Lucifer monologue (Act 3) — Vondel's Lucifer

That sound doth please me more than Gabriel's trump. Attend and listen, ye, beneath this throne; Attend, ye chiefs; attend, ye valiant knights, 120 And hear our charge, in words both clear and brief. Ye know how far in our revengeful course, Against the Ruler of the palaces Supreme, we have advanced: so that it were For us but folly to retreat with hope Of reconciliation; how none dares To think to purify, through mercy, this Our stain indelible: necessity Must therefore be our law, a stronghold sure. From which there is no wavering nor retreat. 130 Defend ye then, ne'er looking back, with all Your might, this standard and my star: in brief The free-created state all Angels own. Let things proceed howe'er they will, press on With heart undaunted and with cheerfulness. Not even the Omnipotence on high hath power Completely to annihilate the being That ye have once, for all eternity. Received. In case ye fiercely shall attack With your whole force, and pierce with violence 140 The heart of your great foe, and chance to win: So shall the hated tyranny of Heaven Into a state of freedom then be changed, And Adam's son and seed, crowned us above In honor, with a retinue of Earth Around, shall not then chain your necks unto The fetters of a slavish bondage that Would make you sweat for him and pant beneath The brazen yoke of servitude forever. If now ye own me as the head and chief 150 Of your free state, even as just now ye swore With one full voice beneath this standard bright, So raise that binding oath again together, That we may hear; and swear allegiance And loyalty unto our morning-star,