.

Thither to come, and with calumnious art

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 engross'd

All power, 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 endur'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 Heaven possess'd before
By none, and if not equal all, yet free,
Equally free; for orders and degrees

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Jarr 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 power and splendor 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 the 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 blasphémous, false, and proud!
Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven
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, and form'd the Powers 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, Powers,
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
The incensed Father, and the 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

The 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!
Doctrin 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 quickening 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 the almighty throne.
Beseeching or besieging. This report,
These tidings carry to the anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

He said, and as the sound of waters deep Hoarse murmur echoed 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 accurs'd, 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;