Wife to fly pain, profeffing next the spy,
Argues no leader but a lyar trac'd,

Satan, and could'ft thou faithful add? O name,

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 Pow'r supreme?
And thou, fly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem
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
To difpoffefs hin, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now-Avaunt;
Fly thither whence thou fledst: if from this hour
Within thefe 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 facile gates of Hell too flightly 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 thyfelf 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'ft his triumphant wheels In progrefs through the road of Heav'n ftar-pav'd,"

While thus he fpake, th' angelic squadron bright Turn'd fiery red, sharp'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
Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands,
Left on the threfhing-floor his hopeful fheaves
Prove chaff. On th' other fide Satan alarm'd,
Collecting all his might, dilated stood,
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his crest
Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grafp

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

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 foon

Th' Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,

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

Wherein all things created firft he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air
In counterpoife, now ponders all events,
Battles 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.
"Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'ft 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,

Where thou art weigh'd, and fhewn 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 fhades of night.

THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.

THE

FIFTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

THE ARGUMENT.

Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublefome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her. They come forth to their daylabours: their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render man inexcufable, fends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience; of his free estate; of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy; and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradife; his appearance described; his coming difcern'd by Adam afar off fitting at the door of his bower: he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradife got together by Eve; their difcourse at table. Raphael performs his meffage, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occafion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him, perfuading all but only Abdiel, a Seraph, who in argument diffuades and opposes him, then forfakes him.