Apollion. Lucifer. Belzebub

Apollion:

O Stadtholder of God's unbounded Realm, And Oracle within the Council of The Gods subordinate, I offer thee My service and await thy new commands. What now the word—what of thy subject would Thy Majesty?

Lucifer:

It pleaseth us to hear Thy sense and thy opinion of a grave And weighty plan that cannot fail to win. Tis our intent to pluck the proudest plume From Michael's wings, that our attempt upon His mightiness shall not rebound as vain. With his own arm as many oracles He founds, as ever God Himself hath hewn From deathless diamond with His hand. Behold Now man exalted to the Heaven of Heavens, Through all the circles of the spheres, then see The Spirit world, so deep, so far below, Even 'neath his footcloth there, like feeble worms Already crawling in the dust. I joy To storm this throne with violence, and thus To hazard by one strong, opposing stroke The glory of my state and star and crown.

Apollion:

An undertaking truly to be praised! May it augment your crown and increase gain, Based on such resolution: so I deem It honors me thus to advise, 'neath thee, The prosecution of a cause so bold. Let this result for better or for worse, The will is noble, even though it fail. But lest we strive in vain and recklessly, How best shall we begin so bold a plan? How safest meet the point of that resolve?

Lucifer:

We subtly shall oppose our own resolve.

Apollion:

Sooth, there is pith in that. But what, pray, is Our borrowed might, weighed in the scale against The Power Omnipotent? Guard well thy crown; For we fall far too light.

Belzebub:

Yet not so light, But that the matter first shall hang in doubt.

Apollion:

By whom or how or where this plot begun? Even such intent is treason 'gainst God's Throne.

Lucifer:

His Throne we'll not disturb; but cautiously Mount up the steep incline, and those high peaks, Ne'er blazed by path and ne'er ascended, climb. Courage and prudence must, at length, o'ercome And dare all dangers brave.

Apollion:

But not the Power Omnipotent, nor yet His crown: approach Thou not too near, or learn in sorrow that Repentance comes too late. The lesser should Submissively unto the greater yield.

Lucifer:

The great Omnipotent is far beyond Our aim. Set forces like with like together. Then learn whose sword is weightiest. I see Our enemies in flight, the Heavens all ours By one courageous stroke; our legions, too, O'erladen with the spoil and glorious plunder. Then let us further now deliberate.