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

At length into the limits of the north

Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd,

755

They came; and Satan to his royal feat,

High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount

Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers

760

From diamond quarries hew'n, and rocks of gold;
The palace of great Lucifer, (fo call
That ftructure, in the dialect of men
Interpreted) which not long after, he,
Affecting all equality with God,
In imitation of that mount whereon
Meffiah was declar'd in fight of Heaven,
The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
For thither he affembled all his train,
Pretending fo commanded, to confult
About the great reception of their king

765

Thither to come; and with calumnious art

770

Of counterfeited truth, thus held their ears.

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,

If these magnific titles yet remain

Not merely titular; fince, by decree,

Another now hath to himself ingrofs'd

775

All pow'r, and us eclips'd,under the name

Of King anointed; for whom all this hafte

Of

Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,

This only to confult, how we may best,

With what may be devis'd of honors new,

780

Receive him, coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute, yet unpaid, proftration vile,
Too much to one, but double how indur'd;
To one, and to his image now proclam'd?
But what if better counfels might erect
Our minds, and teach us to caft off this yoke?
Will
ye fubmit
your necks, and choose to bend
The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves
Natives and fons of Heav'n, possess'd before
By none, and if not equal all, yet free,
Equally free; for orders and degrees
Jar not with liberty, but well consist.
Who can, in reafon then, or right, affume
Monarchy over fuch as live by right
His equals, if in pow'r and splendor less,
In freedom equal? or can introduce

785

790

795

Law and edict on us, who, without law,

Err not? much lefs for This to be our Lord,

And look for adoration to th' abuse

800

Of those imperial titles, which assert

Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.

Thus far his bold discourse 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 blafphemous, false and proud!
Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven
Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate,

810

In place thyself so high above thy peers.

Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn

The juft decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn,
That,to his only Son, by right indued

815

With regal scepter, every foul in Heaven

Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due

Confefs 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 unfucceeded power:

Shalt thou give law to God; shalt thou dispute
With him the points of liberty, who made

820

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, 826 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,

830

That equal over equals monarch reign:

Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count,

Or

Or all angelic nature join'd in one,

Equal to him, begotten Son? by whom,

As by his Word, the mighty Father made

835

All things, ev'n thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven By him created in their bright degrees,

841

Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
Effential Pow'rs; nor by his reign obscur'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. Cease then this impious rage, 845
And tempt not these; but haften to appease
Th'incenfed Father, and th'incensed Son,
While pardon may be found, in time besought.
So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal
None feconded, as out of feafon judg'd,
Or fingular and rash; whereat rejoic'd

850

Th' Apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.
That we were form'd then say'st thou? and the work
Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd

From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new! 855
Doctrin which we would know whence learn'd: who faw
When this creation was? remember'ft 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 course

Z 2

860

.

Had

Had circled his full orb; the birth mature

Of this our native Heav'n, 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
Address, 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.

865

870

875

880

He said, and as the found of waters deep, Hoarse 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 Spirit accurs'd, Forfaken of all good; I see 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 scepter, which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod to bruise and break Thy difobedience. Well thou didst advise, Yet not for thy advice, or threats, I fly

885

These