886 To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress By thy example, but have pow'r and right To question thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it seems to violate sleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou had'st in heav'n th' 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 890 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, 895 But evil hast not try'd : 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 ask’d. The rest is true, they found me where they say; 900 But that implies not violence or harm O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise, M 905 And now returns him from his prison scap'd, So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath, 910 915 But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee 920 The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleg'd To thy deserted host this cause of flight, Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. 925 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 volied 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 939 Through ways of danger by himself untry'd : 935 I therefore, I alone first undertook To wing the desolate abyss, and spy 940 Whose easier business were to serve their Lord High up in Heav'n, with songs to hymn his throne, 945 To whom the warrior Angel soon reply'd. To say and straight unsay, pretending first Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 950 O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd! Was this your discipline and faith engag'd, Your military' obedience, to dissolve 955 Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Pow'r supreme? And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem Patron of liberty, who more than thou Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilely ador'd Heav'n's awful Monarch? Wherefore but in hope 960 To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? But mark what I arreed thee now, Avaunt; Fly thither whence thou fledst: if from this hour Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd, 965 And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn THEN when I am thy captive talk of chains, Far heavier load thyself expect to feel 970 From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 980 Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands, 985 Collecting all his might dilated stood, His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp What seem'd both spear and shield: now dreadful deeds Might have ensued, nor only Paradise 994 In this commotion, but the starry cope Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the elements At least had gone to wreck, disturb'd and torn With violence of this conflict, had not soon 995 Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray Hung forth in Heav'n his golden scales, yet seen Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, 1000 1005 SATAN, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine, Neither our own, but giv'n; what folly then To boast what arms can do? Since thine no more Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubled now To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, And read thy lot in yon celestial sign, ΠΟΙΟ Where thou art weigh'd, and shewn how light, how weak, If thou resist. The Fiend look'd up, and knew His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled END OF THE FOURTH BOOK. |