Page 30 of Paradise Lost


  Willing or no, who will but what they must

  By destiny, and can no other choose?

  Myself and all th’ angelic host that stand

  In sight of God enthroned, our happy state

  Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;

  On other surety538 none; freely we serve,

  Because we freely love, as in our will

  To love or not; in this we stand or fall:

  And some are fall’n, to disobedience fall’n,

  And so from Heav’n to deepest Hell; O fall

  From what high state of bliss into what woe!”

  To whom our great progenitor. “Thy words

  Attentive, and with more delighted ear,

  Divine instructor, I have heard, than when

  Cherubic songs547 by night from neighboring hills

  Aerial music send: nor knew I not

  To be both will and deed created free;

  Yet that we never shall forget to love

  Our Maker, and obey him whose command

  Single, is yet552 so just, my constant thoughts

  Assured me, and still assure: though what thou tell’st

  Hath passed in Heav’n, some doubt within me move,

  But more desire to hear, if thou consent,

  The full relation, which must needs be strange,

  Worthy of sacred silence557 to be heard;

  And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun

  Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins

  His other half in the great zone of heav’n.”

  Thus Adam made request, and Raphael

  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

  To human sense th’ invisible exploits

  Of warring spirits; how without remorse566

  The ruin of so many glorious once

  And perfect while they stood; how last unfold

  The secrets of another world, perhaps

  Not lawful to reveal? Yet for thy good

  This is dispensed571, and what surmounts the reach

  Of human sense, I shall delineate so,

  By lik’ning spiritual to corporal forms573,

  As may express them best, though what if Earth

  Be but575 the shadow of Heav’n, and things therein

  Each to other like, more than on Earth is thought576?

  “As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild

  Reigned where these heav’ns now roll, where Earth now rests

  Upon her center poised, when on a day

  (For time580, though in eternity, applied

  To motion, measures all things durable

  By present, past, and future) on such day

  As Heav’n’s great year583 brings forth, th’ empyreal host

  Of angels by imperial summons called,

  Innumerable before th’ Almighty’s throne

  Forthwith from all the ends of Heav’n appeared

  Under their hierarchs in orders bright;

  Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced,

  Standards, and gonfalons589 twixt van and rear

  Stream in the air, and for distinction serve

  Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;

  Or in their glittering tissues bear emblazed

  Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love

  Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs

  Of circuit inexpressible they stood,

  Orb within orb, the Father infinite,

  By whom in bliss embosomed sat the Son,

  Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top

  Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.

  “ ‘Hear all ye angels, progeny of light,

  Thrones, Dominations,601 Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,

  Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand.

  This day I have begot603 whom I declare

  My only Son, and on this holy hill

  Him have anointed, whom ye now behold

  At my right hand; your head I him appoint;

  And by myself have sworn607 to him shall bow

  All knees in Heav’n, and shall confess him Lord:

  Under his great vicegerent609 reign abide

  United as one individual610 soul

  Forever happy: him who disobeys611

  Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day

  Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls

  Into utter darkness, deep engulfed, his place

  Ordained without redemption, without end.’

  “So spake th’ Omnipotent, and with his words

  All seemed well pleased, all seemed, but were not all.

  That day, as other solemn days618, they spent

  In song and dance about the sacred hill,

  Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere

  Of planets and of fixed621 in all her wheels

  Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,

  Eccentric623, intervolved, 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

  Listens delighted. Evening now627 approached

  (For we have also our evening and our morn,

  We ours for change delectable, not need)

  Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn

  Desirous; all in circles as they stood,

  Tables are set, and on a sudden piled

  With angel’s food, and rubied nectar flows

  In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold

  Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heav’n.

  On flow’rs636 reposed, and with fresh flow’rets crowned,

  They eat, they drink, and in communion637 sweet

  Quaff immortality and joy, secure

  Of surfeit where full measure only bounds

  Excess, before th’ all bounteous King, who show’red

  With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.

  Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled

  From that high mount of God, whence light and shade

  Spring both, the face of brightest Heav’n had changed

  To grateful twilight (for night comes not there

  In darker veil) and roseate dews disposed

  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,

  (Such are the courts of God) th’ angelic throng

  Dispersed in bands and files their camp extend

  By living streams among the trees of life652,

  Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared,

  Celestial tabernacles, where they slept

  Fanned with cool winds, save those who in their course

  Melodious hymns about the sov’reign throne

  Alternate all night long: but not so waked

  Satan, so call him now, his former name658

  Is heard no more in Heav’n; he of the first,

  If not the first Archangel, great in power,

  In favor and in pre-eminence, yet fraught

  With envy against the Son of God, that day

  Honored by his great Father, and proclaimed

  Messiah664 King anointed, could not bear

  Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired.

  Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,

  Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour

  Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved

  With all his legions to dislodge669, and leave

  Unworshipped, unobeyed the throne supreme

  Contemptuous, and his next subordinate671

  Awak’ning, thus to him in secret spake.

  “ ‘Sleep’st thou673 companion dear, what sleep can close

  Thy eyelids? And remember’st what decree

&nb
sp; Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips

  Of Heav’n’s Almighty? Thou to me thy thoughts

  Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;

  Both waking we were one; how then can now

  Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed;

  New laws from him who reigns, new minds680 may raise

  In us who serve, new counsels, to debate

  What doubtful may ensue, more in this place

  To utter is not safe. Assemble thou

  Of all those myriads which we lead the chief;

  Tell them that by command685, ere yet dim night

  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 north689, there to prepare

  Fit entertainment to receive our King

  The great Messiah, and his new commands,

  Who speedily through all the hierarchies

  Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.’

