Torment with ease, and fooneft recompenfe

Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reason, who know'st only good,

895

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

In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd.
The reft is true, they found me where they say; 900

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 prison scap'd,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wife
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
Unlicenc'd from his bounds in Hell prefcrib'd;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to fcape his punishment.
So judge thou still, prefumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and fcourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
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, less to be fled? or thou than they
Lefs hardy to indure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadft thou alledg'd
To thy defeited hoft this cause of flight,
K 2

995

910

915

920

Thou

Thou furely hadft not come fole fugitive.

925

To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning stern. Not that I lefs indure, or shrink from pain, Infulting Angel; well thou know'st I stood Thy fierceft, 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 assays and ill fucceffes 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 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 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 bufinefs were to ferve their Lord

94.0

High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn his throne, And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight.

945

To whom the warrior Angel foon reply'd.

To fay and ftrait unfay, pretending firft
Wife to fly pain, profeffing next the spy,

Argues no leader but a liar trac'd,

Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
O facred name of faithfulness profan'd!

Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew ?

950

Army

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 fervily ador'd

Heav'n's awful monarch? wherefore but in hope 960
To difpoffefs him, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant;

Fly thither whence thou fledft: 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 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,

965

970

975

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 compcers,
Us'd to the yoke, draw'ft his triumphant wheels
In progrefs through the road of Heav`n star-pav`d.
While thus he fpake, th' angelic fquadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, fharp'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

K 3

980

Sways

Sways them; the careful plowman doubting ftands, Left on the threshing floor his hopeful fheaves

Prove chaff.

On t'other fide Satan alarm'd

Collecting all his might dilated food,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

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

Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp

985

What feem'd both spear and shield: now dreadful deeds
Might have enfu'd, nor only Paradise

In this commotion, but the ftarry 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 foon

Th' Eternal to prevent fuch horrid fray

Hung forth in Heav'n his golden scales, yet seen
Betwixt Aftrea and the Scorpion fign,

Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,

995

The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air 1000

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 fpying, thus befpake the Fiend. 1005
Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine;
Neither our own, but giv'n: what folly then
To boast what arms can do? fince 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 fign,"

ΠΟΙΟ

Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weak,

If thou refift.

The Fiend look'd up, and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night. 1015

THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.