Juft 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
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 spake. Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prefcrib'd To thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress 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 blifs? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 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 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 reafon, who know'ft 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;
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 ftill, 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 first in flight from pain, hadft thou alledg'd
To thy deferted hoft this caufe of flight,
K 2
Thou surely hadft not come fole fugitive.
To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning ftern.
Not that I lefs indure, or fhrink 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 elfe not dreaded spear.
But ftill thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy inexperience what behoves
From hard affays and ill fucceffes past
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 easier 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 thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant;
Fly thither whence thou fledft: if from this hour
Within thefe hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
And feal thee fo, as henceforth not to fcorn
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 thyfelf 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
In progress through the road of Heav'n star-pav'd.
While thus he fpake, th' angelic squadron 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 way the wind
Sole, or refponfive each to others note,
Singing their great Creator? oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk 685
With heav'nly touch of inftrumental founds
In full harmonic number join'd, their fongs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking hand in hand alone they pafs'd
On to their blissful bow'r; it was a place
Chos'n by the fovran Planter, when he fram'd·
All things to Man's delightful ufe; the roof
Of thickeft covert was inwoven shade
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf on either side
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, Iris all hues, rofes, and jeffamin,
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought Mofaic; underfoot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broider'd the ground, more color'd than with ftone
Of coftlieft emblem: other creature here,
Beaft, bird, infect, or worm, durft enter none,
Such was their awe of Man. In fhadier bower
More facred and fequefter'd, though but feign'd,
Pan or Sylvanus never flept, nor Nymph,
Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recefs
With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs
Ffpoufed Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the hymenæan sung,
What day the genial Angel to our fire
|