In that dark durance! thus much what was ask'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 boldnefs brought him hither
Un-licens'd, from his bounds in hell prescrib'd:
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to fcape his punishment!

So judge thou fill, prefumptuous! till the wrath,
Which thou incur❜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 where forehou 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? couragious Chief!
The first in flight from pain! Hadft thou alledg'd
To thy deferted hoft this caufe of flight,
Thou furely hadft not come fole fugitive

To which the fiend thus anfwer'd, frowning
ftern.

Not that I lefs endure, or shrink from pain,
Infulting Angel! well thou know'ft I stood
Thy fierceft, when in battel to thy aid

The blasting vollied thunder made all speed,
And feconded thy else not dreaded fpear.
But ftill thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy in-experience, what behoves,
From hard affays, and ill fucceffes paft, )
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 Pow'rs
To fettle here on earth, or in mid air;
Though, for poffeffion, pur to try once more
What thou, and thy gay legions, dare against :
Whofe eafier bufinefs were to ferve their Lord
High up in heav'n, with fongs to hymn His thro

ne,

And practis'd diftances 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 fpy, 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 supreme

And thou, fly hypocrite! who now wouldft seem 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?
But mark what I aread 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 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,
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'ft his triumphant wheels
In progrefs thro' the road of heav'n ftar-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 fpears; as thick, as when a field
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,

·Collecting all his might, dilated stood

Like Tenerif, or Atlas, un-remov'd :
His fature reach'd the sky, and on his creft

Sat Horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grafp
What feem'd both spear, and shield. Now dread-
ful deeds

and torn

Might have ensu’d: not only Paradise
In this commotion, but the ftarry cope
Of heav'n perhaps, or all the elements,
At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd,
With violence of this conflict, had not foon
Th' Eternal, to prevent fuch horrid fray,
Hung forth in heav'n his golden fcales, yet feen
Betwixt Aftræa, and the Scorpion Sign,
(Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth, with balanç'd air
In counterpoife; now, ponders all events,
Battels, and realms :) in these he put two weights,
The fequel each of parting, and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam:
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the fiend.

Satan! I know thy ftrength, and thou know'st
mine:

Neither our own, but giv'n : what folly then
To boaft what arms can do? fince thine no more
Than heav'n permits; nor mine, tho' doubled now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
And read thy lot in yon cœleftial Sign;
Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light,
how weak,

If thou refift.... The fiend look'd up, and knew His mounted fcale aloft: nor more; but fled Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night.

The End of the fourth Book.