Of fruit-trees over-woody reach'd too far Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine To wed her elm; she, spous'd, about him twines Her marriageable arms, and with her brings Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld With pity Heaven's high King, and to him call'd Raphael, the sociable spirit, that deign'd To travel with Tobias, and secur'd
His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. "Raphaël," said he, "thou hear'st what stir on Earth
Satan, from Hell 'scap'd through the darksome gulf, Hath rais'd in Paradise; and how disturb'd This night the human pair; how he designs In them at once to ruin all mankind.
Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade Thou find'st him from the heat of noon retir'd, To respite his day-labour with repast, Or with repose and such discourse bring on, As may advise him of his happy state, Happiness in his power left free to will, Left to his own free will, his will though free, Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware He swerve not, too secure: tell him withal His danger, and from whom; what enemy, Late fall'n himself from Heaven, is plotting now The fall of others from like state of bliss; By violence? no, for that shall be withstood; But by deceit and lies: this let him know, Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal, unadmonish'd, unforewarn'd."
So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfill'd All justice: nor delay'd the winged saint After his charge receiv'd; but from among Thousand celestial ardours, where he stood Veil'd with his gorgeous wings, up springing light Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelic quires,
On each hand parting, to his speed gave way Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate Of Heaven arriv'd, the gate self-open'd wide On golden hinges turning, as by work Divine the sovran Architect had fram'd. From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, Star interpos'd, however small he sees, Not unconform to other shining globes,
Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crown'd Above all hills. As when by night the glass Of Galileo, less assur'd, observes Imagin'd lands and regions in the Moon : Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades Delos or Samos first appearing, kens A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing, Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems A phenix, gaz'd by all, as that sole bird, When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise He lights, and to his proper shape returns A seraph wing'd: six wings he wore, to shade His lineaments divine; the pair that clad Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast With regal ornament; the middle pair
Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail, Sky-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's son he stood, And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance fill'd The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands Of angels under watch; and to his state, And to his message high, in honour rise; For on some message high they guess'd him bound. Their glittering tents he pass'd, and now is come Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm; A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. Him through the spicy forest onward come Adam discern'd, as in the door he sat Of his cool bower, while now the mounted Sun Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs;
And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please True appetite, and not disrelish thirst
Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, Berry or grape: to whom thus Adam call'd.
"Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape Comes this way moving: seems another morn Ris'n on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe This day to be our guest. But go with speed, And, what thy stores contain, bring forth and pour Abundance, fit to honour and receive Our heavenly stranger; well we may afford Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow From large bestow'd, where Nature multiplies Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grows More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.'
To whom thus Eve. "Adam, Earth's hallow'd
Of God inspir'd! small store will serve, where store, All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; Save what by frugal storing firmness gains To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, Each plant and juiciest gourd, will pluck such choice
To entertain our angel-guest, as he Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth God hath dispens'd his bounties as in Heaven." So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to choose for delicacy best, What order so contriv'd as not to mix
Tastes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields In India East or West, or middle shore In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths From many a berry, and from sweet kernels press'd She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold
Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground | Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires With rose and odours from the shrub unfum'd.
Meanwhile our primitive great sire, to meet His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train Accompanied than with his own complete Perfections; in himself was all his state, More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits On princes when their rich retinue long Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold, Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape. Nearer his presence Adam, though not aw'd, Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, As to a superior nature bowing low,
Thus said. "Native of Heaven, for other place None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; Since, by descending from the thrones above, Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower To rest, and what the garden choicest bears To sit and taste, till this meridian heat Be over, and the Sun more cool decline."
Whom thus the angelic virtue answer'd mild. "Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such Created, or such place hast here to dwell, As may not oft invite, though spirits of Heaven, To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, I have at will." So to the sylvan lodge They came, that like Pomona's arbour smil'd, With flowerets deck'd, and fragrant smells; but Eve,
Undeck'd save with herself more lovely fair Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feign'd Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil She needed, virtue proof; no thought infirm Alter'd her cheek. On whom the angel Hail Bestow'd, the holy salutation us'd
Long after to blest Mary, second Eve.
Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, Than with these various fruits the trees of God Have heap'd this table."- Rais'd of grassy turf Their table was, and mossy seats had round, And on her ample square from side to side All autumn pil'd, though Spring and Autumn here Dane'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began Our author." Heavenly stranger, please to taste These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom All perfect good, unmeasur'd out, descends, To us for food and for delight hath caus'd The Earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps To spiritual natures; only this I know, That one celestial Father gives to all."
