Chorus:

What pleases G.o.d is ever rightly praised.

Luciferians:

How could He thus exalt mankind so high?

Chorus:

Whatever G.o.d does, or yet may do, is well.

Luciferians:

How man shall dim the crown the Angels wear!

Chorus:

All Angels shall the G.o.d incarnate praise.

Luciferians:

And worship clay and dust down in the dust?

Chorus:

And praise G.o.d's name with odors and with song.

Luciferians:

And praise mankind, constrained by higher Powers?

APOLLION. BELIAL. CHORUS.

Apollion:

What murmur this? Dost hear a strife of tongues? 150

Belial:

What throngs lament here, plunged in sable hue.

With veils girt round the breast and loins? None would Believe that one among the Spirits, amid The joys unending and the feast eterne, Could mourn, did we not see this wretched throng Cast down in woeful grief. What great misfortune, What dire disaster them disturbs? Oh! how?

O brothers, what doth cause this sad lament?

Who hath offended you? Your Rights we'll guard.

O brothers, speak. Why miserable? the cause? 160

Chorus:

They make complaint of man's approaching state And triumph, as proclaimed by Gabriel's trumpet; That he outranks the Angels and that G.o.d Shall join His Being to Adam's--all the Spirits Thus made subordinate unto man's sway.

This briefly, clearly, states their sorrow's cause.

Apollion:

'Tis hard such inequality to bear.

Belial:

It almost goes beyond our utmost strength.

Chorus:

We pray your aid this difference to compose.

Apollion:

What remedy? How can we them appease? 170 They rest secure upon their lawful Rights.

Chorus:

What Rights? The same power that ordaineth laws Hath might to abrogate those laws as well.

Apollion:

How thus can Justice unjust verdicts speak?

Chorus:

Correct G.o.d's verdicts, thou! Write thou His laws!

Belial:

The child doth follow in his father's steps.

Chorus:

To walk where He hath trod is Him to heed.

Apollion:

The change in G.o.d's own will doth cause this strife.

Chorus:

While one He setteth on a throne. He casts Another down: the one least worthy must 180 Unto the son more favored then submit.

Belial:

Equality of grace would best become The G.o.dhead. Now the darkness dares to dim The light celestial, while the sons of night Defy the day itself.