LITMIR.BIZ

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Yet by experience taught we know how good,

       And of our good, and of our dignitie

       How provident he is, how farr from thought

       To make us less, bent rather to exalt

       Our happie state under one Head more neer

       United. But to grant it thee unjust,

       That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:

       Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count,

       Or all Angelic Nature joind in one,

       Equal to him begotten Son, by whom

       As by his Word the mighty Father made

       All things, ev’n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav’n

       By him created in thir bright degrees,

       Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam’d

       Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers

       Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscur’d,

       But more illustrious made, since he the Head

       One of our number thus reduc’t becomes,

       His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done

       Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,

       And tempt not these; but hast’n to appease

       Th’ incensed Father, and th’ incensed Son,

       While Pardon may be found in time besought.

      So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale

       None seconded, as out of season judg’d,

       Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic’d

       Th’ Apostat, and more haughty thus repli’d.

       That we were formd then saist thou? & the work

       Of secondarie hands, by task transferd

       From Father to his Son? strange point and new!

       Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who saw

       When this creation was? rememberst 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 quick’ning power, when fatal course

       Had circl’d his full Orbe, the birth mature

       Of this our native Heav’n, Ethereal Sons.

       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 supplication we intend

       Address, and to begirt th’ Almighty Throne

       Beseeching or besieging. This report,

       These tidings carrie to th’ anointed King;

       And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

      He said, and as the sound of waters deep

       Hoarce murmur echo’d to his words applause

       Through the infinite Host, nor less for that

       The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone

       Encompass’d round with foes, thus answerd bold.

      O alienate from God, O spirit accurst,

       Forsak’n of all good; I see thy fall

       Determind, and thy hapless crew involv’d

       In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred

       Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth

       No more be troubl’d how to quit the yoke

       Of Gods Messiah; those indulgent Laws Will not be now voutsaf’t, other Decrees Against thee are gon forth without recall; That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise, Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly These wicked Tents devoted, least the wrauth Impendent, raging into sudden flame Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire. Then who created thee lamenting learne, When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.

      So spake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found, Among the faithless, faithful only hee; Among innumerable false, unmov’d, Unshak’n, unseduc’d, unterrifi’d His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale; Nor number, nor example with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind Though single. From amidst them forth he passd, Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind Superior, nor of violence fear’d aught; And with retorted scorn his back he turn’d On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom’d.

THE END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

BOOK VI.

       Table of Contents

      All night the dreadless Angel unpursu’d

       Through Heav’ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,

       Wak’t by the circling Hours, with rosie hand

       Unbarr’d the gates of Light. There is a Cave

       Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,

       Where light and darkness in perpetual round

       Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heav’n

       Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;

       Light issues forth, and at the other dore

       Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre

       To veile the Heav’n, though darkness there might well

       Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn

       Such as in highest Heav’n, arrayd in Gold

       Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,

       Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain

       Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,

       Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds

       Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:

       Warr he perceav’d, warr in procinct, and found

       Already known what he for news had thought

       To have reported: gladly then he mixt

       Among those friendly Powers who him receav’d

       With joy and acclamations loud, that one

       That of so many Myriads fall’n, yet one

       Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill

       They led him high applauded, and present

       Before the seat supream; from whence a voice

       From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.

      Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought

       The better fight, who single hast maintaind

       Against revolted multitudes the Cause

       Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;

       And for the testimonie of Truth hast born

       Universal reproach, far worse to beare

       Then violence: for this was all thy care

       To stand approv’d in sight of God, though Worlds

       Judg’d thee perverse: the easier conquest now

       Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,

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