ABDIEL, (than whom none with more zeal ador'd

The Deity, and divine commands obey'd)

Stood up, and in a flame of zeal fevere,

The current of his fury thus oppos'd.

O argument blafphemous, falfe, and proud!
Words! which no ear ever to hear in heav'n
Expected, leaft of all from Thee, ingrate!
In place thyself fo high above thy peers.
Canft thou with impious obloquy condemn

806

810

The juft decree of GOD, pronounc'd, and sworn ;

That to His only Son, by right indu'd

815

With regal fceptre, every foul in heav'n

Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due

Confefs him rightful King? Unjuft, thou say'st,
Flatly unjuft, to bind with laws the free,
And equal over equals, to let reign

820

One over all, with unfucceeded pow'r

Shalt Thou give law to GOD? fhalt Thou difpute
With Him the points of liberty, who made

Thee what thou art? and form'd the Pow'rs of heav'n

Such as He pleas'd, and circumfcrib'd their Being?

Yet, by experience taught, we know how good,
And of our good, and of our dignity

826

How provident He is; how far from thought

To make us lefs: bent rather to exalt

Our happy ftate, under one Head more near

830

United. But, to grant it thee unjust,

That equal over equals monarch reign:

Thy felf (thou great and glorious) doit thou count,
Or all Angelic Nature join'd in one,

Equal to Him begotten Son? By Whom,

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 :

835

Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs;
Effential Pow'rs! nor by his reign obfcur'd,
But more tlluftrious made; fince He the Head
One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;

N 2

841

His

846

His laws our laws; all honour to Him done
-Ceafe then this impious rage,

Returns our own.
And tempt not these; but haften to appease
Th' incensed FATHER, and th' incenfed Sox,
While pardon may be found, in time besought.

So fpake the fervent Angel: but his zeal
None feconded, as out of feafon judg'd,
Or fingular, and rafh: whereat rejoic'd

850

Th' apoftate, and more haughty thus reply'd.

That we were form'd then, fay'ft thou? and the work

Of fecondary hands, by tafk transfer'd

854

From FATHER to His SON; Strange point, and new!
Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd: who faw
When this creation was? Remember'ft Thou

Thy making, while the Maker gave thee Being?
We know no time when We were not as now;
Know none before us; felf-begot, self-rais'd
By our own quick'ning pow'r, when fatal courfe
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native heav'n, ethereal fons.
Our puiffance is our own, our own right hand
Shall teach us higheft deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then! thou shalt behold
Whether by fupplication we intend
Addrefs, and to begird th' Almighty throne
Befeeching, or befieging. This report,
These tidings, carry to th' anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight!

He faid, and as the found of waters deep,
Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause,
Through the infinite hoft: nor lefs for that
The flming Seraph fearless, though alone
Incompafs'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold.

O alienate from GOD, O Spirit accurft,

Forfaken of all good! I fee thy fall
Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd

860

865

$70

875

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 MESSIAH: thofe indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchfaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall,
That golden fceptre which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod, to bruise and break

880

885

.

Thy difobedience. Well thou didst advise ;
Yet not for thy advice, or threats, I fly
These wicked tents devoted; left the wrath
Impendent, raging into fudden flame
Diftinguish not for foon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire!
Then who created thee lamenting learn,

890

When who can un-create thee thou fhalt know..

895

So fpake the Seraph ABDIEL, faithful found
Among the faithlefs, faithful only he.
Among innumerable falfe, un-mov'd,
Un-fhaken, un-feduc'd, un-terrify'd,
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal.
Nor number, nor example, with him wrought
To fwerve from truth, or change his conftant mind
Though fingle. From amidst them forth he pafs'd,
Long way through hoftile fcorn; which he fuítain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd ought:
And with retorted fcorn, his back he turn'd
On thofe proud tow'rs, to fwift deftruction doom'd.

The end of the fifth Book.

N 3

THE

THE

SIXTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

The ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels. The firft fight defcrib'd: Satan and his Powers retire under night: he calls a council, invents devilish engines, which, in the fecond day's fight put Michael and bis Angels to Some disorder; but they at length pulling up mountains, overwhelm'd both the force and machines of Satan: yet the tumult not fo ending, GOD on the third day fends MESSIAH HI SON; for whom He had refer'd the glay of that victory: He in the power of His FATHER coming to the place, and caufing all His legions to fland fill on eithes fide, with His charist and thunder driving into the midst of His enemies, fi fues them, unable to refift, towards the wall of heav'n"; "which epening, they leap down with boror and confufion its the place of punishment prepared for them in the Deep: MESSIAH returns with triump to His FATHER.

ALL