To whom the angel. "Therefore what he gives (Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part Spiritual, may of purest spirits be found
No ingrateful food; and food alike those pure Intelligential substances require,
As doth your rational; and both contain
Within them every lower faculty
Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon; Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd Vapours not yet into her substance turn'd. Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale From her moist continent to higher orbs. The Sun, that light imparts to all, receives From all his alimental recompense
In humid exhalations, and at even
Sups with the Ocean. Though in Heaven the trees Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here Varied his bounty so with new delights, As may compare with Heaven; and to taste Think not I shall be nice." So down they sat, And to their viands fell; nor seemingly The angel, nor in mist, the common gloss Of theologians; but with keen dispatch Of real hunger, and concoctive heat
To transubstantiate what redounds, transpires Through spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire Of sooty coal the empiric alchymist
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, As from the mine. Meanwhile at table Eve Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,
Then had the sons of God excuse to have been Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy Was understood, the injur'd lover's Hell.
Thus when with meats and drinks they had suffic'd, Not burthen'd nature, sudden mind arose In Adam, not to let the occasion pass Given him by this great conference to know Of things above his world, and of their being Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far Exceeded human: and his wary speech Thus to the empyreal minister he fram'd.
"Inhabitant with God, now know I well Thy favour, in this honour done to man ; Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsaf'd To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, Food not of angels, yet accepted so,
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?"
To whom the winged hierarch replied. "O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom All things proceed, and up to him return, If not deprav'd from good, created all Such to perfection, one first matter all, Endued with various forms, various degree Of substance, and, in things that live, of life; But more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure, As nearer to him plac'd, or nearer tending Each in their several active spheres assign'd, Till body up to spirit work, in bounds Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the
Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn. For know, whatever was created, needs
To be sustain'd and fed: of elements
The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,
More aery, last the bright consummate flower Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd, To vital spirits aspire, to animal,
To intellectual: give both life and sense, Fancy and understanding; whence the soul Reason receives, and reason is her being, Discursive, or intuitive; discourse
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, Differing but in degree, of kind the same. Wonder not then, what God for you saw good If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
To proper substance. Time may come, when men With angels may participate, and find
No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; And from these corporal nutriments perhaps Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, Improv'd by tract of time, and, wing'd, ascend Ethereal, as we or may, at choice, Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; If ye be found obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire,
Whose progeny you are. Meanwhile enjoy Your fill what happiness this happy state Can comprehend, incapable of more."
To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. "O favourable spirit, propitious guest, Well hast thou taught the way that might direct Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set From centre to circumference; whereon, In contemplation of created things,
By steps we may ascend to God.
What meant that caution join'd, If ye be found Obedient? Can we want obedience then To him, or possibly his love desert,
Who form'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here Full to the utmost measure of what bliss Human desires can seek or apprehend ?"
To whom the angel. "Son of Heaven and Earth, Attend: that thou art happy, owe to God; That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. This was that caution given thee, be advis’d. God made thee perfect, not immutable; And good he made thee; but to persevere He left it in thy power; ordain'd thy will By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate Inextricable, or strict necessity: Our voluntary service he requires, Not our necessitated; such with him Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve Willing or no, who will but what they must By destiny, and can no other choose? Myself, and all the angelic host, that stand In sight of God enthron'd, our happy state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; On other surety none: freely we serve, Because we freely love, as in our will To love or not; in this we stand or fall: And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall From what high state of bliss, into what woe!" To whoin our great progenitor. "Thy words Attentive, and with more delighted ear, Divine instructer, I have heard, than when Cherubic songs by night from neighbouring hills Aereal music send: nor knew I not
To be both will and deed created free;
Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts
Hath pass'd in Heaven, some doubts within me
But more desire to hear, if thou consent, The full relation, which must needs be strange, Worthy of sacred silence to be heard;
And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun Hath finish'd half his journey, and scarce begins · His other half in the great zone of Heaven." Thus Adam made request: and Raphaël,
After short pause assenting, thus began.
High matter thou enjoin'st me, O prime of men, Sad task and hard: for how shall I relate To human sense the invisible exploits Of warring spirits? how, without remorse, The ruin of so many glorious once
And perfect while they stood? how last unfold The secrets of another world, perhaps Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good This is dispens'd; and what surmounts the reach Of human sense, I shall delineate so,
By likening spiritual to corporal forms, As may express them best; though what if Earth Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein Each to other like, more than on Earth is thought? "As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild Reign'd where these Heavens now roll, where Earth
Upon her centre pois'd; when on a day (For time, though in eternity, applied To motion, measures all things durable By present, past, and future,) on such day As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal Of angels by imperial summons call'd, Innumerable before the Almighty's throne Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appear'd Under their hierarchs in orders bright: Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanc'd, Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear Stream in the air, and for distinction serve Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; Or in their glittering tissues bear imblaz'd Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs Of circuit inexpressible they stood, Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son, Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.
