But faded fplendor wan; who by his gate
And fierce demeanour feems the Prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without conteft;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

870

He fcarce had ended when thefe two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and pofture couch'd. 876 To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to tranfgrefs By thy example, but have power and right To question thy bold entrance on this place; Imploy'd it seems to violate fleep, and those Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow. Gabriel, thou hadft in Heav'n th'efteem of wife, 886 And fuch I held thee; but this question askt Futs me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, Tho' thither doom'd? Thou would thy felf, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place

891

Fartheft from pain, where thou might ft hope to change
Torment with ease, and fooneft recompence
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reason; who knowft only good, 395.
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 askt

The rest 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 scap'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 prescrib'd ;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to fcape his punishment.

910

So judge thou ftill, prefumptuous, till the wrauth,
Which thou incur'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

916

920

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 endure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alledg'd
To thy deferted host this cause of flight,
Thou furely hadft not come fole fugitive.

925

To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning ftern. Not that I lefs endure, or shrink from pain, Infulting Angel, well thou knowft I stood Thy fierceft, when in Battel to thy aide Thy blafting vollied Thunder made all speed And feconded thy elfe not dreaded Spear,

But ftill thy words at random, as before,

930

Argue thy inexperience what behooves
From hard affaies and ill fucceffes past,

A faithful Leader, not to hazard all

935

Through ways of danger by himself untry'd ;
I therefore, I alone first undertook
To wing the defolate Abyss, and spie
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 Songs to hymn his Throne,
And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight.

To whom the warriour Angel foon reply'd,

To fay and ftrait unfay, pretending first

Wife to flie pain, profeffing next the Spy,

Argues no Leader but a Liar trac'd,

940

945

Satan, and couldft thou faithful add? O name, 950

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 ingag'd,
Your military obedience, to diffolve
Allegeance to th'acknowledg'd Power fupream?
And thou fly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervilly ador'd

955

Heav'ns awful Monarch wherefore but in hope To difpoffefs him, and thy felf to reign?

But mark what I arreede thee now, avant;

961

965

Flie 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 Seal thee fo, as henceforth not to scorn
The facil gates of hell too flightly barr'd.

971

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 chaines, Proud limitary Cherube, but e'er then Far heavier load thy felf expect to feel From my prevailing arm, though Heavens King Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers, Us'd to the yoak, draw'ft his triumphant wheels 975 In progrefs through the rode of Heav'n Star-pav'd. While thus he fpake, th' Angelic Squadron bright Turn'd fiery red, sharpning 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

980

Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful Plowman doubting ftands, Leaft on the threshing floore his hopeful theaves Prove chaff. On th'other fide Satan alarm'd Collecting all his might dilated stood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

His ftature reach'd the Sky, and on his Creft
Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his grafpe

985

What feem'd bothSpear and Shield: now dreadful deeds
Might have enfu'd, not only Paradife

In this commotion, but the Starry Cope
Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the Elements

At least had gone to rack, disturb'd and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not soon
Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray

991

995

Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen Betwixt Aftrea and the Scorpion fign,

Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,

The pendulous round Earth with ballanc'd Air 1000 In counterpoife, now ponders all events,

Battels and Realms in thefe he put two weights The fequel each of parting and of fight;

The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam; Which Gabriel fpying, thus befpake the Fiend. 1005

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine, Neither our own but giv'n; what folly then To boast what Arms can do, fince thine no more Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubl'd now To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, 1010 And read thy Lot in yon celeftial Sign

Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how If thou refift. The Fiend lookt up, and knew (weak, His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled 1014 Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night,

The End of the Fourth Book