4
Thy merited reward, the first assay
Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre [ 150 ]
Destruction to the rest: this pause between
Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel
Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst
Yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid.
From flight, seditious Angel, to rwww.99lib.neteceave
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst
In Heavn God ever blest, and his Divine
Them whom he governs. This is servitude,
Of this right hand provokt, since first that tongue
Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance
Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyd, [ 185 ]
When he who
http://www.99lib.netrules is worthiest, and excells
Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve
Vigour Divine within them, can allow
As both thir deeds compard this day shall prove. [ 170 ]
Unjustly thou depravst it with the name
Such hast thou armd, the Minstrelsie of Heavn,
To heavnly Soules had bin all onhttp://www.99lib•nete; but now [ 165 ]
From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win [ 160 ]
At first I thought that Libertie and Heavn
Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while
Of erring, from the path of truth remote:
Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,
Servilitihttp://www.99lib.nete with freedom to contend,
Inspird with contradiction durst oppose [ 155 ]
Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;
(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;
This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.
Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find
From me som Plume, that thy success may show
To www.99lib.netwhom in brief thus Abdiel stern replid.
I see that most through sloth had rather serve,
Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains, [ 175 ]
To serve th unwise, or him who hath rebelld
Thy self not free, but to thy self enthralld;
A third part of the Gods, in Synod met
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, [ 180 ]