Hear, all ye angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, Hear my decree, which unrevok'd shall stand. This day I have begot whom I declare My only Son, and on this holy hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
At my right hand; your head I him appoint; And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: Under his great vice-gerent reign abide United, as one individual soul,
That day, as other solemn days, they spent
Assur'd me, and still assure: though what thou In song and dance about the sacred hill:
Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere
Of planets, and of find, in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem; And in their motions Harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Listens delighted. Evening now approach'd, (For we have also our evening and our morn, We ours for change delectable, not need ;) Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Desirous; all in circles as they stood, Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd With angel's food, and rubied nectar flows In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. On flowers repos'd, and with fresh flowerets crown'd, They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet Quaff immortality and joy, secure
Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who shower'd With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhal'd From that high mount of God, whence light and shade [chang'd Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there In darker veil,) and roseat dews dispos'd All but the unsleeping 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,) the angelic throng 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 [course Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who, in their Melodious hymns about the sovran throne Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd Satan; so call him now, his former name Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, If not the first arch-angel, great in power, In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught With envy against the Son of God, that day Honour'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd Messiah King anointed, could not bear [pair'd. Through pride that sight, and thought himself im- Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd With all his legions to dislodge, and leave Unworshipt, unobey'd, the throne supreme, Contemptuous; and his next subordinate Awakening, thus to him in secret spake : [close "Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can Thy eye-lids? and remember'st what decree Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts Wast wont, I 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; New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise
In us who serve, new counsels, to debate What doubtful may ensue: more in this place To utter is not safe. Assemble thou Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night 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 Messiah, and his new commands, Who speedily through all the hierarchies Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.'
"So spake the false arch-angel, and infus'd Bad influence into the unwary breast Of his associate: he together calls,
Or several 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 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
The wonted signal, and superior voice Of their great potentate; for great indeed His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; His countenance, as the morning-star that guides The starry flock, allur'd them, and with lies Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. Meanwhile the Eternal Eye, whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, And from within the golden lamps that burn Nightly before him, saw without their light Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread Among the sons of morn, what multitudes Were banded to oppose his high decree; And, smiling, to his only Son thus said.
"Son, thou in whom my glory I behold In full resplendence, heir of all my might, Nearly it now concerns us to be sure Of our omnipotence, and with what arms We mean to hold what anciently we claim Of deity or empire: such a foe
Is rising, who intends to erect his throne Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north : Nor so content, hath in his thought to try In battle, what our power is, or our right. Let us advise, and to this hazard draw With speed what force is left, and all employ In our defence; lest unawares we lose This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.
"To whom the Son with calm aspéct and clear Lightening divine, ineffable, serene, Made answer. 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 Given me to quell their pride, and in event Know whether I be dextrous 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 Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the Sun 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 sea, from one entire globose Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd, 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 Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers
From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; The palace of great Lucifer, (so 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 Messiah was declar'd in sight of Heaven, The Mountain of the Congregation call'd; For thither he assembled all his train, Pretending, so commanded, to consult About the great reception of their king, Thither to come, and with calumnious art Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears: "Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues,
If these magnific titles yet remain Not merely titular, since by decree Another now hath to himself ingross'd
All power, and us eclips'd under the name Of King anointed, for whom all this haste Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, This only 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 choose to bend The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves Natives and sons of Heaven possess'd before By none; and if not equal all, yet free, Equally free; for orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well consist. 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 Of those imperial titles, which assert Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.' "Thus far his bold discourse without controul Had audience: when among the seraphim Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd The Deity, and divine commands obey'd, Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe The current of his fury thus oppos'd. "O argument blasphemous, false and proud! Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven 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, pronounc'd 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, One over all with unsucceeded power. Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute With him the points of liberty, who made [Heaven Thee what thou art, and form'd the powers of 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 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 join'd in one,
Equal to him begotten son? by whom,
As by his word, the Mighty Father made [Heaven All things, even thee; and all the spirits of By him created in their bright degrees, Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, Essential powers; 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 The incensed Father, and the 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 The apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. '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: 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-rais'd 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 Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold Whether by supplication we intend Address, and to begirt the almighty throne Beseeching or besieging. This report, These tidings carry to the anointed King; 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 Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold. "O alienate from God, O spirit accurs'd, Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall 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 : 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
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.
« PreviousContinue » |