Juft met, and clofing stood in fquadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief Gabriël from the front thus call'd aloud.
O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hafting this way, and now by glimpse difcern Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, And with them comes a third of regal port, But faded fplendor wan; who by his gate And fierce demeanour feems the prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without contest; Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.
He fcarce had ended, when thofe two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and posture couch'd.
To whom with ftern regard thus Gabriel fpake. Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to tranfgrefs By thy example, but have pow'r and right To question thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it feems to violate fleep, and thofe Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in blifs? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadft in Heav'n th' efteem of wife, And fuch I held thee; but this question afk'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 And boldly venture to whatever place [doubt, Fartheft from pain, where thou might'ft hope to change
Torment with eafe, and fooneft recompenfe
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought; To thee no reason, who know'st only good, But evil haft not try'd: and wilt object His will who bound us? let him furer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay
In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd. The reft is true, they found me where they fay; 900 But that implies not violence or harm.
Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd, Disdainfully half smiling thus reply'd.
O lofs of one in Heav'n to judge of wife, Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, And now returns him from his prifon fcap'd, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither Unlicenc'd from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd; So wife he judges it to fly from pain However, and to fcape his punishment.
So judge thou ftill, prefumptuous, till the wrath, Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight Sev'nfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain Can equal anger infinite provok'd.
But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee Came not all Hell broke loofe? is pain to them Lefs pain, lefs to be fled? or thou than they
Lefs hardy to indure? courageous Chief, The first in flight from pain, hadft thou alledg'd To thy deferted hoft this cause of flight, K 2
Thou furely hadft not come fole fugitive.
To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning stern. Not that I lefs indure, or fhrink from pain, Infulting Angel; well thou know'ft I stood Thy fierceft, when in battel to thy aid
The blafting volied thunder made all speed, And feconded thy elfe not dreaded spear. But ftill thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behoves From hard affays and ill fucceffes past
Fame is not filent, here in hope to find Better abode, and my afflicted Powers To fettle here on earth, or in mid air; Though for poffeffion put to try once more What thou and thy gay legions dare against ; Whofe easier business were to serve their Lord
High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn his throne, And practis'd diftances to cringe, not fight.
To whom the warrior Angel foon reply'd.
To fay and ftrait unfay, pretending first
Wife to fly pain, profeffing next the spy,
Argues no leader but a liar trac'd,
Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, O facred name of faithfulnefs profan'd!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head,
Was this your discipline and faith engag'd, Your military obedience, to diffolve
Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Power fupreme? And thou, fly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervily adør`d Heav'n's awful monarch? wherefore but in hope 960 To difpoffefs him, and thyfelf to reign? But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; Fly thither whence thou filedft: if from this hour Within thefe hallow'd limits thou appear, Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd, And feal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn. The facil gates of Hell too flightly barr'd.
So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats Gave heed, but waxing more in rage reply'd.
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, Us'd to the yoke, draw'ft his triumphant wheels In progress through the road of Heav'n star-pav'd. While thus he fpake, th' angelic fquadron bright Turn'd fiery red, fharp'ning in mooned horns Their phalanx, and began to hem him round With ported fpears, 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 plowman doubting stands, Left on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff. On t'other fide Satan alarm'd Collecting all his might dilated stood, Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:
His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his crest Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grafp
What feem'd both spear and fhield: now dreadful deeds Might have enfu'd, nor only Paradife
In this commotion, but the ftarry cope
Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the elements
At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn With violence of this conflict, had not foon Th' Eternal to prevent fuch horrid fray
Hung forth in Heav'n his golden fcales, yet seen Betwixt Aftrea and the Scorpion fign,
Wherein all things created firft he weigh'd, The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air In counterpoife, now ponders all events, Battels and realms: in these he put two weights The fequel each of parting and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel fpying, thus befpake the Fiend. roog Satan, I know thy ftrength, and thou know'st mine; Neither our own, but giv'n: what folly then
To boast what arms can do? fince thine no more Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubled now Fo trample thee as mire: for proof look up, And read thy lot in yon celeftial sign,
Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, howweak,
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