750 In their triple degrees; regions to which At length into the limits of the north Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd, 755 They came; and Satan to his royal feat, High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers 760 From diamond quarries hew'n, and rocks of gold; 765 Thither to come; and with calumnious art 770 Of counterfeited truth, thus held their ears. Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, If these magnific titles yet remain Not merely titular; fince, by decree, Another now hath to himself ingrofs'd 775 All pow'r, and us eclips'd,under the name Of King anointed; for whom all this hafte Of Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here, This only to confult, how we may best, With what may be devis'd of honors new, 780 Receive him, coming to receive from us 785 790 795 Law and edict on us, who, without law, Err not? much lefs for This to be our Lord, And look for adoration to th' abuse 800 Of those imperial titles, which assert Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve. Thus far his bold discourse without controll Had audience; when, among the Seraphim, Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd 805 The Deity, and divine commands obey'd, O argument blafphemous, false and proud! 810 In place thyself so high above thy peers. Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn The juft decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn, 815 With regal scepter, every foul in Heaven Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due Confefs him rightful King? unjust, thou say'st, And equal over equals to let reign, Shalt thou give law to God; shalt thou dispute 820 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, 826 And of our good, and of our dignity, How provident he is; how far from thought Our happy ftate,under one head more near 830 That equal over equals monarch reign: Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, Or Or all angelic nature join'd in one, Equal to him, begotten Son? by whom, As by his Word, the mighty Father made 835 All things, ev'n thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven By him created in their bright degrees, 841 Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd 850 Th' Apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd. From Father to his Son? ftrange point and new! 855 Z 2 860 . Had Had circled his full orb; the birth mature Of this our native Heav'n, ethereal fons. Our puissance is our own; our own right hand 865 870 875 880 He said, and as the found of waters deep, Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite hoft; nor less for that The flaming Seraph, fearless, though alone, Incompafs'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold. O alienate from God, O Spirit accurs'd, Forfaken 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 Meffiah; thofe indulgent laws Will not be now vouchfaf'd; other decrees Against thee are gone forth without recall; That golden scepter, which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod to bruise and break Thy difobedience. Well thou didst advise, Yet not for thy advice, or threats, I fly 885 These |