Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsaf'd As that more willingly thou could'st not seem To whom the winged Hierarch reply'd. O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom All things proceed, and up to him return, If not deprav'd from good, created all Such to perfection, one first matter all, Indu'd with various forms, various degrees Of substance, and, in things that live, of life: But more refin'd, more spirituous, and pure, As nearer to him plac'd, or nearer tending, Each in their several active spheres assign'd, Till body up to spirit work, in bounds Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 465 470 475 480 More aery, last the bright consummate flower To intellectual; give both life and sense, 485 482 odorous] So Marino's Sl. of the Inn. by T. R. p. 60. 'The hills, and dales that plants odórous bore.' Todd. Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, To 490 proper substance: time may come, when men With angels may participate, and find No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare : If Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy Your fill what happiness this happy state To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. O favourable spirit, propitious guest, 495. 500 505 Well hast thou taught the way that might direct In contemplation of created things But say, What meant that caution join'd, if ye be found To him, or possibly his love desert, Who form'd us from the dust and plac'd us here Full to the utmost measure of what bliss Human desires can seek or apprehend? 510 515 520 525 530 To whom the angel. Son of heav'n and earth Attend that thou art happy, owe to God; That thou continu'st such, owe to thyself, That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. GOD made thee perfect, not immutable; And good he made thee, but to persevere He left it in thy power, ordain'd thy will By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate Inextricable, or strict necessity: Our voluntary service he requires, Not our necessitated, such with him Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how Can hearts, not free, be try'd whether they serve Willing or no, who will but what they must By destiny, and can no other choose? Myself and all th' angelic host, that stand In sight of GOD enthron'd, our happy state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; On other surety none; freely we serve, Because we freely love, as in our will To love or not; in this we stand or fall, And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, And so from heaven to deepest hell: O fall From what high state of bliss into what woe! To whom our great progenitor. Thy words Attentive, and with more delighted ear, Divine instructor, I have heard, than when 535 540 545 Cherubic songs by night from neighbouring hills Aereal music send: nor knew I not 550 555 To be both will and deed created free; After short pause, assenting thus began. 560 High matter thou enjoin'st me, O prime of men, Of warring spirits? how without remorse 565 570 And perfect while they stood? how last unfold 557 sacred] Hor. Od. ii. 13. 29. 'Utrumque sacro digna silentio.' Richardson. As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild Reign'd where these heavens now roll, where earth now rests 580 585 Upon her centre pois'd, when on a day, Powers, 579 pois'd] Ov. Met. i. 13. 'Ponderibus librata suis.' Newton. 590 595 600 601 Thrones] 'By all the Thrones, and Dominations, Vir |