Torment with ease, and fooneft recompenfe Dole with delight, which in this place I fought; 895 But evil haft not try'd: and wilt object His iron gates, if he intends our stay In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd. But that implies not violence or harm. Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd, O lofs of one in Heav'n to judge of wife, But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 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 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 Argues no leader but a liar trac'd, Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 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 Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervily ador'd Heav'n's awful monarch? wherefore but in hope 960 Fly thither whence thou fledft: if from this hour So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, 965 970 975 Proud limitary Cherub, but ere then 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 In this commotion, but the ftarry cope At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn Th' Eternal to prevent fuch horrid fray Hung forth in Heav'n his golden scales, yet seen 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 ΠΟΙΟ Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weak, |