven possess'd before By none; and if not equal all, yet free 66 6 666 Equally free; for orders and degrees "Jar not with liberty, but well consist. "Who can in reason then, or right, assume 795 "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, 800 "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 ador'd "The Deity, and divine commands obey'd, "Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe, "The current of his fury thus oppos'd: 805 810 "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, pronounc'd and sworn, 815"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, 820 "And equal over equals to let reign; "One over all, with unsucceeded power. |