Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.
So saying, on he led his radiant files, Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct,
In search of whom they sought him there they found, Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, Assaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy', and with them forge Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams; Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint fh' animal spirits that from pure blood arise, Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
Blown up with high conceits, ingendering pride. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear fouch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness. Up he starts, Discover'd and surprised. As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid Fit for the tun some magazine to store Against a rumour'd war, the smutty grain With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; So started up in his own shape the Fiend. Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed So sudden to behold the grisly king;" Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon: Which of those rebel Spirits, adjudged to Hell, Com'st hou, escaped 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 "hen, said Satan, fill'd with scorn, Know ye not me? Ye knew me once no mate For you; there sitting where ye dust not soar. Not to know me, argues yourselves unknown, The lowest of your throng; cr if ye now, Why ask ye, and superfluous bogia
796. Hither, that is, wherever the sphere afterwards be. 804. Virgil, Ene..... 1.
814. Ariosto employs the saae kne.
Your message, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, answering 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, shalt 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, And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue' in her shape how lovely; saw and pined His loss; but chiefly to find here observed His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd Undaunted. 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. Thy fear, said Zephon bold, Will save us trial what the least can do 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, Gabriel 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,
885. Bentley proposes a new reading, Or brightness undimi nish'd' in the next line: Newton to change thy into by in the
866. It is observed, that Milton has followed Homer in this episode. See Il. x. 533.
Not likely to part hence without contest: Stand firm, for in his look defiance ours.
He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busy'd, in what form and posture couch'd. 876 To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake : Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed 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: 885 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, Though thither doom d? Thou would'st thyself, no
And boldly venture to whatever place 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 knowest 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
In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd. The rest is true, they found me where they say; 900
But that implies not violence or harm.
Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved
Disdainfully, half smiling, 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 'scaped, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither, Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; So wise he judges it to fly from pain
878. Bentley thinks transgressions should be taken in the sense
of transcursions, that is, to pass over bounds
893. Torment with ease, a Latin idiom.
However, and to 'scape his punishment.
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath, Which thou incurr st by flying, meet thy flight Sev'nfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain Can equal anger infinite provoked.
But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee Came not all Hell roke loose? Is pain to them Less pain, less to be fled? or thou than they Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief, The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleged 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, Insulting Angel: well thou know'st I stood Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid
The blasting volley'd 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, A faithful leader, not to hazard all Through ways of danger by himself untry'd: I therefore, I alone first undertook 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 Pow'rs To settle here on earth, or in mid-air;
Though for possession put to try once more What thou and thy gay legis dare against; Whose easier bus'ness weie to serve their Lord
High up in Heav n, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight. To whom the warrior Angel soon reply'd:
To say and straight unsay, pretending first Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, Argues no leader, but a liar traced,
Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 950
927. Thy percest; the adjective as a substantive, as in instances
928. Thy is read in the second edition.
O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head.
Was this your discipline and faith engaged, Your military' obedience, to dissolve Allegiance to th' acknowledged Pow'r Supreme? And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cringed, and servilely adored Heav'n's awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope 960 To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? But mark what I arreed thee now, Avaunt; 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, 970 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, Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels 975 In progress through the road of Heav'n star-paved. While thus he spake, th' angelic squadron bright Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns Their phalanx, and began to hem him round With ported spears, as thick as when a field 980 Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends
Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff. On th' other side Satan, alarm'd, 985 Collecting all his might, dilated stood,
Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved:
962. Arreed, to decree or award.
965. Drag; the present for the future.
971. Limitary, setting bounds to. Ps. xviii. to 974. Ezek. chap. i. x. and xi.
980. Ported, borne pointed towards him.
986. Tasso applies the epithet disteso to his hero Argantes when preparing to fight with Tancred.
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