United, as one individual foul
For ever happy: Him who disobeys,
Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day
Caft out from God and bleffed vifion, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place
Ordain'd without redemption, without end.
So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with his words
All seem'd well pleas'd; all feem'd, but were not all.
That day, as other folemn days, they spent
In fong and dance about the facred hill;
Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere
Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels
Refembles nearest; mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem;
And in their motions harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear
Liftens delighted. Evening now approach'd,
(For we have alfo our evening and our morn;
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith, from dance to fweet repast they turn
Defirous; all in circles as they flood,
Tables are fet, and on a sudden pil'd
With Angels food; and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and maffy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 635
On flow'rs repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd,
They eat, they drink, and, in communion sweet,
Quaff immortality and joy, fecure
Of furfeit where full measure only bounds
Excefs, before th' all-bounteous King, who fhow'rd
With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.
Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhal'd
From that high mount of God, whence light and shade
Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had chang'd
To grateful twilight (for night comes not there 645
In darker veil) and rofeat dews difpos'd
All but th' unsleeping eyes of God to rest;
Wide over all the plain, and wider far
Than all this globous earth in plain outspread,
(Such are the courts of God) th'angelic throng, 650
Dispers'd in bands and files, their camp extend
By living ftreams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberlefs; and fudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they flept
Fann'd with cool winds; fave those who,in their course,
Melodious hymns about the sovran throne
Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd
Satan; fo call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first,
If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power,
In favor and præeminence, yet fraught
With envy against the Son of God, that day
Honor'd by his great Father, and proclam'd
Meffiah King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that fight, and thought himself impair'd.
Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendliest to fleep and filence, he resolv'd
With all his legions to diflodge, and leave
Unworshipt, unobey'd the throne fupreme,
Contemptuous; and his next fubordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake.
Sleep'ft thou, Companion dear, what fleep can close Thy eye-lids? and remember'st what decree Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips
Of Heav'n's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts
Waft wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;
Both waking we were one; how then can now
Thy sleep diffent? New laws thou seest impos'd;
New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise
In us who serve, new counfels, to debate
What doubtful may enfue: more in this place
To utter is not fafe. Affemble thou
Of all those myriads which we lead the chief;
Tell them that, by command, ere yet dim night 685
Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me their banners wave,
Homeward, with flying march,where we possess
The quarters of the north; there to prepare
Fit entertainment to receive our king
great Meffiah, and his new commands; Who speedily through all the hierarchies Intends to pafs triumphant, and give laws.
So fpake the false Arch-Angel, and infus’d Bad influence into th' unwary breaft
Of his affociate: he together calls,
Or feveral one by one, the regent Powers,
Under him regent; tells, as he was taught,
That, the most High commanding, now ere night,
Now ere dim night had difincumber'd Heaven, 700
The great hierarchal standard was to move;
Tells the fuggefted cause, and casts between
Ambiguous words and jealoufies, to sound
Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
'The wonted signal, and superior voice
Of their great potentate; for great indeed
His name, and high was his degree in Heaven;
His count'nance, as the morning ftar that guides
The ftarry flock, allur'd them, and with lies
Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's hoft. 710
Mean while th' eternal eye, whose sight discerns
Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount,
And from within the golden lamps that burn
Nightly before him, faw, without their light,
Rebellion rifing; faw in whom, how spread
Among the fons of morn; what multitudes
Were banded to oppose his high decree;
And,fmiling, to his only Son thus said.
Son, thou, in whom my glory I behold
In full refplendence, Heir of all my might,
Nearly it now concerns us to be sure
Of our omnipotence, and with what arms
We mean to hold what anciently we clame
Of deity or empire; such a foe
Is rifing, who intends to erect his throne
Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north;
Nor fo content, hath in his thought to try
In battel, what our pow'r is, or our right.
Let us advise, and to this hazard draw
With speed what force is left; and all employ
In our defenfe, left, unawares, we lofe
This our high place, our fanctuary, our hill.
To whom the Son,with calm aspect and clear,
Lightning divine, ineffable, ferene,
Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes
Justly haft in derifion; and,fecure,
Laugh'st at their vain designs, and tumults vain;
Matter to me of glory; whom their hate
Illuftrates, when they see all regal power
Giv'n me to quell their pride, and in event
Know whether I be dextrous to fubdue
Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.
So fpake the Son; but Satan with his powers
Far was advanc'd on winged speed; an host
Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the fun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies
Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones,
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