To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow: Though thither doomed? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt, 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 knowest only good, But evil hast not tried: and wilt object His will, who bound us? 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, O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise! And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee The first in flight from pain! Hadst thou alleged Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern: Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, Insulting Angel! Well thou knowest I stood The 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 practiced 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, Satan and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 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, Your military obedience, to dissolve Allegiance to the acknowledged Power Supreme? And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored 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 While thus he spake, the angelic squadron bright Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: His stature reached the sky, and on his crest Sat horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp What seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds In this commotion, but the starry cope |