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

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped
The bars of hell, on errand bad no doubt:

Such, where you find, seize fast, and hither bring.'
So saying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct

795

In search of whom they sought: him there they found

Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,
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

800

The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise

805

Like gentle breaths from rivers pure; thence raise
At last distemper'd, discontented thoughts,

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,

Blown up with high conceits engendering 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,

810

792. this evening (one) arrived from that quarter where the sun sets who tells,' &c. see 1. 555.

796. hither: i. e. to me, wherever I happen to be: Dr. Bentley reads thither, viz. to the west, as in 1. 784.

6

804. Or (assaying) if, inspiring venom. So Virg. Æn. vii. 331. where the serpent, that the fury Alecto had flung upon Amata, creeps softly over her, Vipeream inspirans animam. RICHARDSON. 812. touch (from a weapon) of celestial temper: see i. 285.

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 fiend.
Back stept those two fair angels, half amazed
So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon :

815

820

825

Which of those rebel spirits adjudged to hell Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and transform'd, Why satt'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 ?'

830

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with

scorn:

• Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same, 835 Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,

As when thou stood'st in heaven upright and pure ;

816. tun: fr. the French tonneau, any cask or vessel; a barrel. 823. Which of those rebel spirits art thou that comest hither?' A Greek construction: Hom. Il. Κ. 82. τίς δ ̓ οὗτος κατὰ νῆας ἀνὰ στρατὸν ἔρχεαι οἶος ;

832. superfluous: for superfluously: with unnecessary preamble. 836. Or that thy brightness, being undiminished, can be known or recognised, as when,' &c.

Mil.

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,
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

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.'
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

840

845

850

855

843. Virg. Æn. v. 344. Gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus." N. Milton's meaning is: his grave rebuke added an irresistible grace to his youthful beauty.'

848. Cic. de Off. i. 5. • Formam quidem ipsam et quasi faciem honesti vides, quæ si oculis cerneretur, mirabiles amores (ut ait Plato) excitaret sapientiæ.'' N.

saw, and pined his loss. intabescantque relicta.'' N.

Pers. Sat. iii. 38. Virtutem videant

858. Literally from what Mercury says to Prometheus: Æsch. Prom. v. 1045.

δακὼν δὲ στόμιον ὡς νεοζυγὴς
πῶλος, βιάζει καὶ πρὸς ἡνίας μάχει. THYER.

860

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,
Gabriël, from the front thus call'd aloud :

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
And fierce demeanour seems the prince of hell,
Not likely to part hence without contést;
Stand firm, for in his looks defiance lours.'

865

870

880

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. 876 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 hadst in heaven the esteem of wise,

865. Gabriel: three syllables: so Michaël, ii. 294. Uriël, iii. 648.

869. port: carriage, bearing: Fr. portée. 877. with stern regard: úñódpa idàv, Hom.

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 whatever place

890

895

Farthest 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 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;
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

900

905

910

892. change torment with ease: the Latin idiom: 'glandem mutavit arista,' Virg. G. i. 8.' N.

894. dole: fr. dolor: grief, sorrow, pain: Shakspeare, Hamlet: 'In equal scale, weighing delight and dole.'

895. To thee this may be no reason, &c. and thou wilt perhaps object his will who bound or confined us.'

904. of wise: what is wise, wisdom: see 1. 115. 316.