The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (70 page)

529

      

Our voluntary service He requires,

530

      

Not our necessitated. Such with Him

531

      

Finds no acceptance, nor can find, for how

532

      

Can hearts, not free, be tried
³⁵³¹
whether they serve

533

      

Willing or no, who will but what they must
³⁵³²

534

      

By destiny, and can no other choose?

535

      

Myself, and all th’Angelic host that stand

536

      

In sight of God enthroned, our happy state

537

      

Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds,

538

      

On other surety
³⁵³³
none. Freely we serve,

539

      

Because we freely love, as in our will

540

      

To love or not. In this we stand or fall,

541

      

And some are fall’n, to disobedience fall’n,

542

      

And so from Heav’n to deepest Hell. O fall
³⁵³⁴

543

      

From what high state of bliss, into what woe!

544

      

To whom our great progenitor:
³⁵³⁵

 

      

“Thy words

545

      

Attentive, and with more delighted ear,

546

      

Divine instructor, I have heard, than when

547

      

Cherubic songs by night from neighboring hills

548

      

Aerial music send. Nor knew I not

549

      

To be both will and deed created free.

550

      

Yet that we never shall forget to love

551

      

Our Maker, and obey Him whose command,

552

      

Single,
³⁵³⁶
is yet so just, my constant thoughts

553

      

Assured me, and still assure. Though what thou tellest

554

      

Hath passed in Heav’n, some doubt within me move,
³⁵³⁷

555

      

But more desire to hear, if thou consent,

556

      

The full relation,
³⁵³⁸
which must needs be strange,

557

      

Worthy of sacred
³⁵³⁹
silence to be heard.

558

      

And we have yet large
³⁵⁴⁰
day,
³⁵⁴¹
for scarce the sun

559

      

Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins

560

      

His other half in the great zone
³⁵⁴²
of Heav’n.

561

      

   
Thus Adam made request, and Raphael,

562

      

After short pause assenting, thus began:

563

      

   
“High matter thou enjoin’st
³⁵⁴³
me, O prime
³⁵⁴⁴
of men,

564

      

Sad
³⁵⁴⁵
task and hard. For how shall I relate

565

      

To human sense the invisible exploits

566

      

Of warring Spirits? How, without remorse,
³⁵⁴⁶

567

      

The ruin of so many, glorious once,

568

      

And perfect while they stood? How last
³⁵⁴⁷
unfold

569

      

The secrets of another world, perhaps

570

      

Not lawful to reveal? Yet for thy good

571

      

This is dispensed,
³⁵⁴⁸
and what surmounts the reach

572

      

Of human sense I shall delineate
³⁵⁴⁹
so,

573

      

By lik’ning spiritual to corporal forms,

574

      

As may express them best. Though what if earth

575

      

Be but a shadow
³⁵⁵⁰
of Heav’n, and things therein

576

      

Each t’ other like, more than on earth is thought?

577

      

   
“As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild

578

      

Reigned where these Heav’ns now roll, where earth now rests

579

      

Upon her center poised, when on a day

580

      

(For time, though in eternity, applied

581

      

To motion, measures all things durable

582

      

By present, past, and future), on such day

583

      

As Heav’n’s great year
³⁵⁵¹
brings forth, the empyreal
³⁵⁵²
host

584

      

Of Angels by imperial summons called,

585

      

Innumerable before the Almighty’s throne

586

      

Forthwith, from all the ends of Heav’n, appeared

587

      

Under their Hierarchs
³⁵⁵³
in orders bright.

588

      

Ten thousand thousand ensigns
³⁵⁵⁴
high advanced,

589

      

Standards
³⁵⁵⁵
and gonfalons
³⁵⁵⁶
’twixt van
³⁵⁵⁷
and rear

590

      

Stream in the air, and for distinction serve
³⁵⁵⁸

591

      

Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees,

592

      

Or in their glittering tissues
³⁵⁵⁹
bear emblazed
³⁵⁶⁰

593

      

Holy memorials,
³⁵⁶¹
acts of zeal and love

594

      

Recorded eminent.
³⁵⁶²
Thus when in orbs

595

      

Of circuit inexpressible they stood,

596

      

Orb within orb, the Father Infinite,

597

      

By whom in bliss embosomed
³⁵⁶³
sat the Son,

598

      

Amidst as
³⁵⁶⁴
from a flaming mount whose top

599

      

Brightness had made invisible, thus spoke:

600

      

   
“‘Hear, all ye Angels, progeny
³⁵⁶⁵
of light,

601

      

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers!

602

      

Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand.
³⁵⁶⁶

603

      

This day I have begot
³⁵⁶⁷
whom
³⁵⁶⁸
I declare

604

      

My only Son, and on this holy hill

605

      

Him have anointed, whom ye now behold

606

      

At my right hand. Your head I him appoint,

607

      

And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow

608

      

All knees in Heav’n, and shall confess
³⁵⁶⁹
him Lord.

609

      

Under his great vice-gerent
³⁵⁷⁰
reign abide

610

      

United, as one individual soul,

611

      

Forever happy. Him who disobeys,

612

      

Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day,

613

      

Cast out from God and blessèd vision, falls

614

      

Into utter darkness, deep engulfed,
³⁵⁷¹
his place

615

      

Ordained without redemption, without end.

616

      

   
“So spoke the Omnipotent, and with His words

617

      

All seemed well pleased—all seemed, but were not all.