Minifter'd naked, and their flowing cups With pleafant liquors crown'd. O innocence Then had the fons of God excufe to have been 445 450 Thus when with meats and drinks they had fuffic'd, Giv'n him by this great conference, to know 460 465 As that more willingly thou couldst not seem At heaven's high feasts to' have fed: yet what com pare? To whom the winged hierarch reply'd. Of substance, and in things that live, of life; 470 475 Proportion'd 481 Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root To intellectual; give both life and fenfe, 485 Is ofteft yours, the latter most is ours, Wonder not then, what God for you saw good 490 If I refufe not, but convert, as you, To proper substance: time may come, when men With angels may participate, and find No inconvenient di'et, nor too light fare; And from thefe corporal nutriments perhaps 495. 500 Here or in heav'nly Paradifes dwell; Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy Your fill what happiness this happy state Can comprehend, incapable of more. 505 To whom the patriarch of mankind reply'd. O favourable fpi'rit, propitious guest, Well haft thou taught the way that might direct 510 Obedient? Obedient? Can we want obedience then To him, or poffibly his love defert, 515 Who form'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here Human defires can seek or apprehend? 520 To whom the angel. Son of heaven and earth, Attend: That thou art happy, owe to God; That thou continueft fuch, owe to thyself, That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. God made thee perfect, not immutable; And good he made thee, but to persevere He left it in thy power; ordain'd thy will By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate Inextricable, or strict neceffity: Our voluntary fervice he requires, Not our neceffitated; fuch with him 525 53 Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how Can hearts not free be try'd whether they ferve Myfelf, and all th' angelic hoft, that stand 535 Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; 540 545 Divine inftructor, I have heard, than when Cherubic fongs by night from neighb'ring hills "Aereal mufic fend: nor knew I not Το To be both will and deed created free; Yet that we never shall forget to love 5500 Our Maker, and obey him whofe command Single is yet fo juft, my conftant thoughts Affur'd me', and still affüre: tho' what thou tell'st The full relation, which muft needs be ftrange, And we have yet large day, for fcarce the fun 555 562 High matter thou injoin'st me', O prime of men, Sad task and hard; for how shall I relate To human fenfe th' invifible exploits 565 Of warring fpirits? how without remorfe The ruin of fo many glorious once And perfect while they ftood? how laft unfold Not lawful to reveal? Yet for thy good 579 This is difpens'd; and what furmounts the reach As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild To motion, measures all things durable By present, paft, and future), on fuch day [refts 580 As heav'n's great year brings forth, th' empyreal hoft Of Of angels, by imperial fummons call'd, By whom in blifs imbofom'd fat the Son, Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, My only Son, and on this holy hill Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 605 At my right hand; your head I him appoint; And by myself have fworn to him fhall bow All knees in heaven, and fhall confefs him Lord: 610 United as one individual foul For ever happy: him who difobeys, 615 So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with his words All seem'd well pleas'd; all seem'd, but were not all. That day, as other folemn days, they spent |