Who can in reason then, or right, affume
Monarchy over fuch as live by right
His equals, if in power and fplendor lefs,
In freedom equal? or can introduce
Law and edict on us, who without law

795

Err not? much lefs for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration to th' abufe

Of thofe 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 feraphim

Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd 805
The Deity', 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, least of all from thee, ingrate,
In place thyself fo high above thy peers.
Canft thou with impious obloquy condemn

810

The juft decree of God, pronounc'd and fworn,

That to his only Son, by right endu'd

815

With regal fceptre, every foul in heaven

Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due

Confefs him rightful King? Unjuft, thou fay'ft,
Flatly unjust, 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

820

Thee what thou art, and form'd the pow'rs of heaven Such as he pleas'd, and circumfcrib'd their being? Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, 826 And of our good and of our dignity

How provident he is; how far from thought

Το

To make us less, 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;

Thyfelf, tho' great and glorious, dolt 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

830

835

All things, ev'n thee; and all the fpirits of heaven By him created in their bright degrees,

841

Crown'd them with glory', and to their glory nam'd
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers,
Effential powers; nor by his reign obfcur'd,
But more illuftrious made; fince he the head
One of our number thus redue'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Ceafe then this impious rage, 845
And tempt not thefe; but haften to appease
Th' incenfed Father, and th' incensed Son,
While pardon may be found in time befought.
So fpake the fervent angel; but his zeal
None feconded, as out of season judg'd,
Or fingular and rafh; whereat rejoic'd
Th' apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.

850

That we were form'd then say'ft thou? and the work

Of fecondary hands, by task transferr'd

From Father to his Son? Strange point and new! 855
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who
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;

[faw

Know none before us, felf-begot, felf-rais'd
By our own quick'ning power, when fatal courfe
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature

860

Of this our native heaven, ethereal fons.

Our

865

Our puiffance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us higheft deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by fupplication we intend

Address, 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.

870

He said, and, as the found of waters deep,
Hoarfe murmur echo'd to his words applause
Through the infinite hoft; nor lefs for that
The flaming feraph fearless, though alone
Incompafs'd round with foes, thus anfwer'd bold.
O alienate from God, O fpi'rit accurs'd,
Forfaken of all good; I fee 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 Meffiah; thofe indulgent laws
Will not be now youchfaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall;
That golden fceptre, which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod to bruife and break
Thy difobedience. Well thou didst advise;
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly

Thefe wicked tents devoted, left the wrath
Impendent, raging into fudden flame
Distinguish not: for foon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learn,

875

880

885

890

When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 895 So fpake the feraph Abdiel, faithful found

Among the faithlefs, faithful only he;

Among innumerable false, unmov'd,

Unfhaken,

Uafhaken, unfeduc'd, unterrify'd,

900

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 fingle. From amidst them forth he pafs'&
Long way through hoftile fcorn, which he fuftain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought;

And with retorted fcorn his back he turn'd

905

On thofe proud towers to swift destruction doom'd.

END of the FIFTH BOOK.

K

ARGU

ARGUMENT of Book VI.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight defcribed: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council, invents devilifh engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and his angels to fome diforder; but they, at length pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan : yet the tumult not fo ending, God in the third day fends Meffiah his Son, for whom he had referved the glory of that victory : he in the power of his Father coming to the place, and caufing all his legions to ftand still on either fide, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midft of his enemies, pursues them, unable to refift, towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confufion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep: Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.

PARADISE