Paradise Lost

For thither he assembl'd all his Train, 
Pretending so commanded to consult 
About the great reception of thir King, 
Thither to come, and with calumnious Art 
Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears. 
  Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers, 
If these magnific Titles yet remain 
Not meerly titular, since by Decree 
Another now hath to himself ingross't 
All Power, and us eclipst under the name 
Of King anointed, for whom all this haste 
Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here, 
This onely to consult how we may best 
With what may be devis'd of honours new 
Receive him coming to receive from us 
Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile, 
Too much to one, but double how endur'd, 
To one and to his image now proclaim'd? 
But what if better counsels might erect 
Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke? 
Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend 
The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust 
To know ye right, or if ye know your selves 
Natives and Sons of Heav'n possest before 
By none, and if not equal all, yet free, 
Equally free; for Orders and Degrees 
Jarr not with liberty, but well consist. 
Who can in reason then or right assume 
Monarchie over such as live by right 
His equals, if in power and splendor less, 
In freedome equal? or can introduce 
Law and Edict on us, who without law 
Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord, 
And look for adoration to th' abuse 
Of those Imperial Titles which assert 
Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve? 
  Thus farr his bold discourse without controule 
Had audience, when among the Seraphim 
ABDIEL, then whom none with more zeale ador'd 
The Deitie, and divine commands obei'd, 
Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe 
The current of his fury thus oppos'd. 
  O argument blasphemous, false and proud! 
Words which no eare ever to hear in Heav'n 
Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate 
In place thy self so high above thy Peeres. 
Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne 
The just Decree of God, pronounc't and sworn, 
That to his only Son by right endu'd 
With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heav'n 
Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due 
Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist 
Flatly unjust, to binde with Laws the free, 
And equal over equals to let Reigne, 
One over all with unsucceeded power. 
Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute 
With him the points of libertie, who made 
Thee what thou art, & formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n 
Such as he pleasd, and circumscrib'd thir being? 
Yet by experience taught we know how good, 
And of our good, and of our dignitie 
How provident he is, how farr from thought 
To make us less, bent rather to exalt 
Our happie state under one Head more neer 
United.  But to grant it thee unjust, 
That equal over equals Monarch Reigne: 
Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count, 
Or all Angelic Nature joind in one, 
Equal to him begotten Son, by whom 
As by his Word the mighty Father made 
All things, ev'n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n 
By him created in thir bright degrees, 
Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam'd 
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers 
Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscur'd, 
But more illustrious made, since he the Head 
One of our number thus reduc't becomes, 
His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done 
Returns our own.  Cease then this impious rage, 
And tempt not these; but hast'n to appease 
Th' incensed Father, and th' incensed Son, 
While Pardon may be found in time besought. 
  So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale 
None seconded, as out of season judg'd, 
Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic'd 
Th' Apostat, and more haughty thus repli'd. 
That we were formd then saist thou? & the work 
Of secondarie hands, by task transferd 
From Father to his Son? strange point and new! 
Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who saw 
When this creation was? rememberst 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-rais'd 
By our own quick'ning power, when fatal course 
Had circl'd his full Orbe, 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 
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold