So started up in his own shape the Fiend,
Back stept those two fair Angels, half amaz’d
So sudden to behold the grisly king;

Yet thus, unmov'd with fear accost him soon.
"Which of those rebel Spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison? and transform❜d,
Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?"
"Know ye not then," said Satan fill'd with scorn,
"Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you there sitting where ye durst not soar :
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

820

825

830

Your message, like to end as much in vain ?”

To whom thus Zephon, answ'ring scorn with scorn.
Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,

835

Or undiminish'd brightness to be known

As when thou stood'st in Heav'n upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more wast good,
Departed from thee'; and thou resemblest now
Thy sin and place of doom, obscure and foul.
But come, for thou, be sure, shait give account
To him who sent 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,

840

845

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Virtue' in her shape how lovely; saw, and pin'd
His loss; but chiefly to find her observ'd

His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd

Undaunted.

850

If I must contend," said he,

"Best with the best, the sender not the sent,

Or all at once; more glory will be won,

Or less be lost." 66 Thy fear," said Zephon bold,
Will save us trial what the least can do

955

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
Gabriël from the front thus call'd aloud.

"O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded splendour wan; who, by his gait
And fierce demeanour, seems the prince of Hell,

Not likely to part hence without contest;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance low'rs."

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd,

.860

863

870

And brief related whom they brought, where found, 875 How busied, in what form and posture couch'd.

.880

885

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy transgressions, 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 seems to violate sleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss ?" To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise, And such 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 wouldst thyself, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place 391 Farthest from pain, where thou might'st hope to change Torment with ease, and soonest recompense Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; To thee no reason, who know'st only good, But evil hast not try'd; and wilt object His will who bound us? let him surer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay

895

In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd.
The rest is true, they found me where they say;
But that implies not violence or harm."

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,
Disdainfully, half-smilling, thus reply'd.
"O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise,
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him from his prison scap'd,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise,

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither,

901

905

Unlicens'd, from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd;
So wise he judges it to fly from pain

910

However, and to scape his punishment.

judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath,
Which hou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, a scourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught the ret no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infine ovok'd.

But wherefore thou alone?refore with thee
Came not all Hell broke loose? pain to them
Less pain, less to be fled? or thou tha they
Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief,

915

920

The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleg'd

To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive."

To which the Fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern.
Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,

925

Insulting Angel: well thou know'st I stood
Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid
The blasting vollied thunder made all speed,
And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.
But still thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy inexperience what behoves,
From hard assays and ill successes past,

930

A faithful leader, not to hazard all

Through ways of danger by himself untry'd:

I therefore, I alone first undertook

935

To wing the desolate abyss, and spy

This new-created world, whereof in Hell
Fame is not silent, here in hope to find

Better abode and my afflicted Powers
To settle here on earth, or in mid-air ;
Though for possession put to try once more
What thou and tny gay legions dare against ;
Whose easier business were to serve their Lord

940

High up in Heav'n, with songs to hymn his throne,
And practis'd distances, to cringe, no tfight."
To whom the warrior Angel soon reply'd.

945

To say and straight unsay, pretending first

Wise to fly pain, professing uext the spy,

Argues no leader but a liar trac'd,

Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,

950

O sacred 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 dissolve

955

Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Pow'r supreme?
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou

Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilely 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-Avaunt:

960

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 seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of Hell too slightly 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 thyself expect to feel
From my prevailing arm, though Heav'n's King
Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,
Us'd to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels
In progress thro' the road of Heav'n star-pav'd."
While thus he spake, th' angelic squadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns
K 2

BOOK IV.

965

971

975

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 ploughman doubting stands,
Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On th' other side Satan alarm❜d,
Collecting all his might, dilated stood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest

Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp

985

What seem'd both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds Might have ensued, nor only Paradise

991

In this commotion, but the starry cope

Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the elements,

At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn
With violence of this conflict; had not soon
Th' Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,
Hung forth in Heav'n his golden scales, yet seen
Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,
Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms in these he put two weights,
The sequel each of parting and of fight:

:

995

1000

The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend.

1005

"Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine, Neither our own but given; what folly then

To boast what arms can do? since thine no more
Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubled now
To trample thee as mire; for proof look up,
And read thy lot in yon celestial sign,

1010

Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weak, If thou resist." The Fiend look'd up, and knew lis mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled slurm'ring and with him fled the shades of night.

END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.

1014