961

Heav'n's awful Monarch? wherefore? but in hope
To difpoffefs him, and thy felf to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now: avant!
Fly thither whence thou fedft! 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 flightly barr'd.

So threaten'd he: but SATAN to no threats
Gave heed, but waxing more in rage, reply'd.

965

THEN, when I am thy captive, talk of chains, 970
Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then
Far heavier load thy felf expect to feel

From my prevailing arm; though heaven's King
Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,
Us'd to the yoke, draw'ft his triumphant wheels
In progrefs thro' the road of heav'n ftar-pav'd. 976

980

WHILE thus he fpake, th' angelic fquadron bright Turn'd fiery red, fharpning in mooned horns Their phalanx, and began to hem him round. With ported fpears; as thick, as when a field Of CERES, ripe for harveft, waving bends Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, Left on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff. On th' other fide, SATAN alarm'd, Collecting all his might, dilated food Like TENERIF, or ATLAS, un remov❜d: His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his creft

Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grafp

986

What feem'd both fpear, and fhield. Now dreadful deeds Might have enfu'd: not only Paradife

991

In this commotion, but the starry cope

Of heav'n perhaps, or all the elements,

995

At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd, and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not soon
Th' Eternal, to prevent fuch horrid fray,
Hung forth in heav'n his golden scales, yet seen
Betwixt ASTRA, and the scorpion sign,
Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth, with balanc'd air
In counterpoife: now, ponders all events,
Battles, and realms: in thefe he puts 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

1000

SATAN! I know thy ftrength, 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, tho' double now To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, And read thy lot in yon coeleftial fign:

1010

[weak,

Where thou art weigh'd, and fhown how light, how
If thou refift.The fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted fcale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murm'ring, and with him fled the fhades of night.

The end of the fourth Book.

1014

THE

THE

FIFTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.

The ARGUMENT.

Morning approach'd, Eve relates to Adam her troublefome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: they come forth to their day labours: 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 eftate, 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 defcrib'd, 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 difcourfe at table; Raphael performs his meffage, minds Adam of his ftate, 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 op pofes him, then forfakes him.