Rafael:

O Stadtholder, why thus disguise thy thoughts Before the all-seeing Eye? Thy purpose thou Canst not conceal. The rays flashed from His face Lay bare the darkness, the ambition that 260 Thy pregnant spirit reveals in all its shape.

And lo! even now its travail hath begun This monster to bring forth. Where shall I hide Me in my fright? How rise my hairs with fear!

Thou erring Morning-star, oh! spare thyself!

Thou canst not satisfy Omniscience With such deceit.

Lucifer:

Ambition? Say me, then, Where hath my duty suffered through neglect?

Rafael:

What hast thou in thy heart of hearts resolved!-- shall mount up from here beneath, through all 270 The clouds, aye, even above G.o.d's galaxies, Into the top of Heaven, like unto G.o.d Himself; nor shall the beams of mercy fall On any Power, unless before my seat It kneel in homage down! No majesty Shall sceptre dare, nor crown, unless I shall First grant it leave out of my towering throne!"

Oh! hide thy face. Fall down and fold thy wings.

Have care to know a higher Power above.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Thou erring Morning-star, oh! spare thyself."]

Lucifer:

How now? Am I not then G.o.d's Stadtholder? 280

Rafael:

That art thou, and from the unbounded Realm Thou didst receive a power determinate.

Thou rulest in His name.

Lucifer:

Alas! how long?

Until Prince Adam shall make us ashamed: When he, placed o'er the Angel world, shall from The bounteous bosom of the Deity His crown receive, and take his seat by G.o.d.

Rafael:

Even though the sovran Lord should thus divide His power with His inferiors; though He should Command that man upon his head shall place 290 The brightest crown; him consecrate the Chief Of Spirits, o'er all that crown or sceptre bear.

Or e'er shall bear: learn thou submissively To bow 'neath G.o.d's decree.

Lucifer:

That is the stone Whereon this battle-axe shall whet its edge.

Rafael:

Thou'lt whet it rashly for thine own proud neck.

Think where we are. The Heavens can bear no stain Of pride, hate, envy, or malevolence.

The wrath of Deity doth threaten soon To wipe this blot away. Here not avails 300 Dissembling. Oh! that I this blasphemy Could hide from the all-seeing Sun and from The all-penetrating Eye. O Lucifer, Where is thy glory now?

Lucifer:

My glory was Long since to Adam given, and to his seed.

I am no longer called the eldest heir, The son first consecrate.

Rafael:

Prince Lucifer, Oh! spare thyself: submit unto the wish Of the Most High. Oh! deem us worthy now To bear such joyful tidings up above. 310 Each waits with longing eyes for my return.

Before thy splendor I most humbly kneel.

Oh! for the sake of G.o.d, beware lest thou Encouragement shalt give to mutiny, That on thy will and word doth henceforth turn, As on its axis. Wouldst thou thus, against The courts of Heaven, this air so full of peace And holiness, for the first time disturb By the clash of countless warring myriads?-- Thus to the sound of trump and drum unfurl 320 These battle-banners bold?--Thyself to G.o.d The matchless wrestler thus oppose?

Lucifer:

'Tis we That are opposed. Were unto Adam's race But given a rank and throne, even similar To that the Angels own, 'twere to be borne.

Now fly, instead, o'er all the roofs of Heaven The sparks blown from this burning in the skies.

Peace! Angels all, and reverentially Your homage bring, for all that you possess, To Adam and his seed. To strive 'gainst man 330 Is the G.o.dhead to oppose! Oh! how could G.o.d, Within His heart, so low, so deep degrade Him whom He for the mightiest sceptre formed: A worthiness once sanctified to rule, So sadly thus abase for one so low, And thus disrobe of all its splendid pomp, And cause it thus to curse the glorious dawn Of its ascent--to wish far rather that It had remained a shadow without hue, A nothing without life? For not to be 340 Is better thousand times than such a fall.

Rafael:

A va.s.sal's power is no inheritance: It stands free and apart.

Lucifer:

This power is then No boon, if power it may be called.

Rafael:

Thy place Maintain: or hast thou then forgot thy charge?

Thy place, as Stadtholder, to thee was given That in thy wisdom thou mightst keep all things In peace and order here. And dost thou now.

The perjured chief of blind conspirators.

Put on this coat of mail to fight thy G.o.d? 350

Lucifer:

Necessity and self-defence compelled These arms; nor wished we to engage with G.o.d.

Reason would speak, even though our arms were dumb.

We fight in Freedom's cause, denied this bliss?

Rafael:

No bliss is glorious, where in one realm The embattled squadrons of the state must fight Against their peers. Most pitiful it is, When brothers of the selfsame order must, At last, even by their brothers be o'ercome.

Oh! Stadtholder, for our sake, and for fear 360 Of G.o.d and of His threatened punishment, Send hence thy gathered legions, send them hence.

Oh! melt, I pray, beneath my prayers. I hear, 'Tis terrible! the chains a-forging now, That thee shall drag, when vanquished and bound, In triumph through the skies. And hark! I hear A din, and see the hosts of Michael draw With nearing tread. 'Tis time, yea, 'tis high time, Thou cease this mad attempt.

Lucifer: What profits it Even though unto the utmost I repent 370 Here is no hope of grace.

Rafael:

But I a.s.sure Thee mercy; for I now appoint myself Thy mediator up above and as Thy hostage there.