And brief related whom they brought, where found, To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake : 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 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, O loss of one in Heaven, to judge of wise, H 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; Whose easier business were to serve their Lord High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight. To whom the warriour-Angel soon replied. Satan; and could'st thou faithful add? O name, So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats 'Areed:' appoint, or decree. 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 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, In counterpoise, now ponders all events, Battles and realms: In these he put two weights, The sequel each of parting and of fight : The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam ; Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine ; ''Ported:' a military term-borne, pointed.—2 Golden scales:' the constellation Libra, or the Balance Neither our own, but given : To boast what arms can do? What folly then since thine no more Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now To trample thee as mire: For proof look up, And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how weak, |