From Diamond Quarries hew'n, and Rocks of Gold
The Palace of great Lucifer, (so call
That Structure 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
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 meerly titular, fince by Decree
Another now hath to himself ingrofs'd
All Power, and us eclipft under the name,
Of King Anointed; for whom all this haste
Of midnight march, and hurry'd meeting here,
This only to confult, how we may best
With what may be devis'd of honours new
Receive him coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute, yet unpaid, proftration vile,
Too much to One, but Double how endur'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 chufe to bend
The fupple Knée? ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know your selves
Natives and Sons of Heaven poffeft 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 reason then or right affume
Monarchy over fuch as live by right
His equals, if in Power and Splendor less,
In Freedom equal? or can introduce
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
Of those Imperial Titles which affert
Our being ordain'd to Govern, not to Serve?
Thus far his bold difcourfe without controul
Had audience, when among the Seraphim
Abdiel, than whom none with more Zeal ador'd
The Diety, 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, falfe and proud!
Words which no ear, ever to hear in Heaven
Expected, leaft of all from Thee, ingrate,
In place thy felf fo high above thy Peers.
Can't thou with impious Obloquy condemn
The juft Decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn,
That to his only Son by right endued
With regal Scepter, every Soul in Heaven
Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due
Confefs him rightful King? unjust thou saist,
Flatly unjuft, 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 Heav'n
Such as he pleas'd, and circumfcrib'd their being? $25
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:
Thy felf, 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, év'n Thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n
By him created in their bright degrees;
Crown'd them with Glory, and to their Glory nam'd
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
Effential Powers, 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 honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage
And tempt not thefe; but haften to appease
Th'incensed Father, and th' incensed Son,
While Pardon may be found in time befought.
So ipake the Fervent Angel, but his zeal None feconded, as out of feafon judg'd,
Or fingular and rafh, whereat rejoic'd
Th' Apoftat, and more haughty thus reply'd.
That we were form'd then, faift thou? and the work
Of fecondary hands, by task transferr'd
From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new!
Do&trine which we would know whence learnt: 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, Self-begot, Self-rais'd
By our own quickening power, when fatal courfe
Had circled his full Orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons.
Our puiffance 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
Addrefs, 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.
He faid, and as the found of waters deep Hoarfe murmur echo'd to his words applaufe Through the infinite Hoft, nor lefs for that The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold.
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke
Of God's Meffiah; those indulgent Laws
Will not be now vouchfaft, other Decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recal:
That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject
İs now an Iron Rod to bruife and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fy
Thefe wicked Tents devoted, leaft 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, the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, 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 Single. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of Violence fear'd ought;
And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On those proud Tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd.
The End of the Fifth Book.
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