Vehement Debate between Gabriel and Satan. "O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet He scarce had ended when those two approached, To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake : "Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge Of others who approve not to transgress By thy example, but have power and right To question thy bold entrance on this place?— Employed, it seems, to violate sleep and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss." 66 870 880 To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow: Gabriel, thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise, And such I held thee; but this question 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, 890 And boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain where thou mightst hope to change Dole with delight, which in this place I sought To thee no reason who knowest 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. Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied: "O loss of one in Heaven-to judge of wiseSince Satan fell-whom folly overthrew-PARADISE LOST-BK. IV.] 105 900 And now returns him, from his prison scaped, So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 910 920 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 But still [always] thy words at random, as before, A faithful leader—not to hazard all of Gabriel and Satan. 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 Satan ! And couldst 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, So threatened he; but Satan to no threats "Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains, Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind 960 970 980 Sways them the careful [anxious] ploughman doubting stands, PARADISE LOST-Bк. IV.] 107 Collecting all his might-dilated stood Like Teneriff or Atlas unremoved [unremovable] : Now dreadful deeds Might have ensued (nor only Paradise At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn The latter quick up flew and kicked the beam, 66 990 1000 Satan, I know thy strength and thou know'st mineNeither our own, but given. What folly, then, To boast what arms can do, since thine no more Than Heaven permits, nor mine though doubled now 1010 Where thou art weighed and shown how light, how weak, If thou resist." The Fiend looked up, and kenned His mounted scale aloft-nor [said] more, but fled } BOOK V. Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her; they come forth to their daylabours; 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 the 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. |