So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd Bad influence into th' unwary breast Of his associate: he together calls,
Or several one by one, the regent Powers, Under hin regent: tells, as he was taught, That the most High commanding, now ere night, Now ere dim night had disincumber'd Heav'n, 700 The great hierarchal standard was to move; Tells the suggested cause, and casts between- Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted signal, and superior voice Of their great potentate; for great indeed His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; His count'nance, as the morning star that guides The starry flock, allur'd them, and with lies Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's host. 710 Mean while th' eternal eye, whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount And from within the golden lamps that burn Nightly before him, saw without their light 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 In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, Nearly it now concerns us to be sure Of our omnipotence, and with what arms We mean to hold what anciently we claim Of deity or empire; such a foe
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 pow'r is, or our right. Let us advise, and to this hazard draw
With speed what force is left, and all employ 730 In our defence, lest unawares we lose
This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. To whom the Son with calm aspéct and clear, Lightning divine, ineffable, serene,
Made answer, Mighty Father, thou thy foes Justly hast in derision, and secure
Laugh'st at their vain designs and tumults vain, Matter to me of glory, whom their hate Illustrates, when they see all regal power Giv'n me to quell their pride, and in event Know whether I be dext'rous to subdue The rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n. So spake the Son; but Satan with his Powers Far was advanc'd on winged speed, an host Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun Impearls on every leaf and every flower. Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones 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
At length into the limits of the north 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 From diamond quarries hewn, 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 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 Thither to come, and with calumnious heart 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 ingross'd
All pow'r and us eclips'd under the name Of King anointed, for whom all this haste Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here, This only to consult how we may best With what may be devis'd of honours new Receive him coming to receive from us Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile, Too much to one, but double how indur'd,
To one and to his image now proclaim'd? But what if better counsels 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 Natives and sons of Heav'n possess'd before 790 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 assume Monarchy over such as live by right His equals, if in pow'r 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, And look for adoration to th' abuse
Of those imperial titles, which assert
Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve. Thus far his bold discourse without controul 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.
O argument blasphemous, false and proud! Words which no ear ever to hear in Heav'n 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,
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,
And equal over equals to let reign, One over all with unsucceeded power.
Shalt thou give law to God, shalt thou dispute With him the points of liberty, who made
Thee what thou art, an 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 less, bent rather to exalt
Our happy state under one head more near United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself though great and glorious dost 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, even 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,
Essential Pow'rs: nor by his reign obscur'd, But more illustrious made; since he the head One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;
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