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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 endu'd
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.

815

820

Shalt thou give law to GOD? shalt thou dispute
With him the points of liberty, who made
Thee what thou art, and 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, 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,

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Essential powers; nor by his reign obscur'd,
But more illustrious made, since 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 these; but hasten to appease
Th' incensed Father, and th' incensed Son,
While pardon may be found in time besought.

So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal
None seconded, as out of season judg'd,
Or singular and rash; whereat rejoic'd

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?
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 circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native heaven, 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

856

860

865

Beseeching or besieging. This report,
These tidings carry to th' anointed king;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

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).'

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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
Distinguish not; for soon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. ·
Then who created thee lamenting learn,

When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.

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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.

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