Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/205

 BOOK FIFTH

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��Equally free ; for orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well cousist. Who can in reason, then, or right, assume Monarchy over such as live by right His equals if in power and splendour

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 800 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, Abdiel, 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 blasphe'mous, false, and

proud

Words which no ear ever to hear in Hea- ven 8 10 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 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, 820

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 formed the Powers

of Heaven 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 830

��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 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,

Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vir- tues, Powers ? 840

Essential Powers; nor by his reign ob- scured,

But more illustrious made; since he, the head,

One of our number thus reduced becomes;
 * His laws our laws; all honour to him done

Returns our own. Cease, then, this im- pious rage,

And tempt not these; but hasten to ap- pease

The incensed Father and the incensed Son

While pardon may be found, in time be- sought.'

" So spake the fervent Angel ; but his zeal 849

None seconded, as out of season judged,

Or singular and rash. Whereat rejoiced I The Apostat, 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 which we would know whence learned ! 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- raised 860

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

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