Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
Blown up with high conceits engendering pride,
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly: for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts
Discover'd and surprised. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain,
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air;
So started up in his own shape the Fiend
Back stepp'd those two fair Angels, half amazed
So sudden to behold the grisly king;

Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon:
Which of those rebel spirits adjudged to Hell'
Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transform'd,
Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?"
"Know ye not then, said Satan, fill'd with scorn
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar:
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain?"

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn:
Think not revolted spirit, thy shape the same,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,

As when thou stood'st in Heaven upright and pure :
That glory then, when thou no more wast good,
Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now
Thy sin and place of doom, obscure and foul.
But come; for thou, be sure shalt give account
To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm."

So spake the Cherub: and his grave rebuke, Severel in youthful beauty, added grace Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined
His loss; but chiefly to find here observed
His lustre visibly impar'd; yet seem'd
Undaunted. "If I must contend" said he,
"Best with the best, the sender not the scnt,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Orless be lost." "Thy fear," said Zephon bold,
"Will save us trial what the least can do
Single against the wicked, and thence weak."
The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly
He held it vain ; awe from above had quell'd
His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew the nigh
The western point, where those half rounding guards
Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd,
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,
Gabriel, from the front thus call'd aloud:

"O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting this way, and now by glimps discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shades;
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded splendor wan; who by his gait
And fierce demeanor seems the prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without contest;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours."

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, in what form and posture couch'd.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake "Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge

Of others, who approve not to transgress

By thy example, but have power and right
To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Employ'd it seems, to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?"

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow:
"Gabriel! thou hadst in Heaven'the esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but this question asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?
Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
Though thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt,
And boldly venture to whatever place

Farthest from pain, where thou might'st hope to change
Torment with ease, and soonest recompense
Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;
To thee no reason, who know'st only good,
But evil hast not tried: and wilt object
His will who bounds us? Let him surer bar

His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd.
The rest is true, they found me where they say;

But that implies not violence or harm. "

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved,
Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied;
"A loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him from his prison escaped,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed;
So wise he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to escape his punishment!
So judge thou still presumptuous! till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provoked,

But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee
Came not all Hell broke loose? Is pain to them
Less pain, less to be fled; or thou than they
Less hardy to endure? Courageous chief!
The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alledged
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugative."

To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern: "Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, Insulting Angel! well thou know'st I stood Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. But still thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behoves From hard assays and ill successes pass'd A faithful leader, not to hazard all Through ways of danger by himself untried: I, therefore, I alone first undertook To wing the desolate abyss, and spy This new created world, Whereof in Hell Fame is not silent, here in hope to find Better abode, and my afflicted powers To settle here on Earth, or in mid air; Though for possession p it to try once more What thou and thy gay legions dare against; Whose easier business were to serve their Lord High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight."

To whom the warrior Angel soon replied: "To say and straight unsay, pretending first Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, Argues no leader but a liar traced,

Satan, and could'st thou 'faithful' add? O name,

O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!

Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head.

Was this your discipline and faith engaged,
Your military obedience, to dissolve

Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now would'st see m
Patron of liberty, who more than thou

Once fawn'd and cringed, and servilely adored
Heaven's awful monarch? Wherefore, but in hope
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I avead thee now, Avant!
Fly thither whence thou fledst! If from this hour
Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to the infernal pitt I drag thee chain'd,
And seal thee so as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of Hell too slightly barr'd."

So threatened he; but Satan to no threats
Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied:
"Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,
Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then
Far heavier load thyself expect to feel

From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King
Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,
Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels
In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved.
While thus he spake, the Angelic squadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, sharpening in moned horns
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round
With ported spears, as thick as when a field
Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends

Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind

Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands,
Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeless sheaves
Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan alarm'd,

Collected all his might dilated stood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved:

His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest
Sat horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp

What seemed both spear and shield; now dreadful deeds