But more defire to hear, if thou confent,
The full relation, which must needs be ftrange,
Worthy of facred filence to be heard ;

And we have yet large day, for scarce the fun
Hath finifht half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the great zone of heav'n.
Thus Adam made request, and Raphael
After short pause affenting, thus began.

High matter thou injoinft me, O prime of men,
Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate
To human sense th'invifible exploits
Of warring fpirits; how without remorfe
The ruin of fo many glorious once

And perfect while they stood; how last unfold
The fecrets of another world, perhaps
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good
This is difpenc't, and what furmounts the reach
Of human fenfe, I fhall delineate so,

By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms,

As may express them best, though what if earth Be but the fhadow of heav'n, and things therein Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? As yet this world was not, and chaos wilde

[refts Reign'd where thefe heav'n's now rowl, where earth now Upon her centre pois'd, when on a day (For time, though in eternitie, appli'd To motion, measures all things durable By prefent, paft, and future) on fuch day

As heav'n's great year brings forth, th'empyreal hoft Of angels by imperial fummons call'd,

Innumerable before th'almighties throne

Forthwith from all the ends of heav'n appeer'd
Under their hierarchs in orders bright

Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanc'd,
Standards, and gonfalons 'twixt van and reare
Streame in the aire, and for distinction serve
Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;
Or in their glittering tiffues bear imblaz'd
Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbes
Of circuit inexpreffible they ftood,
Orb within orb, the father infinite,
By whom in bliss imbosom'd fat the fon
Amidst as from a flaming mount, whofe top
Brightness had made invisible, thus fpake.
Hear all ye angels, progenie of light,

Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers,
Hear my decree, which unrevok't fhall ftand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My only fon, 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 fworn to him fhall bow
All knees in heav'n, and shall confefs him Lord,
Under his great vice-gerent reign abide
United as one individual foul

For ever happie: him who disobeys
Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day
Caft out from God and blessed vifion, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place
Ordain'd without redemption, without end.
So fpake th❜omnipotent, and with his words

!

All feemid well-pleas'd, all feem'd, but were not all
That day, as other folemn days, they spent
In fong and, dance, about the facred hill,
Mystical dance, which yonder starrie spheare
Of planets and of fixt in all her wheels
Refembles nearest, mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervoly'd, yet regular:

Then most, when most irregular, they, feem:
And in their motions harmonie divine

So fmooths her charming tones, that God's own ear
Liftens delighted. Ev'ning now approach'd

(For we have alfo our ev'ning and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need).

Forthwith from dance, to fweet repast they turn
Defirous, all in circles as they food,

Tables are fet, and on a fudden pil'd

With angel's food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearle, in diamond, and maffie gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of heay'n.
On flours repos'd, and with fresh flourets crown'd,
They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet
Quaff immortality and joy, fecure

Of furfet where full measure only bounds
Excefs, before th'all-bounteous king, who fhowr'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
In darker veil) and rofeat dews difpos'd

All but the unfleeping eyes of God to reft

Wide over all the plain, and wider far
Then all this globous earth in plain outspread,
(Such are the courts of God) th'angelic throng
Disperst in bands and files their camp extend
By living streams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberless, and fudden rear'd,
Celestial tabernacles, where they slept

Fann'd with cool winds, fave thofe who in their courfe
Melodious hymns about the fov❜ran throne

Alternate all night long : but not so 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 favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught
With envie against the son of God, that day
Honour'd by his great father, and proclaim'd
Meffiah king anointed, could not beare

Through pride that fight, and thought himself impair'd,
Deep malice thence conceiving and difdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the duskie hour
Friendlieft to fleep and filence, he refolv'd
With all his legions to diflodge, and leave
Unworshipt, "anobey'd the throne fupreám
Contemptuous, ånd his next subordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in fecret fpake.

Sleepft thou companion dear, what fleep can clofe
Thy eye-lids? and remembrelt what decree
Of yesterday, fo late hath past the lips

Of heav'n's almightte. Thou to me thy thoughts
Waft wont, 'I mine to thee was wont to impart ;
Both waking we were one; how then cân họw

Thy fleep diffent? new laws thou feeft impos'd;
New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise
In us who serve, new councils, to debate
What doubtful may enfue, more in this place
To utter is not fafe. Affemble thou

Of all those myriads which we lead the chief;
Tell them that by command, ere yet dim night
Her fhadowie cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me their banners wave,
Homeward with flying march where we poffefs
The quarters of the north, there to prepare
Fit entertainment to receive our king
The great Meffiah, and his new commands,
Who speedily through all the hierarchies
Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.
So fpake the false arch-angel, and infus'd
Bad influence into th'unwarie breft
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,
The great hierarchal standard was to move;
Tells the suggested cause, and cafts between
Ambiguous words and jealousies, to found
Or taint integritie; but all obey'd
The wonted fignal, and superior voice
Of their great potentate; for great indeed
His name, and high was his degree in heav'n;
His count'nance, as the morning star that guides
The starrie flock, allur'd them, and with lyes