The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (72 page)

705

      

The wonted
³⁶²⁴
signal and superior voice
³⁶²⁵

706

      

Of their great Potentate,
³⁶²⁶
for great indeed

707

      

His name, and high was his degree
³⁶²⁷
in Heav’n.

708

      

His count’nance, as the morning-star that guides

709

      

The starry flock, allured
³⁶²⁸
them, and with lies

710

      

Drew after him the third part of Heav’n’s host.

711

      

Meanwhile th’ Eternal eye, whose sight discerns

712

      

Abstrusest
³⁶²⁹
thoughts, from forth His holy mount

713

      

And from within the golden lamps that burn

714

      

Nightly before Him, saw without their light

715

      

Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread

716

      

Among the sons of morn, what multitudes

717

      

Were banded to oppose His high decree

718

      

And, smiling, to His only Son thus said:

719

      

   
“‘Son, thou in whom my glory I behold

720

      

In full resplendence, heir of all my might,

721

      

Nearly
³⁶³⁰
it now concerns us to be sure

722

      

Of our omnipotence, and with what arms

723

      

We mean to hold what anciently
³⁶³¹
we claim

724

      

Of deity or empire. Such a foe

725

      

Is rising who intends t’ erect his throne

726

      

Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North,

727

      

Nor so content, hath in his thought to try

728

      

In battle what our power is, or our right.

729

      

Let us advise,
³⁶³²
and to this hazard
³⁶³³
draw

730

      

With speed what force is left, and all employ

731

      

In our defence, lest unawares we lose

732

      

This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.

733

      

To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear,

734

      

Ligh’tning divine, ineffable,
³⁶³⁴
serene,

735

      

Made answer:

 

      

‘Mighty Father, Thou Thy foe

736

      

Justly hast in derision and, secure,
³⁶³⁵

737

      

Laugh’st at their vain designs and tumults
³⁶³⁶
vain,

738

      

Matter to me of glory, whom their hate

739

      

Illustrates,
³⁶³⁷
when they see all regal power

740

      

Giv’n me, to quell
³⁶³⁸
their pride,
³⁶³⁹
and in event
³⁶⁴⁰

741

      

Know whether I be dextrous
³⁶⁴¹
to subdue

742

      

Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heav’n.

743

      

   
“So spoke the Son. But Satan, with his Powers,

744

      

Far was advanced on
³⁶⁴²
wingèd speed, an host

745

      

Innumerable
³⁶⁴³
as the stars of night,

746

      

Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun

747

      

Impearls on every leaf and every flower.

748

      

Regions they passed, the mighty regencies

749

      

Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones

750

      

In their triple degrees
³⁶⁴⁴
—regions to which

751

      

All thy dominion, Adam, is no more

752

      

Than what this garden is to all the earth

753

      

And all the sea, from one entire globose
³⁶⁴⁵

754

      

Stretched into longitude
³⁶⁴⁶
—which, having passed,

755

      

At length into the limits
³⁶⁴⁷
of the North

756

      

They came. And Satan to his royal seat

757

      

High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount

758

      

Raised on a mount, with pyramids and tow’rs

759

      

From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold,

760

      

The palace of great Lucifer (so call

761

      

That structure, in the dialect of men

762

      

Interpreted)
³⁶⁴⁸
which, not long after, he

763

      

(Affecting all equality with God)

764

      

In imitation of that mount whereon

765

      

Messiah was declared, in sight of Heav’n,

766

      

The Mountain of the Congregation called,

767

      

For thither he assembled all his train,

768

      

Pretending
³⁶⁴⁹
so commanded to consult

769

      

About the great reception of their King,

770

      

Thither to come, and with calumnious
³⁶⁵⁰
art

771

      

Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears:

772

      

   
“‘Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers—

773

      

If these magnific titles yet remain

774

      

Not merely titular,
³⁶⁵¹
since by decree

775

      

Another now hath to himself engrossed
³⁶⁵²

776

      

All power, and us eclipsed under the name

777

      

Of King anointed, for whom all this haste

778

      

Of midnight-march and hurried meeting here,

779

      

This only to consult how we may best,

780

      

With what may be devised of honors new,

781

      

Receive him coming to receive from us

782

      

Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile!

783

      

Too much to one! But double how endured,

784

      

To one and to His image
³⁶⁵³
now proclaimed?

785

      

But what if better counsels might erect
³⁶⁵⁴

786

      

Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke?

787

      

Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend

788

      

The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust

789

      

To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves

790

      

Natives and sons of Heav’n, possessed before

791

      

By none, and if not equal all, yet free,

792

      

Equally free, for orders and degrees

793

      

Jar not with liberty, but well consist.
³⁶⁵⁵

794

      

Who can in reason, then, or right, assume

795

      

Monarchy over such as live by right