Invincible. Abashed the Devil stood, The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; "O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet 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 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, And now returns him from his prison scaped, However, and to scape his punishment! 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 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 name, 950 Was this your discipline and faith engaged, Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored But mark what I areed thee now: Avaunt! Fly thither whence thou fledd'st. If from this hour So threatened he; but Satan to no threats From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 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. The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam ; 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 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 THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK |