Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abash'd the devil ftood,

And felt how awful Goodness is, and faw
Virtue' in her shape how lovely; faw, and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'd
His luftre visibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I must contend, faid he,
Beft with the best, the fender not the fent,
Or all at once; more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the least can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

845

850

855

860

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 elfe difmay'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
Hafting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of regal port,
But faded fplendor wan; who by his gait

865

870

And fierce demeanour feems the Prince of Hell,

Not likely to part hence without contest;

Stand firm, for in his look Defiance lours.

880

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and posture couch'd. 876 To whom with ftern 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 queftion thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it feems to violate fleep, and those Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in bliss ? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise, 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 wouldst thyfelf, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place

891 Fartheft from pain, where thou might'st hope to change Torment with ease, and foonest recompenfe

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 furer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay

895

In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd. The reft 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 prison 'scap'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 prefcrib'd;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to 'scape his punishment.

910

So judge thou ftill, presumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and scourge 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 endure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alledg'd
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou furely hadst not come fole fugitive.

920

925

To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning stern. Not that I lefs endure, or shrink from pain, Infulting angel; well thou know'ft I stood Thy fiercest, when in battel to thy aid The blasting volied thunder made all speed,

And feconded thy elfe not dreaded spear.
But ftill thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy inexperience what behoves
From hard affays and ill fucceffes past

930

A faithful leader, not to hazard all

Through ways of danger by himself untry'd:

I therefore, I alone firft undertook

935

To wing the defolate abyss, and spy

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 eafier business were to ferve their Lord

940

High up in heav'n, with songs to hymn his throne, And practis'd distances 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,

945

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 discipline and faith engag'd,
Your military obedience, to diffolve

Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Power fupreme?

955

And thou, fly hypocrite, who now wouldst feem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou

Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervilely ador'd
Heav'n's awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope 960
To difpoffefs him, and thyfelf to reign?

But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant;
Fly thither whence thou Aledst: if from this hour
Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
And feal thee fo, as henceforth not to fcorn
The facil gates of Hell too flightly barr'd.

965

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 thyfelf 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 975
In progrefs through the road of Heav'n star-pav'd.
While thus he fpake, th' angelic squadron bright
Torn'd fiery red, fharp'ning 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

980

Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, Left on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves

Volume I.