By destiny, and can no other chuse? 53.5 540 545 550. To whom our great progenitor. Thy words Attentive, and with more delighted ear, Divine instructor! I have heard, than when Cherubic fongs by night from neighb'ring hills Aereal music send. Nor knew I not To be both will and deed created free; Yet that we never shall forget to love Our Maker, and obey him whose command Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts Affur'd me, and still assure; though what thou tell'st Hath past in Heav'n, fome doubt within me move, But more defire to hear (if thou confent) The full relation; which must needs be strange, Worthy of facred filence 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 heav'n. Thus ADAM made request, and RAPHAEL After short pause assenting, thus began. 555 560 High matter thou injoin'st me, O prime of men! Sad task and hard! For how shall I relate To human fense th' invisible exploits Of warring spirits? How, without remorse, The ruin of fo many, glorious once, 565 And perfect, while they stood? how, last, unfold H 4 The 570 The secrets of another world, perhaps 580 585 As yet this world was not, and CHAOS wild Reign'd where these heav'ns now rowl, where earth Upon her centre pois'd; when on a day (now refts (For time, though in eternity, apply'd To motion, measures all things durable By present, past, and future) on such day As heav'n's great year brings forth, th' empyreal hoft Of Angels by imperial summons call'd, Innumerable before th' Almighty's throne Forthwith, from all the ends of Heav'n, appear'd Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, (Standards, and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear) Stream in the air, and for diflinction 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 imbofom'd fat the SON, Amidft (as from a flaming mount, whole top Brightness had made invisible) thus spake. 590 595 i 600 Hear all ye Angels, progeny of light, Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs! Hear my decree, which unrevok'd shall stand. This day I have begot whom I declare My only SON, and on this holy hill |