Your meffage, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with fcorn. Think not, revolted Spi'rit, thy shape the fame,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in Heav'n upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee'; and thou resembleft now
Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foul.
But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abafh'd the Devil ftood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and faw
Virtue' in her shape how lovely; faw, and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the best, the fender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But, like a proud fteed 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 elfe dismay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
.. VOL. I.
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 discern
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 scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, 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 queftion thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it feems to violate fleep, and those Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in bliss ? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise, And fuch 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 And boldly venture to whatever place
[doubt, Fartheft from pain, where thou might'ft hope to change
Torment with ease, and fooneft recompenfe
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reason, who know't 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 wife
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
Unlicenc'd from his bounds in Hell prefcrib'd;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to fcape his punishment.
So judge thou still, prefumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and fcourge that wifdom 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 firft in flight from pain, hadft thou alledg`d
To thy deferted host this cause of flight,
K 2
Thou furely hadft not come fole fugitive.
To which the Fiend thus anfwer'd frowning ftern. Not that I lefs indure, or shrink from pain, Infulting Angel; well thou know'st I stood Thy fierceft, when in battel to thy aid The blasting volied thunder made all speed, And feconded thy else not dreaded spear. But still thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behoves From hard affays and ill fucceffes paft
A faithful leader, not to hazard all
Through ways of danger by himself untry'd :
I therefore, I alone first undertook
To wing the defolate abyfs, and spy
This new created world, whereof in Hell
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 eafier bufinefs were to ferve their Lord
High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn his throne, And practis'd distances 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 couldft thou faithful add? O name,
O facred name of faithfulness 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 servily ador'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 fledft: if from this hour
Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
And feal thee fo, 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'st his triumphant wheels 975
In progrefs through the road of Heav'n star-pav'd.
While thus he fpake, th' angelic fquadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round
With ported spears, as thick as when a field
Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends
Her bearded grove
of ears, which
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