I will that each depart, even as I wave My hand. He God and Godhead doth oppose. 450 Who now, forsworn, 'gainst us shall take his stand. Depart unto your posts. That is the duty Of soldiers and of loyal sons of Heaven. What violence? What impious threat is this? Who wages war, save 'neath my banner bold, Doth fight 'gainst God and doth oppose His Realm.
Who wards his Right need fear no violence. Nature made each defender of his Right.
'Tis my command ye lay your weapons down. Such gathering breaks your honor and your oath. 460
The hosts Angelic are by nature bound In union strong. They stand or fall together. Not one alone is touched in this dispute, But one and all.
Would ye with weapons then In such tumultuousness the Heavens embroil? These were not given you to use 'gainst God. Abuse your power, then fear the Power Supreme.
The Stadtholder we hourly here await. In haste he hath been summoned to attend. We'll venture all, 'gainst Gods arraying Gods, 470 Rather than thus our Rights resign through force.
So great an indiscretion I shall never From Heaven's Stadtholder await.
It seems More like an indiscretion thus to place Those older and first born, like servile slaves, Beneath the yoke of him, the youngest-born. But that the Angels now defend their kind, And here against their peers, in rank and state And being, contend, is indiscretion called.
O stiff-necked kind, ye are no longer sons 480 Of Light; but rather are a bastard race, Which yields not even to God. Ye but provoke The lightning stroke and wrath implacable. Harden your hearts, lo! what calamity And what a fall for you reserved! Ye heed Nor counsel nor advice. We'll see what us Enjoined is on high by Voice Supreme. Come, then; I wish now all the choristers And hosts yet righteous and yet virtuous To part, at once, from these rebellious throngs. 490
Let part who will; but we shall keep together.
Come follow, O ye faithful choristers, God's Field-marshal behind.
The Field-marshal, in haste, to God hath gone, Bearing complaint. Keep heart: Prince Lucifer Speeds hitherward on winged chariot. Ye should therefore at once deliberate. Helpless the battled host without a chief: As to myself, the post is far too grave.
Afar and wide, the Heavens vibrate and shake 500 With the sound of your disputes. The legions stand Divided, split in twain. The tumult wins Increase. Our great necessity enjoins Much prudence here, disaster to prevent.