By thy example, but have power and right To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow :"Gabriel, thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise; And such I held thee; but this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, Though thither doomed? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place 890 Farthest from pain, where thou mightst 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 bound us? And wilt object Let him surer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay In that dark durance. Thus much what was asked: 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 replied :— However, and to scape his punishment! 910 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 broke loose? Is pain to them The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleged To thy deserted host this cause of flight, Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive." 920 930 To which the Fiend thus answered, 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 volleyed 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; Whose easier business were to serve their Lord High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight." To whom the Warrior-Angel soon replied:"To say and straight unsay, pretending first Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, Argues no leader, but a liar traced, 940 Satan; and couldst thou 'faithful' add? O name, 950 Was this your discipline and faith engaged, Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored But mark what I areed thee now: Avaunt! Fly thither whence thou fledd'st. If from this hour So threatened he; but Satan to no threats From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 970 980 Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed, Collecting all his might, dilated stood, Now dreadful deeds His stature reached the sky, and on his crest At least, had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, To boast what arms can do! since thine no more Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now 991 1000 ΠΟΙΟ Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK PARADISE LOST BOOK V THE ARGUMENT Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome 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 inexcusable, sends 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 Paradise; his appearance described; his coming discerned by Adam afar off, sitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise, got together by Eve; their discourse at table. Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the North, and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel, a seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him. Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime |