第5章 4
Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance
Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre [ 150 ]
Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst
From flight, seditious Angel, to receave
Thy merited reward, the first assay
Of this right hand provokt, since first that tongue
Inspird with contradiction durst oppose [ 155 ]
A third part of the Gods, in Synod met
Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel
Vigour Divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win [ 160 ]
From me som Plume, that thy success may show
Destruction to the rest: this pause between
(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;
At first I thought that Libertie and Heavn
To heavnly Soules had bin all one; but now [ 165 ]
I see that most through sloth had rather serve,
Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;
Such hast thou armd, the Minstrelsie of Heavn,
Servilitie with freedom to contend,
As both thir deeds compard this day shall prove. [ 170 ]
To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replid.
Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find
Of erring, from the path of truth remote:
Unjustly thou depravst it with the name
Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains, [ 175 ]
Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,
When he who rules is worthiest, and excells
Them whom he governs. This is servitude,
To serve th unwise, or him who hath rebelld
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, [ 180 ]
Thy self not free, but to thy self enthralld;
Yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid.
Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve
In Heavn God ever blest, and his Divine
Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyd, [ 185 ]
Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while
From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.