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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 circumscrib'd their being?
Yet, by experience taught, we know how good,
And of our good and of our dignity

How provident he is, how far from thought
To make us less, bent rather to exalt

Our happy state under one head more near 830
United. But to grant it thee unjust,

That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself, tho' great and glorious, dost 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

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All things, even thee; and all the Sp'rits of Heav'n

By him created in their bright degrees,

Crown'd them with glory', and to their glory

nam'd

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues,

Pow'rs,

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Essential Pow'rs; nor by his reign obscur'd,
But more illustrious made; since he the Head
One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease 846
Th' incensed Father and th' incensed Son,
While pardon may be found in time besought.

So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal

None seconded, as out of season judg'd,

Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic'd

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Th' Apostate, and more haughty thus reply'd: That we were form'd then say'st thou? and the work Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd

From Father to his Son? Strange point, and new! Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd.

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Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd 860
By our own quick'ning pow'r, when fatal course
Had circl'd his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heav'n, ethereal sons.
Our puissance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 865
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by supplication we intend

Address, and to begirt th' almighty throne
Beseeching or besieging. This report,

These tidings, carry to th' anointed King; 870
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

He said, and as the sound of waters deep Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite host; nor less for that The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone 875 Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold: O alienate from God, O Sp'rit accurs'd, Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall

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880

Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd ·
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: those indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth without recall; 885
That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod, to bruise and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly
These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 890
Impendent, raging into sudden flame,

Distinguish not; for soon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire;
Then who created thee lamenting learn,
When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.

So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found
Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable false, unmov'd,
Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrify'd,

894

900

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;
Nor number, nor example, with him wrought
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Tho' single. From amidst them forth he pass'd,
Long way thro' hostile scorn, which he sustain'd
Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;

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And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
On those proud tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd.

END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

THE

SIXTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOS T.

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his Angels. The first fight described: Satan and bis Powers retire under night: He calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan: Yet the tumult not so ending, God on the third day sends Messiah bis Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: He, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep: Messiah returns with triumph to his Father,

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