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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.

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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.

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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

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

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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

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Lefs hardy to indure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadft thou alledg'd
To thy deferted hoft this cause of flight,
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Thou

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

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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

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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

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High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn his throne, And practis'd diftances to cringe, not fight.

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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!

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Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?

Army

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

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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

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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

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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

985

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;

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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,

ΠΟΙΟ

Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, howweak,

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