(For we have alfo' our evening and our morn, We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to sweet repaft they turn 630
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 massy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heav'n. 635 On flow'rs repos'd, and with freth 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 shower'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 645
In darker veil) and rofeat dews difpos'd
All but th' unfleeping eyes of God to rest;
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 ftreams among the trees of Life,
Pavilions numberlefs, and fudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they flept
Fann'd with cool winds; fave those who in their courfe
Melodious hymns about the sovran 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 sight, and thought himself im-
Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, [pair'd.
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
Awakening, thus to him in secret spake.
Sleep'ft thou, Companion dear; what sleep can close Thy eye-lids? and remember'ft what decree Of yesterday, so 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 may raife
In us who serve, new counsels, to debate
What doubtful may enfue: more in this place
To utter is not safe. Affemble thou
Of all those myriads which we lead the chief ;
Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night 685
Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me their banners wave,
Homeward with flying march where we possess
The quarters of the North; there to prepare
Fit entertainment to receive our King
The great Meffiah, and his new commands,
Who fpeedily through all the hierarchies
Intends to pass 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 Heav'n, 700
The great hierarchal standard was to move;
Tells the fuggefted cause, and casts between
Ambiguous words and jealoufies, 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 Heav'n;
His countenance, as the morning ftar that guides
The starry flock, allur'd them, and with lies
Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's host. 710 Mean while th' eternal Eye, whose 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 decrees;
And fmiling to his only Son thus faid.
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 diety or empire; fuch a foe
Is rifing, who intends to' erect his throne
Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North;
Nor fo content, hath in his thought to try
In battel, what our power is, or our right.
Let us advise, and to this hazard draw
With speed what force is left, and all employ 730 In our defense, 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 735
Juftly haft in derifion, and secure
Laugh'ft at their vain designs 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 Heav'n.
So fpake the Son; but Satan with his powers
Far was advanc'd on winged speed, an host
Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the fun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies
Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones
In their triple degrees; regions to which
All thy dominion, Adam, is no more
Than what this garden is to all the earth,
And all the fea, from one entire globofe
Stretch'd into longitude; which having pafs'd
At length into the limits of the North
They came, and Satan to his royal feat
High on a hill, for blazing, as a mount
Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers
From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold;
The palace of great Lucifer, (fo call
That structure in the dialect of men
Interpreted) which not long after, he
Affecting all equality with God,
In imitation of that mount whereon
Meffiah was declar'd in fight ot Heav'n,
The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
For thither he affembled all his train,
Pretending so commanded, to confult
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