The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud fteed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: to ftrive or fly
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd
His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point, where thofe half rounding guards
Juft met, and closing ftood in fquadron join'd,
Awaiting next command; to whom their Chief,
GABRIEL, from the front thus call'd aloud.
O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hafting this way, and now by glimps difcern
ITHURIEL and ZEPHON through the fhade,
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.
He scarce had ended when thofe 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.
Why haft thou, SATAN, broke the bounds prefcrib'd To thy transgreffions, and difturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgrefs By thy example, but have pow'r and right To queftion thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it seems to violate fleep, and thofe Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?
To whom thus SATAN with contemptuous brow. GABRIEL, thou hadst in Heav'n th'efteem of wise, 886 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 loofe from Hell, Tho' thither doom'd? thou would'ft thy felf, no doubt,
And boldly venture to whatever place,
Fartheft from pain; where thou migh'ft hope to change
Torment with eafe, 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 fay
In that daik durance! thus much what was ask'd: The reft is true: they found me where they fay; 9c0 But that implies not violence, or harm.
Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd, Disdainfully half fmiling, thus reply'd. Olofs 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 Unlicens'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 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 915
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 firft 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 indure, or fhrink from pain, Infulting Angel, well thou knowft; I ftood
The fierceft, when in battel to thy aid
The blafting vollied thunder made all speed,
And feconded thy else not dreaded fpear.
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 Abyss, and fpy
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;
Whofe eafier bufinefs were to ferve their Lord
High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn his throne,
And practis'd diftances to cringe, not fight.
To whom the warrior Angel foon reply'd:
To fay, and ftraight un-fay, pretending first
Wife to fly pain, profeffing 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 th' acknowledg'd Pow'r supreme?
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 960
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
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