Luciferians. Belzebub. Chorus

Luciferians:

Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?

Belzebub:

All goeth well: we gain increase. In grief The Angels now assemble, and in woe Their heads they droop together. What doth move You. Angel hosts, with sighs and groans to mourn? Can, then, the bloom of happiness thus fade? In peace all to possess that Spirit can wish From God, the Giver—doth even this content You not? Ye therefore stand in your own light. And cherish mournfulness, whose cause I can Nor fathom nor discern. Come, cease your groans, Nor longer tear your standards and your robes Without a cause; but clear your clouded face And darkened forehead with new radiance, O children of the Light! The voices shrill. Whose deep-resounding songs the Godhead praise, Grow faint, displeased that ye should mingle with Their godlike melody such spurious sounds And bastard tones. Your bitter moan doth mar The rhythm of the celestial palace till These vaults re-echo with your woe. The wail Of sorrow through the highest arches rolls. From sphere to sphere: nor without crime can ye By such sad discord thus the growth disturb Of God's great name and glorious majesty.

Luciferians:

Chief Lord, whose potent word unnumbered bands Would call to arms, thou comest most opportune To soothe our misery and to prevent By thy great power this threatened injury And undeserved disgrace. Shall Gabriel The sacred crown of the holy Angels place On Adam's head: through Adam's son and heir Crush God's first-born? 'Twere better far had we Not been made ere the splendor-dazzling sun His chariot mounted and in Heaven shone. The Godhead chose in vain the Spirits as guards Of these immobile courts, if thus He shall. Against their vested Rights, Himself oppose; Who guiltless to resistance are provoked By dire impatience and necessity. We were rejoicing here, enraptured with The praise to God outpoured, were bowing low In deep humility, and worshipping 'Mid burning censers with devotion flamed:— All-quivering with the rippling notes, the Heavens, From choir to choir, unto the sound gave ear— Yea, melted slowly in delicious joy, With song and harp enchanted—when the trump Of Gabriel 'mid the rising harmony Blew that decree, and midst the glory fell This sudden thunderbolt of night. There lay We all amazed, dispersed, with gloom depressed. The gladness died away. Hushed were the throats Pregnant with praise. The youngest son was given The crown, the sceptre, and the blessing, while The eldest-born, thus disinherited, By Majesty Supreme, marked as a slave Remains. That is the part obedience, Devotion, love, and faithfulness receive From God's rich treasury, that mourning brings; That wrath enkindles, and thoughts of revenge, Grown out of righteous hate, to smother in His blood this upstart man, ere he shall crush The Angels in their state; and they be forced, As base and craven slaves, with fetters bound, To run before his lash and at his will, Even as he keeps the beasts beneath in awe. Chief Lord, thou canst prevent our fall, and by Our charter yet preserve our Rights: protect Us by thy power. We are prepared even now To follow 'neath thy standard and command, To be thy troops. Lead on. 'Tis glorious To battle for one's honor, crown, and Right.

Belzebub:

Methinks that thou art wrong. O King of Lords, 'Twere better to avert this. Give no cause For mutiny or discord: give no cause Whereby Rebellion grows. What remedy? How reconcile you with the Majesty Supreme?

Luciferians:

He doth transgress the holy Right Once to the Angels given.

Belzebub:

The lawful Rights Of subjects to transgress can them inflame, And fires enkindle that the very air Would soon consume. How poor a recompense For stainless faith! How shall we best conduct Ourselves amid this mournful hopelessness?

Luciferians:

'Twill comfort us one bold attempt to make.

Belzebub:

What venture this? Adopt a softer pace.

Luciferians:

This violence needs, compulsion, and revenge.

Belzebub:

We might, mayhap, a safer method choose.

Luciferians:

Delay would bring us here not gain, but loss.

Belzebub:

One should his wrong with reason understand.

Luciferians:

Reason doth publish here: we are oppressed.

Belzebub:

With prayers ye first and best might gain your end.

Luciferians:

This plot to bare would foil its execution.

Belzebub:

Scarce can such plot be hidden from the light.

Luciferians:

We're gaining fast, and stand in equipoise.

Belzebub:

Their chance is best who with God's Marshal fight.

Luciferians:

This can be righted ne'er by fright nor moan.

Belzebub:

But what say Belial and Apollion?

Luciferians:

Both are with us, and strengthen our array.

Belzebub:

How gained ye them? 'Tis far, indeed, progressed.

Luciferians:

The Heavens flow toward us now with teeming floods.

Belzebub:

Trust not in armies formed of wavering throngs.

Luciferians:

Even now advantage towers, and danger flees.

Belzebub:

Who rashly dares should not advantage claim.

Luciferians:

All on the issue hangs. Before the event All judgment errs. The gathered hosts demand Thee as their leader and their sovran chief In this our expedition.

Belzebub:

But who could Be so bereft of wit as to defend Your righteous cause, and by such course provoke The battled hosts of Heaven? Aye, to yourselves Be ye more merciful. Exempt me from This charge. I choose to hold a neutral place. Deliberation will yet make things right.