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These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept.
And on their naked limbs the flowery roof
Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Bless'd pair! and O' yet happiest, if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more.

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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

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Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790
Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm.

This evening from the sun's decline arrived,
Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen

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Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt;
Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.
So saying, on he led his radiant files,

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,

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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

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Like gentle breaths, from rivers pure, thence raise

At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,

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Blown up with high conceits ingendering 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 rumour'd war, the smutty grain,
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air;
So started up in his own shape the F'iend.
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 ?

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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,

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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

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His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,
Best with the best, the sender, not the sent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold,
Will save us trial what the least can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

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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:

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O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade;
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded splendour wan; who by his gait

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And fierce demeanour 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, 875 How busied, in what form and posture couch'd.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake
Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribe
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'

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To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow: 885
Gabriel! thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but this question ask'd
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 what ever place
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Furthest from pain, where thou mightst 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.

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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,
Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied:

O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him from his prison scaped,
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 scape 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 alleged

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To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

To which the Fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern:

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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

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Through ways of danger by himself untried :

I, therefore, I alone first undertook

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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 put to try once more
What thou and thy gay legions dare against;
Whose easier business were to serve their Lord

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High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight.

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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 coulast thou 'faithful' add? O name, 950
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 wouldst seem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou

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