Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs
Of circuit inexpreffible they stood,
Orb within orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in bliss imbosom'd fat the Son,
Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top
Brightness had made invisible, thus fpake.
Hear all ye Angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
Hear my decree, which unrevok'd shall stand.
This day I have begot 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 fworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heav'n, and fhall confefs him Lord:
Under his great vice-gerent reign abide
United as one individual foul
For ever happy: Him who disobeys,
Me difobeys, breaks union, and that day,
Caft out from God and bleffed vifion, falls
Into' utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place
Ordain'd without redemption, without end.
So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with his words
All feem'd well pleas'd; all feem'd, but were not all,
That day, as other folemn days, they spent
In fong and dance about the facred hill;
Mystical dance, which yonder ftarry sphere
Of planets and of fix'd in all her wheels
Refembles nearest, mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then most, when moft irregular they feem;
And in their motions harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear
Liftens delighted. Evening now approach'd
(For we have alfo' our evening and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to fweet repaft they turn
Defirous; all in circles as they stood,
Tables are fet, and on a fudden pil'd
With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and maffy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven.
On flow'rs repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd,
They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet
Quaff immortality and joy, fecure
Of furfeit where full measure only bounds
Excefs, before th' all-bounteous King, who fhowr'd With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.
Now when ambrofial night with clouds exhal'd
From that high mount of God, whence light and shade
Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had chang'd
To grateful twilight (for night comes not there
In darker veil) and rofeat dews difpos'd
All but th' unfleeping eyes of God to reft;
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, 650 Difpers'd in bands and files, their camp extend
By living streams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberlefs, and fudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they slept
Fann'd with cool winds; fave those who in their courfe
Melodious hymns about the fovran throne
Alternate all night long but not fo wak'd
Satan; fo call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first,
If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power,
In favor and præeminence, yet fraught
With envy' against the Son of God, that day
Honor'd by his great Father, and proclam'd
Meffiah King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that fight, and thought himfelf impair'd,
Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendliest to fleep and filence, he refolv'd
With all his legions to diflodge, and leave
Unworshipt, unobey'd the throne fupreme
Contemptuous, and his next fubordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in fecret spake.
Sleep'ft thou, Companion dear, what fleep can clofe
Thy eye-lids? and remember'st what decree
Of yesterday, fo late hath pass'd the lips
Of Heav'n's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts
Waft wont, I mine to thee was wont to' impart ;
Both waking we were one; how then can now
Thy fleep diffent? New laws thou feest impos'd;
New laws from him who reigns, new minds
In us who ferve, new counfels, to debate
What doubtful may enfue: more in this place
VOL. I.
To utter is not fafe.
Of all thofe myriads which we lead the chief;
Tell them that by command, ere yet dim night
Her fhadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me their banners wave,
Homeward with flying march where we poffefs
The quarters of the north; there to prepare
Fit entertainment to receive our king
The great Meffiah, and his new commands,
Who speedily through all the hierarchies
Intends to pafs triumphant, and give laws.
So fpake the falfe Arch-Angel, and infus'd
Bad influence into th' unwary breast
Of his affociate he together calls,
Or feveral 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 difincumber'd Heaven,
The great hierarchal standard was to move;
Tells the fuggefted caufe, and cafts between
Ambiguous words and jealousies, to found
Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted fignal, and fuperior voice
Of their great potentate; for great indeed
His name, and high was his degree in Heaven;
His count'nance, as the morning ftar that guides
The ftarry flock, allur'd them, and with lies
Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's hoft.
Mean while th' eternal eye, whofe fight difcerns
Abftrufeft thoughts, from forth his holy mount
And from within the golden, lamps that burn
Nightly before him, saw without their light
Rebellion rifing, faw in whom, how spread
Among the fons of morn, what multitudes
Were banded to oppose his high decree;
And smiling to his only Son thus said.
Son, thou in whom my glory I behold
In full refplendence, Heir of all my might,
Nearly it now concerns us to be fure
Of our omnipotence, and with what arms
We mean to hold what anciently we clame
Of deity or empire; fuch a foe
Is rifing, who intends to' erect his throne
Equal to ours, throughout the fpacious north;
Nor fo content, hath in his thought to try
In battel, what our pow'r is, or our right.
Let us advife, and to this hazard draw
With speed what force is left, and all employ
In our defenfe, left unawares we lose
This our high place, our fanctuary, our hill.
To whom the Son with calm afpéct and clear,
Lightning divine, ineffable, ferene,
Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes
Juftly haft in derifion, and fecure
Laugh'ft at their vain defigns and tumults vain,
Matter to me of glory, whom their hate
Illuftrates, when they fee all regal power
Giv'n me to quell their pride, and in event
Know whether I be dextrous to fubdue
Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.
|