To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow: 885 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 wouldst thyself, no doubt, And boldly venture to what ever place 891 Furthest 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 n t tried and wilt object His will who bounds us? Let him surer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay 895 In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd. Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise So judge thou still presumptuous! till the wrath, But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 905 910 915 920 To thy deserted host this cause of flight, Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. To which the Fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern: 925 Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 930 Through ways of danger by himself untried: 935 To wing the desolate abyss, and spy This new created world, whereof in Hell 940 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 645 Satan, and coulust thou 'faithful' add? O name, 950 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, 955 Once fawn'd, and cringed, and servilely adored Fly thither whence thou fledst! If from this hour So threatened he; but Satan to no threats 965 970 From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved : 980 His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp What seem'd both spear and shield: now dreadful deeds Might have ensued, nor only Paradise 991 In this commotion, but the starry cope Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd and torn 995 The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen 1000 Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, To boast what arms can do? since thine no more 1010 [weak, Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. 1015 PARADISE LOST. BOOK V. 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 describ ed; 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 cf 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 revol 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 10 Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice 15 Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus: Awake, |