Like gentle breathes from rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure..
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Against a rumour'd war, the fimutty grain
With fudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air;
So started up in his own shape the find.
Back stept those two fair angels, half amaz'd
So fudden to behold the grifly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accost him foon.
Which of those rebel spirits adjudg'd to hell
Com'ft thou, escap'd thy prifon? and transform'd
Why fat'st thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that fleep?
Know ye not then, said Satan, fill'd with scorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there fitting where ye durst not foar:
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin:
Your message, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, answ'ring scorn with scorn.Think not, revolted spi'rit, thy shape the fame, 8355 Or undiminish'd brightness to be known, As when thou stood'it in heav'n upright and pure;. That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Departed from thee'; and thou resembleft now Thy fin and place of doom obfcure and foul.
But come, for thou, be fure, shalt give account
To him who fent us, whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So spake the cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abash'd the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and faw
Virtue' in her shape how lovely; faw, and pin'd
His loss; but chiefly to find here observ'd
His lußre visibly impair'd, yet seem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Best with the best, the sender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or less be lost. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial 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
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd
His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd,
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief
Gabriel from the front thus call'd aloud..
O friends, I hear the trade of nimble feet
Hafting this way, and now by glimpse difcern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the thade;
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded splendour 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 tours.
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. 876
To whom, with stern regard, thus Gabriel spake.
Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd
To thy tranfgrefions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to transgress
By thy example, but have pow'r and right
To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Employ'd it feems to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?
To whom thus Satan with contempt'ous brow. 885
Gabriel, thou had'st in heav'n th'esteem of wife,
And fuch I held thee; but this question ask'd
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?
Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell,
Tho' thither doom'd? Thou would'st thyself, no doubt,
And boldly venture to whatever place
Farthest from pain, where thou might'st hope to change
Torment with ease, and foonest recompence
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reason, who know'st only good,
But evil haft not try'd and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him surer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay
In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd. 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 mov'd, Difdainfully half-fmiling, 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 'scap'd, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither Unlicens'd from his bounds in hell prescrib'd;
So wife 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
Sev'nfold, and scourge that wisdom back to hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 918
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.
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; hadit thou alledg'd
To thy deferted host this cause of flight,
Thou furely hadst not come sole fugitive.
To which the fiend thus answer'd, 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 volied thunder made all speed, And feconded thy else not dreaded spear. But ftill thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behoves From hard essays and ill successes 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 desolate abyss, and spy
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 possession put to try once more
What thou and thy gay legions dare against;
Whose eafier business were to serve 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 say and strait unsay, pretending first
Wife to fly pain, professing next the spy,
Argues no leader, but a liar trac'd,
Satan, and couldst 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 difcipline and faith engag'd,
Your military obedience, to diffolve..
Allegiance to the acknowledg'd Power fupreme?
And thou, fly hyprocrite, who now would feem
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
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant;
Fly thither whence thou fledst: if from this hour
Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
And feal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn
The facile 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 ere then Far heavier load thyself expect to feel From my prevailing arm, tho' 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 through the road of heav'n star-pav'd. While thus he spake, th' angelic squadron bright Turn'd fiery red, tharp'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
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