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Thy fin, and place of doom, obfcure, and foul. 840
But come! for thou, be fure, fhalt 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 abash'd the devil ftood,

845

850

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 vifibly impair'd: yet seem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the beft, 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 tryal what the least can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
The fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: to strive, or fly,

855

He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd 860
His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
Juft met, and clofing stood in fquadron join'd,
Awaiting next command; to whom their Chief,
Gabriel, from the Front thus call'd aloud. 865

O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hafting this way; and now by glimps difcern
Ithuriel, and Zephon, through the shade;
And with them comes a third of regal port,

But faded fplendor wan; who by his gait,
And fierce demeanor, feems the Prince of hell:
Not likely to part hence without conteft :
Stand firm, for in his look defiance low'rs.

870

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form, and pofture, couch'd: 876 To whom with ftern regard thus Gabriel fpake.

880

Why haft thou, Satan! broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy tranfgreffions, and difturb'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 thofe Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in blifs?

887

To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow: 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 loofe from hell, Tho' thither doom'd? thou wouldst thyfelf, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place,

891 Fartheft from pain; where thou might'ft hope to Torment with ease, and fooneft recompenfe [change Dole with delight; which in this place I fought: To thee no reason, who know'ft only good, 895 But evil haft not try'd. And wilt object

His will who bounds 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.

905

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
Un-licens'd, from his bounds in hell prefcrib'd:
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to scape his punishment !

910

So judge thou ftill, prefumptuous! till the wrath,
Which thou incur ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and fcourge that wisdom back to hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

915

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee
Came not all hell broke loofe? is pain to them
Lefs pain, lefs to be filed? or thou than they
Lefs hardy to endure? couragious Chief!
The first in flight from pain! Hadft thou alledg'd
To thy deferted hoft this cause of flight,
Thou furely hadft not come fole fugitive.

920

To which the fiend thus anfwer'd, frowning stern. Not that I lefs endure, or fhrink from pain, 925 Infulting Angel! well thou know'ft I ftood Thy fierceft, when in battel to thy aid The blafting vollied thunder made all speed, And feconded thy elfe not dreaded spear.

But ftill thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy in-experience, what behoves,
(From hard affays, and ill fucceffes past,)
A faithful Leader, not to hazard all

930

Through ways of danger, by himself untry'd:
I therefore, I alone, firft undertook

935

To wing the defolate abyfs, and spy

940

This new-created world, whereof in hell
Fame is not filent; here in hope to find
Better abode, and my afflicted Pow'rs
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 :
Whose easier business were to ferve their Lord
High up in heav'n, with fongs to hymn His throne,
And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight. 945
To whom the warrior Angel foon reply'd:
To fay, and ftrait unfay, pretending first
Wife to fly pain, professing next the spy,
Argues no Leader, but a liar trac'd,

Satan! and could 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 difcipline, and faith engag'd,
Your military obedience, to diffolve

Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Pow'r fupreme?

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And thou, fly hypocrite! who now wouldft feem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervily ador'd

Heav'n's awful Monarch? wherefore? but in hope

To difpoffefs him, and thy felf to reign?

961

But mark what I aread thee now: avant!

965

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, 970
Proud limitary Cherub! but e'er then

Far heavier load thy felf 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 progress thro' the road of heav'n star-pav'd.

While thus he fpake, th' Angelic fquadron bright Turn'd fiery red, sharpning in mooned horns Their phalanx, and began to hem him round With ported fpears; as thick, as when a field 980 Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful plowman doubting ftands, Left on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff. On th' other fide, Satan alarm'd, 985 Collecting all his might, dilated stood

Like Tenerif, or Atlas, un-remov'd:

His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his creft
Sat Horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grafp

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