“ Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd “In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, “On flowers repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd, They eat—they drink; and in communion sweet “Quaff immortality and joy, (secure “Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 640 “ Excess,) before the all-bounteous King, who shower'd “ With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. “Now when ambrosial night, with clouds exhald “From that high mount of God, whence light and shade Spring both, the face of brightest heaven had chang’d 645 “ To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there “ In darker veil,) and roseate dews dispos'd “ Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, “ Dispers'd in bands and files, their camp extend By living streams among the trees of life; “ Pavilions numberless! and sudden rear'd “ Celestial tabernacles, where they slept 655 “Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who, in their course, “Melodious hymns about the sov'reign throne “ Is heard no more in heaven ;) he of the first, 660 “If not the first archangel, great in power, “In favour, and pre-eminence, yet fraught “Messiah, King anointed,-could not bear 665 Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair'd. Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 670 “ Unworshipp'd, unobey'd, the throne supreme Contemptuous; and, his next subordinate Thy eye-lids, and remember'st what decree 675 “Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips “Of heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts 66. Wast wont, mine to thee was wont, to impart; “' Both waking we were one; how then can now • Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest impos’d: 680 “New laws from Him who reigns new minds may raise "In us who serve—new counsels, to debate “Of all those myriads, which we lead, the chief; 685 “Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night “Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, “The quarters of the north ; there to prepare 690 " Fit entertainment to receive our King, “The great Messiah, and his new commands ; “ So spake the false archangel, and infus'd 695 - Bad influence into the unwary breast “ That the Most High commanding, now ere night700 "Now ere dim night had disencumber'd heaven, The great hierarchal standard was to move; “ Tells the suggested cause, and casts between Ambiguous words, and jealousies, to sound, “Or taint, integrity: but all obey'd “Of their great potentate ; for great indeed K 710 725 “ His countenance, as the morning star that guides “Meanwhile the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns Nightly before him, saw without their light 715 “Rebellion rising-saw in whom-how spread Among the sons of morn—what multitudes «« Son! thou in whom my glory I behold 720 “In full resplendence, heir of all my might! Nearly it now concerns us to be sure Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north ; “Let us advise, and to this hazard draw ". In our defence ; lest unawares we lose “ To whom the Son, with calm aspect, and clear, Mighty Father! thou thy foes Justly hast in derision, and, secure, “. Laugh'st at their vain designs, and tumults vain; “ Matter to me of glory! whom their hate “ . Illustrates, when they see all regal power 740 “. Given me to quell their pride: and in event "6Know whether I be dexterous to subdue Thy rebels, or be found the worst in heaven.' “So spake the Son: but Satan, with his powers, “Far was advanc'd on winged speed; an host 745 “ Innumerable as the stars of night, 735 6 "Or stars of morning-dew-drops, which the sun Impearls on every leaf, and every flower. “Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, 750 “In their triple degrees; (regions to which “ All thy dominion, Adam, is no more “Stretch'd into longitude ;) which having passid, 755 " At length into the limits of the north They came; and Satan to his royal seat High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount “From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold, 760 “ The palace of great Lucifer; (so call Affecting all equality with God, “ In imitation of that mount whereon “The Mountain of the Congregation callid: “ About the great reception of their King 770 “ Thither to come; and with calumnious art “Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears : "Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers! ““ If these magnific titles yet remain, "Not merely titular, since, by decree, 775 “. Another now hath to himself engross'd All power, and us eclips'd, under the name “This only to consult, how we may best, “Receive him, coming to receive from us 790 “To One, and to his image now proclaim'd ? 785 “But what if better councils might erect «« Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? By none; and if not equal all, yet free- “Who can in reason then, or right, assume 795 “Monarchy over such as live by right “ His equals ? if in power and splendour less, “Err not? much less, for this to be our Lord, 800 “And look for adoration, to the abuse “Of those imperial titles which assert “ Thus far his bold discourse without control “Had audience; when, among the Seraphim “ The Deity, and divine commands obey'd, “O argument blasphémous, false, and proud! 810 “Words which no ear ever to hear in heaven “• Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate, Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, 820 “And equal over equals to let reign; “One over all, with unsucceeded power. 815 |