And brief related whom they brought, where found, 875 To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake : 880 To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. Gabriel! thou hadst in Heaven the 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 doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place 891 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 know'st only good, But evil hast not tried His will who bounds us? and wilt object Let him surer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay In that dark durance: Thus much what was ask'd. Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel mov'd, H 900 Unlicensed, from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd; So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 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 vollied 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 untried: 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 Powers To settle here on earth, or in mid-air Though for possession, put to try once more What thou and thy gay legions dare against; 909 920 930 940 Whose easier business were to serve their Lord To whom the warriour-Angel soon replied. Satan and could'st thou faithful add? O name, O sacred 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, Allegiance to the acknowledg'd Power supreme ? So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats Areed:' appoint, or decree. 943 950 960 970 Us'd to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels His stature reached the sky, and on his crest Sat Horrour plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp 975 980 What seem❜d both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds Might have ensued, nor only Paradise, In this commotion, but the starry cope Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales,2 yet seen Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam; 991 1000 Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine; · 1 'Ported:' a military term-borne, pointed.—2 Golden scales:' the constellation Libra, or the Balance Neither our own, but given: What folly then To boast what arms can do? since thine no more 1007 Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weak, |