The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (75 page)

89

To set the envier of His state, the proud

90

Aspirer. But their thoughts proved fond
³⁷⁵¹
and vain

91

In the mid way,
³⁷⁵²
though strange to us it seemed

92

At first, that Angel should with Angel war,

93

And in fierce hosting
³⁷⁵³
meet, who wont to
³⁷⁵⁴
meet

94

So oft in festivals of joy and love

95

Unanimous,
³⁷⁵⁵
as sons of one great Sire,

96

Hymning th’ Eternal Father. But the shout

97

Of battle now began, and rushing sound

98

Of onset ended soon each milder thought.

99

High in the midst, exalted as a god,

100

Th’ apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat,

101

Idol of majesty divine, enclosed

102

With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields.

103

Then lighted
³⁷⁵⁶
from his gorgeous throne, for now

104

’Twixt host and host but narrow space was left,

105

A dreadful
³⁷⁵⁷
interval,
³⁷⁵⁸
and front to front

106

Presented stood in terrible array

107

Of hideous length. Before the cloudy
³⁷⁵⁹
van,
³⁷⁶⁰

108

On the rough
³⁷⁶¹
edge of battle ere it joined,

109

Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced,

110

Came tow’ring, armed in adamant and gold.

111

Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood

112

Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,

113

And thus his own undaunted heart explores:

114

   
“‘O Heav’n! that such resemblance of the Highest

115

Should yet remain, where faith and realty
³⁷⁶²

116

Remain not. Wherefore should not strength and might

117

There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove

118

Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable?

119

His puissance, trusting
³⁷⁶³
in th’Almighty’s aid,

120

I mean to try,
³⁷⁶⁴
whose reason I have tried

121

Unsound and false, nor is it aught but just

122

That he, who in debate of truth hath won,

123

Should win in arms, in both disputes alike

124

Victor, though brutish
³⁷⁶⁵
that contest
³⁷⁶⁶
and foul,
³⁷⁶⁷

125

When reason hath to deal with force, yet so

126

Most reason is that reason overcome.

127

So pondering, and from his armèd peers

128

Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met

129

His daring foe, at this prevention
³⁷⁶⁸
more

130

Incensed,
³⁷⁶⁹
and thus securely him
³⁷⁷⁰
defied:

131

   
“‘Proud, art thou met? Thy hope was to have reached

132

The height of thy aspiring unopposed,

133

The throne of God unguarded, and His side

134

Abandoned, at the terror of thy power

135

Or potent tongue. Fool! Not to think how vain

136

Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms,

137

Who out of smallest things could, without end,

138

Have raised incessant armies to defeat

139

Thy folly, or with solitary hand,

140

Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow

141

Unaided could have finished thee, and whelmed
³⁷⁷¹

142

Thy legions under darkness. But thou see’st

143

All are not of thy train.
³⁷⁷²
There be who
³⁷⁷³
faith

144

Prefer, and piety to God, though then

145

To thee not visible when I alone

146

Seemed in thy world erroneous
³⁷⁷⁴
to dissent

147

From all. My sect
³⁷⁷⁵
thou see’st. Now learn too late

148

How few
³⁷⁷⁶
sometimes may know, when thousands err.

149

Whom the grand
³⁷⁷⁷
foe, with scornful eye askance,
³⁷⁷⁸

150

Thus answered: “‘Ill for thee, but in wished hour

151

Of my revenge, first sought for. Thou return’st

152

From flight, seditious
³⁷⁷⁹
Angel! to receive

153

Thy merited reward, the first assay
³⁷⁸⁰

154

Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue,

155

Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose

156

A third part of the gods, in synod met

157

Their deities to assert,
³⁷⁸¹
who while they feel

158

Vigor divine within them, can allow

159

Omnipotence to none. But well thou com’st

160

Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

161

From me some plume,
³⁷⁸²
that thy success
³⁷⁸³
may show

162

Destruction
³⁷⁸⁴
to the rest. This pause between

163

(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know:

164

At first I thought that liberty and Heav’n

165

To Heav’nly souls had been all one, but now

166

I see that most through sloth had rather serve,

167

Minist’ring Spirits, trained up in feast and song!

168

Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heav’n,

169

Servility with freedom to contend,

170

As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.

171

To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied:

172

   
“‘Apostate! Still thou err’st, nor end wilt find

173

Of erring, from the path of truth remote.

174

Unjustly thou deprav’st
³⁷⁸⁵
it with the name

175

Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains,

176

Or Nature: God and Nature bid
³⁷⁸⁶
the same,

177

When he who rules is worthiest, and excels

178

Them whom he governs. This is servitude,