Be still! be still! thou art by Michael spied.
[Illustration: "Be still! Be still! thou art by Michael spied!"]
Where are we? What great noise arises here? This seems a court of tumult and dispute, Instead of peace, obedience, and faith. Prince Belzebub, what reasons move thee thus, Head of rebellious hordes, to aid a cause So pregnant with such godless treachery, Against that God the refuge of us all? 400
Mercy, O Michael! Deem us worthy words Explanatory, ere in zealous wrath Thou dost thy sentence for God's honor pass. Impute to us no guilt.
Your innocence Establish. I shall patiently attend.
The assemblage of so many thousand troops, Disturbed by God's command, through Gabriel's trumpet From out the Throne of Thrones proclaimed, demands Some mediation that shall quench this flame; Wherefore I came to gain a better sense 410 Of the ground of their complaints, to quell as best I could this mutiny. But they began With frantic haste and raving recklessness To force their clamorous claims upon me. I Then made attempt their forces to disperse (Let to my faith these faithful choristers Their witness bear), to counsel that they pour Their grievances before God's Throne; but 'mid This tumult and this clamor, vain my zeal, As if to calm a sea swollen to the skies. 420 Let now the Field-marshal lead on; we are Prepared to follow, if he see a way To smooth this difference.
Who dares oppose Himself to God and His most holy will? And who so bold these warlike banners thus To plant within the virgin Realm of peace? If ye through envoys wish to treat on high, For your defence, we will your cause assume And mediate with God that He forgive: Or else beware your heads! This ne'er succeeds. 430
And wouldst thou then oppress our holy Right By force of arms? Unto the Field-marshal They were not given for such purpose dire. We rest alone upon our vested Rights. Most bold and strong is conscious righteousness.
Least righteous he who would rebel 'gainst God.
We serve God. He has for His service found Us ever worthy. Let the Heavens remain In their first state. Nor let the honored sons Of the Fatherland celestial thus be placed 440 Beneath mankind in rank and dignity. For such disgrace the Thrones and Hierarchies, The Powers and Dominations, high and low, Of Spirits, of Angels, and of great Archangels, Shall ne'er endure. Ah! nay, although, forsooth, Thy lightning spear should pierce them, breast on breast, Through their most faithful hearts. From Adam's race We never shall such bold defiance brook.