These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept. 775 780 Now had night measured with her shadowy core Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, And from their ivory port the Cherubim, Forth issuing at the accustom'd hour, stood arm'd To their night watches in warlike parade; When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake: Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. From these two strong and subtle Spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed 785 Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook; This evening from the sun's decline arrived, 795 Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped In search of whom they sought: Him there they found Dazzling the moon; these fo the bower direct Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, 800 Assaying by his devilish art to reach The organs of her fancy, and with them forge Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint The animal spirits that from pure blood arise 805 Like gentle breaths, from rivers pure, thence raise At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, 810 815 820 Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. Your message, like to end as much in vain ? 825 830 835 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, Severe in youthful beauty, added grace Invincible: Abash'd the Devil stood, 840 845 And felt how awful goodness is, and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined 850 His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd 855 860 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 they 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: 865 O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet 870 And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without contest; He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, 875 How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake 880 To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow: 885 Furthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change 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. 895 The rest is true, they found me where they say; 900 But that implies not violence or harm. Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise So judge thou still presumptuous! till the wrath, But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 905 910 915 920 To thy deserted host this cause of flight, Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. To which the Fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern: 925 Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 930 Through ways of danger by himself untried : I, therefore, I alone first undertook 935 To wing the desolate abyss, and spy This new created world, whereof in Hell 940 High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight. 645 To whom the warrior Angel soon replied: To say and straight unsay, pretending first Satan, and coulast thou 'faithful' add? O name, 950 Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. Was this your discipline and faith engaged, Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? 955 |