Invincible. Abashed 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 impaired; yet seemed
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 reined, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb. To strive or fly
He held it vain; awe from above had quelled
His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined,
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,
Gabriel, from the front thus called 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 look defiance lours."

He scarce had ended, when those two approached And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, in what form and posture couched. To whom, with stern regard, thus Gabriel spake :"Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress

850

860

870

880

By thy example, but have power and right
To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

:

To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow "Gabriel, thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise; And such I held thee; but this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, Though thither doomed? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt,

And boldly venture to whatever place

890

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.

His will who bound us?

And wilt object

Let him surer bar

His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance. Thus much what was asked: 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,
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

However, and to scape his punishment!
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

910

Which taught thee yet no better that no pain

Can equal anger infinite provoked.

But wherefore thou alone?

Wherefore with thee

Came not all Hell broke loose? Is pain to them
Less pain, less to be fled? or thou than they
Less hardy to endure? Courageous chief,

The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleged

To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive."

920

930

To which the Fiend thus answered, 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. The blasting volleyed thunder made all speed, And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. But still thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behoves, From hard assays and ill successes past, A faithful leader-not to hazard all Through ways of danger by himself untried. I, therefore, I alone, first undertook To wing the desolate Abyss, and spy This new-created World, whereof in Hell Fame is not silent, here in hope to find Better abode, and my afflicted Powers To settle here on Earth, or in mid Air; Though for possession put to try once more What thou and thy gay legions dare against; Whose easier business were to serve their Lord High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight."

To whom the Warrior-Angel soon replied:"To say and straight unsay, pretending first Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, Argues no leader, but a liar traced,

940

Satan; and couldst thou 'faithful' add?
O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Army of fiends, fit body to fit head!

O name, 950

Was this your discipline and faith engaged,
Your military obedience, to dissolve
Allegiance to the acknowledged Power Supreme?
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou

Once fawned, 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 areed thee now: Avaunt!

Fly thither whence thou fledd'st. If from this hour
Within these hallowed limits thou appear,
Back to the Infernal Pit I drag thee chained,
And seal thee so as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred."

So threatened he; but Satan to no threats
Gave heed, but, waxing more in rage, replied :—
"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,
Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels
In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved."
While thus he spake, the angelic squadron bright
Turned fiery red, sharpening in moonèd 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 way the wind
Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands
Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves

970

980

Prove chaff.

On the other side, Satan, alarmed,

Collecting all his might, dilated stood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved :

His stature reached the sky, and on his crest

Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp

What seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds Might have ensued; nor only Paradise,

In this commotion, but the starry cope

Of Heaven perhaps, or all the Elements.

At least, had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn.
With violence of this conflict, had not soon

The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,

Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen
Betwixt Astræa and the Scorpion sign,
Wherein all things created first he weighed,
The pendulous round Earth with balanced air
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms. In these he put two weights,
The sequel each of parting and of fight :

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam ;
Which Gabriel spying thus bespake the Fiend :-

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine,

Neither our own, but given; what folly then

To boast what arms can do! since thine no more

Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now
To trample thee as mire. For proof look up,

And read thy lot in yon celestial sign,

991

1000

ΙΟΙΟ

Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak

If thou resist." The Fiend looked up, and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murmuring; and with him fled the shades of Night.

THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK