Obedient? Can we want obedience then To him, or possibly his love desert, 520 Who form'd us from the dust and placed us here, Full to the utmost measure of what bliss Human desires can seek or apprehend? To whom the Angel: Son of Heaven and Earth, Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God; 525 This was that caution given thee; be advised. And good he made thee, but to persevere 530 He left it in thy power; ordain'd thy will By nature free, not overruled by fate Inextricable, or strict necessity : Our voluntary service he requires, 635 Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve Willing or no, who will but what they must By destiny, and can no other choose? Myself, and all the angelic host, that stand 540 In sight of God enthroned, our happy state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; To whom our great progenitor: Thy words 545 550 To be both will and deed created free : 550 Our Maker, and obey him whose command Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts Assured me, and still assure: though what thou tell'st Hath pass'd in Heaven some doubt within me move, But more desire to hear, if thou consent, 560 The full relation, which must needs be strange, Worthy of sacred silence to be heard ; And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun 565 After short pause assenting, thus began: High matter thou enjoin'st me, O prime of men Sad task and hard: for how shall I relate This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach As may express them best; though what if Earth Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein 580 Reign'd where these Heavens now roll, where Earth To motion, measures all things durable By present, past, and future,) on such day [now rests 585 As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyrial host Of Angels, by imperial summons call'd, Innumerable before the Almighty's throne Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appear'd Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, 590 Stream in the air, and for distinction serve 595 600 By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son, Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top 605 Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. My only Son, and on this holy hill Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 610 At my right hand; your head I him appoint; And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord; Under his great vicegerent reign abide United, as one individual soul, 615 For ever happy: him who disobeys, Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls Into utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place Ordain'd without redemption, without end. 620 So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words All seem'd well pleased; all seem'd, but were not all. That day, as other solemn days, they spent In song and dance about the sacred hill; 625 Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular Then most, when most irregular they seem; And in their motions harmony divine 630 So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear Listens delighted. Evening now approach'd (For we have also our evening and our morn, We ours for change delectable, not need ;) Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 635 Desirous all in circles as they stood, Tables are set, and on a sudden piled With Angels' food, and rubied nectar flows In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 640 On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crown'd, They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet Quaff immortality and joy, secure Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 646 Excess, before the all bounteous King, who shower'd All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; Wide over all the plain, and wider far Than all this globous earth in plain outspread 650 (Such are the courts of God,) the angelic throng, 655 Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend By living streams among the trees of life, Pavilions numberless, and sudden rear'd, Celestial tabernacles, where they slept Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who in their course, Melodious hymns about the sov'reign throne 661 Alternate all night long : but not so waked Satan; so call him now, his former name Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, If not the first Archangel, great in power, 665 In favour, and preeminence, yet fraught With envy against the Son of God, that day Honour'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd Messiah King anointed, could not bear Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair'd Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 671 675 Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can close Thy eyelids? and remember'st what decree Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips 680 Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts 686 Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; 690 695 So spake the false Archangel, and infused : 700 Or several one by one, the regent Powers, That the Most High commanding, now ere night, Now ere dim night had disencumber'd Heaven, 70% The great hierarchal standard was to move; |