The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (73 page)

796

      

His equals, if in power and splendor less,

797

      

In freedom equal? Or can introduce

798

      

Law and edict on us, who without law

799

      

Err not? Much less for this to be our Lord

800

      

And look for adoration, to th’ abuse
³⁶⁵⁶

801

      

Of those imperial titles which assert

802

      

Our being ordained to govern, not to serve.

803

      

   
“Thus far his bold discourse without control
³⁶⁵⁷

804

      

Had audience, when among the Seraphim

805

      

Abdiel,
³⁶⁵⁸
than whom none with more zeal adored

806

      

The Deity, and divine commands obeyed,

807

      

Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe
³⁶⁵⁹

808

      

The current
³⁶⁶⁰
of his fury thus opposed:

809

      

   
“‘O argument blasphemous, false, and proud!

810

      

Words which no ear ever to hear in Heav’n

811

      

Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate,

812

      

In place thyself so high above thy peers.

813

      

Canst thou with impious obloquy
³⁶⁶¹
condemn

814

      

The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn,

815

      

That to His only Son, by right endued
³⁶⁶²

816

      

With regal scepter, every soul in Heav’n

817

      

Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due
³⁶⁶³

818

      

Confess
³⁶⁶⁴
him rightful King? Unjust, thou say’st,

819

      

Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,

820

      

And equal over equals to let reign,

821

      

One over all with unsucceeded
³⁶⁶⁵
power.

822

      

Shalt thou give law to God? Shalt thou dispute

823

      

With Him the points of liberty, who made

824

      

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

825

      

Such as He pleased, and circumscribed
³⁶⁶⁶
their being?

826

      

Yet, by experience taught, we know how good,

827

      

And of our good and of our dignity

828

      

How provident
³⁶⁶⁷
He is, how far from thought

829

      

To make us less, bent
³⁶⁶⁸
rather to exalt

830

      

Our happy state, under one head more near
³⁶⁶⁹

831

      

United. But to grant it thee unjust
³⁶⁷⁰

832

      

That equal over equals monarch reign:

833

      

Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count—

834

      

Or all Angelic nature joined in one

835

      

Equal to him, begotten Son? By whom,

836

      

As by His Word, the Mighty Father made

837

      

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

838

      

By Him created in their bright degrees,

839

      

Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named

840

      

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,

841

      

Essential Powers, nor by His reign obscured
³⁶⁷¹

842

      

But more illustrious made, since He the head

843

      

One of our number thus reduced becomes,

844

      

His laws our laws, all honor to Him done

845

      

Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,

846

      

And tempt not these,
³⁶⁷²
but hasten to appease
³⁶⁷³

847

      

Th’ incensèd Father and th’ incensèd Son,

848

      

While pardon may be found, in time
³⁶⁷⁴
besought.

849

      

   
“So spoke the fervent
³⁶⁷⁵
Angel, but his zeal

850

      

None seconded, as out of season
³⁶⁷⁶
judged,

851

      

Or singular
³⁶⁷⁷
and rash.
³⁶⁷⁸
Whereat rejoiced

852

      

Th’ apostate and, more haughty, thus replied:

853

      

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

854

      

Of secondary
³⁶⁷⁹
hands, by task transferred

855

      

From Father to His Son? Strange
³⁶⁸⁰
point and new!

856

      

Doctrine which we would know whence learned. Who saw

857

      

When this creation was? Remember’st thou

858

      

Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?

859

      

We know no time when we were not as now,

860

      

Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised

861

      

By our own quick’ning
³⁶⁸¹
power, when fatal
³⁶⁸²
course

862

      

Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
³⁶⁸³

863

      

Of this our native Heav’n, ethereal
³⁶⁸⁴
sons.

864

      

Our puissance
³⁶⁸⁵
is our own: our own right hand

865

      

Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try

866

      

Who is our equal. Then thou shalt behold

867

      

Whether by supplication we intend

868

      

Address,
³⁶⁸⁶
and to begirt
³⁶⁸⁷
th’ Almighty throne

869

      

Beseeching or besieging. This report,

870

      

These tidings carry to th’ anointed King,

871

      

And fly,
³⁶⁸⁸
ere evil intercept thy flight.

872

      

   
“He said, and as the sound of waters deep

873

      

Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause,
³⁶⁸⁹

874

      

Through the infinite host. Nor less for that

875

      

The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone,

876

      

Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold:

877

      

“‘O alienate
³⁶⁹⁰
from God, O Spirit accursed,

878

      

Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall

879

      

Determined,
³⁶⁹¹
and thy hapless
³⁶⁹²
crew involved

880

      

In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread

881

      

Both of thy crime and punishment. Henceforth

882

      

No more be troubled how to quit the yoke

883

      

Of God’s Messiah. Those indulgent
³⁶⁹³
laws

884

      

Will not be now vouchsafed;
³⁶⁹⁴
other decrees

885

      

Against thee are gone forth without recall.