The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (71 page)

618

      

That day, as other solemn days, they spent

619

      

In song and dance about the sacred hill,

620

      

Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere

621

      

Of planets, and of fixed,
³⁵⁷²
in all her wheels

622

      

Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,

623

      

Eccentric,
³⁵⁷³
intervolved,
³⁵⁷⁴
yet regular

624

      

Then most when most irregular they seem.

625

      

And in their motions harmony divine

626

      

So smooths
³⁵⁷⁵
her
³⁵⁷⁶
charming tones,
³⁵⁷⁷
that God’s own ear

627

      

Listens delighted. Ev’ning now approached

628

      

(For we have also our ev’ning and our morn,

629

      

We ours for change delectable,
³⁵⁷⁸
not need)

630

      

Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn

631

      

Desirous, all in circles as they stood.

632

      

Tables are set, and on a sudden piled

633

      

With Angels’ food, and rubied nectar flows

634

      

In pearl, in diamond,
³⁵⁷⁹
and massy gold,

635

      

Fruit of delicious vines, the growth
³⁵⁸⁰
of Heav’n.

636

      

On flow’rs reposed,
³⁵⁸¹
and with fresh flow’rets crowned,

637

      

They eat, they drink, and in communion
³⁵⁸²
sweet

638

      

Quaff
³⁵⁸³
immortality and joy, secure

639

      

Of
³⁵⁸⁴
surfeit where full measure only bounds
³⁵⁸⁵

640

      

Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who show’red

641

      

With copious
³⁵⁸⁶
hand, rejoicing in their joy.

642

      

   
Now when ambrosial
³⁵⁸⁷
night with clouds exhaled

643

      

From that high mount of God, whence light and shade

644

      

Spring both, the face of brightest Heav’n had changed

645

      

To grateful
³⁵⁸⁸
twilight ( for night comes not there

646

      

In darker veil), and roseate
³⁵⁸⁹
dews disposed
³⁵⁹⁰

647

      

All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest.

648

      

Wide over all the plain, and wider far

649

      

Than all this globous
³⁵⁹¹
earth in plain outspread

650

      

(Such are the courts of God), th’Angelic throng,

651

      

Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend

652

      

By living
³⁵⁹²
streams among the trees of life,

653

      

Pavilions
³⁵⁹³
numberless, and sudden reared,

654

      

Celestial tabernacles
³⁵⁹⁴
where they slept,

655

      

Fanned with cool winds, save those who, in their course,
³⁵⁹⁵

656

      

Melodious hymns about the sov’reign throne

657

      

Alternate all night long. But not so waked

658

      

Satan—so call him now, his former name

659

      

Is heard no more in Heav’n. He of
³⁵⁹⁶
the first,

660

      

If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power,

661

      

In favor and pre-eminence, yet fraught
³⁵⁹⁷

662

      

With envy against the Son of God, that day

663

      

Honored by his great Father, and proclaimed

664

      

Messiah, King anointed, could not bear

665

      

Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired.
³⁵⁹⁸

666

      

Deep malice thence conceiving, and disdain,

667

      

Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour

668

      

Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved

669

      

With all his legions to dislodge,
³⁵⁹⁹
and leave

670

      

Unworshipped, unobeyed, the throne supreme,

671

      

Contemptuous. And his next subordinate
³⁶⁰⁰

672

      

Awak’ning, thus to him in secret spoke:

673

      

   
“‘Sleep’st thou, companion dear? What sleep can close

674

      

Thy eye-lids, and
³⁶⁰¹
rememb’rest what decree

675

      

Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips

676

      

Of Heav’n’s Almighty? Thou to me thy thoughts

677

      

Wast wont,
³⁶⁰²
I mine to thee was wont t’ impart.
³⁶⁰³

678

      

Both waking,
³⁶⁰⁴
we were one. How then can now

679

      

Thy sleep dissent?
³⁶⁰⁵
New laws thou see’st imposed:

680

      

New laws from Him who reigns, new minds may raise

681

      

In us who serve, new counsels to debate

682

      

What doubtful may ensue. More in this place

683

      

To utter is not safe. Assemble thou

684

      

Of all those myriads
³⁶⁰⁶
which we lead the chief.
³⁶⁰⁷

685

      

Tell them that by command, ere yet dim night

686

      

Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
³⁶⁰⁸

687

      

And all who under me their banners wave,

688

      

Homeward, with flying
³⁶⁰⁹
march, where we possess
³⁶¹⁰

689

      

The quarters
³⁶¹¹
of the North, there to prepare

690

      

Fit entertainment to receive our King,

691

      

The great Messiah, and his new commands,

692

      

Who speedily through all the hierarchies
³⁶¹²

693

      

Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.

694

      

   
“So spoke the false Arch-Angel, and infused
³⁶¹³

695

      

Bad influence
³⁶¹⁴
into th’ unwary breast

696

      

Of his associate. He
³⁶¹⁵
together calls,

697

      

Or several
³⁶¹⁶
one by one,
³⁶¹⁷
the regent
³⁶¹⁸
Powers

698

      

Under him Regent;
³⁶¹⁹
tells, as he was taught,

699

      

That the Most High commanding, now ere night,

700

      

Now ere dim night had disincumbered
³⁶²⁰
Heav’n,

701

      

The great hierarchal standard
³⁶²¹
was to move;

702

      

Tells the suggested cause, and casts between

703

      

Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
³⁶²²

704

      

Or taint
³⁶²³
integrity. But all obeyed