How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. 876 880 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; 885 Gabriel! thou had'st 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 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 891 895 His will who bound 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; 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 905 910 So judge thou still presumptuous! till the wrath, 915 But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 920 Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. To which the fiend thus answer'd, 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 925 The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, This new created world, whereof in Hell 930 935 940 Though for possession put to try once more High up in Heaven. with songs to hymn his throne 945 Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, Argues no leader but a liar traced, Satan, and couldst thou faithful' add? O name, 950 O sacred name of faithfulness profane! Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. Was this your discipline and faith engaged, 955 Once fawn'd, and cringed, and servilely adored Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope 960 To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? But mark what I arreed thee now, Avaunt! Fly thither whence thou fledst! If from this hour 965 970 From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King With ported spears, as thick as when a field 980 Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands, Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeless sheaves Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest [deeds Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp What seem'd both spear and shield: now dreadful Might have ensued, nor only Paradise 991 In this commotion, but the starry cope Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd and torn The Eternal to prevent such horrid fray, Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen The latter quick up flew and kick'd the beam; 995 1000 Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend: 1005 To boast what arms can do? since thine no more 1010 [weak Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.1015 |