BOOK FIFTH
��163
��Equally free ; for orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well cousist. Who can in reason, then, or right, assume Monarchy over such as live by right His equals if in power and splendour
less,
In freedom equal ? or can introduce Law and edict on us, who without law Err not ? much less for this to be our
Lord,
And look for adoration, to the abuse 800 Of those imperial titles which assert Our being ordained to govern, not to
serve ! ' " Thus far his bold discourse without
control
Had audience, when, among the Seraphim, Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal
adored
The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe The current of his fury thus opposed: " ' O argument blasphe'mous, false, and
proud
Words which no ear ever to hear in Hea- ven 8 10 Expected; least of all from thee, ingrate, In place thyself so high above thy peers ! Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn The just decree of God, pronounced and
sworn,
That to his only Son, by right endued With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven Shall bend the knee, and in that honour
due Confess him rightful King ? Unjust, thou
say'st,
Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, And equal over equals to let reign, 820
One over all with unsucceeded power ! Shalt thou give law to God ? shalt thou
dispute
With Him the points of liberty, who made Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers
of Heaven Such as he pleased, and circumscribed 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, though great and glorious, dost thou count,
Or all angelic nature joined in one,
Equal to him, begotten Son, by whom,
As by his Word, the mighty Father made
All things, even thee, and all the Spirits of Heaven
By him created in their bright degrees,
Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vir- tues, Powers ? 840
Essential Powers; nor by his reign ob- scured,
But more illustrious made; since he, the head,
One of our number thus reduced becomes;
- His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease, then, this im- pious rage,
And tempt not these; but hasten to ap- pease
The incensed Father and the incensed Son
While pardon may be found, in time be- sought.'
" So spake the fervent Angel ; but his zeal 849
None seconded, as out of season judged,
Or singular and rash. Whereat rejoiced I The Apostat, and, more haughty, thus
replied:
" ' That we were formed, then, say'st thou ? and the work
Of secondary hands, by task transferred
From Father to his Son ? Strange point and new !
Doctrine which we would know whence learned ! Who saw
When this creation was ? Remember'st thou
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- raised 860
By our own quickening power when fatal course
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature
Of this our native Heaven, Ethereal Sons.
Our puissance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
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