  “So spake the false Archangel, and infused

  Bad influence695 into th’ unwary breast

  Of his associate; he together calls,

  Or several 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 disencumbered Heav’n,700

  The great hierarchal standard was to move;

  Tells the suggested cause, and cast between

  Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound

  Or taint integrity; but all obeyed

  The wonted signal, and superior voice

  Of their great potentate; for great indeed

  His name, and high was his degree in Heav’n;

  His count’nance, as the morning star that guides

  The starry flock, allured them, and with lies

  Drew after him the third part710 of Heav’n’s host:

  Meanwhile th’ eternal eye, whose sight discerns

  Abstrusest712 thoughts, from forth his holy mount

  And from within the golden lamps that burn

  Nightly before him, saw without their light

  Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread

  Among the sons of morn, what multitudes

  Were banded to oppose his high decree;

  And smiling718 to his only Son thus said.

  “ ‘Son, thou in whom my glory I behold

  In full resplendence, heir of all my might,

  Nearly721 it now concerns us to be sure

  Of our omnipotence, and with what arms

  We mean to hold what anciently we claim

  Of deity or empire, such a foe

  Is rising, who intends to erect his throne725

  Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north;

  Nor so content, hath in his thought to try

  In battle, what our power is, or our right.

  Let us advise, and to this hazard draw

  With speed what force is left, and all employ

  In our defense, lest unawares we lose

  This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.’

  “To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear

  Lightning divine, ineffable, serene,

  Made answer. ‘Mighty Father, thou thy foes

  Justly hast in derision736, and secure

  Laugh’st at their vain designs and tumults vain,

  Matter to me of glory, whom their hate

  Illustrates739, when they see all regal power

  Giv’n me to quell their pride, and in event740

  Know whether I be dextrous741 to subdue

  Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heav’n.’

  “So spake the Son, but Satan with his powers

  Far was advanced on wingèd speed, an host

  Innumerable as the stars of night,

  Or stars of morning, dewdrops746, which the sun

  Impearls on every leaf and every flower.

  Regions they passed, the mighty regencies748

  Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones

  In their triple degrees750, regions to which

  All thy dominion, Adam, is no more

  Than what this garden is to all the earth,

  And all the sea, from one entire globose

  Stretched into longitude; which having passed

  At length into the limits of the north

  They came, and Satan to his royal seat

  High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount

  Raised on a mount, with pyramids758 and tow’rs

  From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold,

  The palace of great Lucifer, (so call

  That structure in the dialect of men

  Interpreted) which not long after, he

  Affecting763 all equality with God,

  In imitation of that mount764 whereon

  Messiah was declared in sight of Heav’n,

  The Mountain of the Congregation766 called;

  For thither he assembled all his train,

  Pretending so commanded to consult

  About the great reception of their King,

  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 engrossed775

  All power, and us eclipsed 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 devised of honors new

  Receive him coming to receive from us

  Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,

  Too much to one, but double how endured,

  To one and to his image now proclaimed?

  But what if better counsels might erect

  Our minds and teach us to cast off this yoke786?

  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 Heav’n possessed before

  By none, and if not equal all, yet free,

  Equally free; for orders and degrees

  Jar 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 this799 to be our Lord,

  And look for adoration to th’ abuse

  Of those imperial titles which assert

  Our being ordained to govern, not to serve?’

  “Thus far his bold discourse without control

  Had audience, when among the Seraphim

  Abdiel805, than whom none with more zeal adored

  The deity, and divine commands obeyed,

  Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe

  The current of his fury thus opposed.

  “ ‘O argument blasphemous, false and proud!

  Words which no ear ever to hear in Heav’n

  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, pronounced and sworn,

  That to his only Son by right endued

  With regal scepter, every soul in Heav’n

  Shall bend the knee, and in that honor 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 unsucceeded821 power.

  Shalt thou give law to God, shalt thou dispute

  With him the points of liberty, who made

  Thee what thou art, and formed the pow’rs of Heav’n

  Such as he pleased, and circumscribed 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 joined in one,

  Equal to him begotten Son, by whom835

  As by his Word the mighty Father made

  All things, ev’n thee, and all the spirits of Heav’n

  By him created in their bright degrees,

  Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named

  Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,

  Essential powers, nor by his reign obscured,

  But842 more illustrious made, since he the head

  One of our number thus reduced becomes,

  His laws our laws, all honor to him done

  Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,

  And tempt not these; but hasten to appease

  Th’ incensèd Father, and th’ incensèd Son,

  While pardon may be found in time besought.’

  “So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeal

  None seconded, as out of season judged,

  Or singular and rash, whereat rejoiced

  Th’ Apostate, and more haughty thus replied.

  ‘That we were formed then say’st thou? And the work

  Of secondary hands, by task transferred

  From Father to his Son? Strange point and new!

  Doctrine which856 we would know whence learnt: 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-raised860

  By our own quick’ning power, when fatal course

  Had circled his full orb, the birth mature

  Of this our native Heav’n, ethereal sons.

  Our puissance is our own, our own right hand864

  Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try

  Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold

  Whether by supplication we intend

  Address868, and to begirt th’ Almighty throne

  Beseeching or besieging869. This report,

  These tidings carry to th’ 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