Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate, 815 820 Shalt thou give law to GOD? shalt thou dispute How provident he is, how far from thought That equal over equals monarch reign: 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 heaven By him created in their bright degrees, 830 835 Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, Essential powers; nor by his reign obscur'd, So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal 841 846 850 Th' Apostate, 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? strange point and new! Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who saw When this creation was? remember'st thou Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 856 860 865 Beseeching or besieging. This report, 870 875 880 He said, and, as the sound of waters deep, Hoarse 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 answer'd bold. O alienate from GOD, O spirit accurst, Forsaken 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 MESSIAH; those indulgent laws Will not be now vouchsaf'd, other decrees Against thee are gone forth without recall: That golden sceptre which thou didst reject Is now an iron rod, to bruise and break Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise ; Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 869 Beseeching] See Heywood's Spider and Flie, p. 376. 'Myne answere is, not a harnes cap-a-pie Besieging (stead of beseeching).' 885 890 888 Thy disobedience] Thee disobedient, v. 2. 702, b. 139, b. 687. Bentl. MS. 890 lest] The construction is deficient. Pearce would understand, 'but I fly' before 'lest.' Bentley proposes reading, 'These wicked tents devote, but lest the wrath,' &c. Newton. Impendent raging into sudden flame When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 895 900 So spake the seraph Abdiel faithful found, Among the faithless faithful only he: Among innumerable false unmov'd, Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrify'd, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; Nor number, nor example with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant 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 aught; And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd. 905 PARADISE LOST. BOOK VI. THE ARGUMENT. RAPHAEL continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight de/scribed: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and his angels to some disorder; but they at length pulling up mountains overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan; yet the tumult not so ending, GoD on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory. He in the power of his Father coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them unable to resist towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep. Messiah returns with triumph to his Father. ALL night the dreadless angel unpursu'd [morn, Through heaven's wide champain held his way, till Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy 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 7 Lodge] This thought borrowed from Hesiod. Theog. 748. 5 Newton. |