Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 056.djvu/632

630 he could do nothing. He seems incapable of excogitating a single plot of treachery, or of carrying into execution a single deed of violence. His thoughts are a great deal too much taken up about his own personal appearance. Gabriel is an equally irresolute character. The following is a portion of a dialogue which takes place between the two; and it is perhaps as fair a sample of the drama as any that we could select. Near the beginning of the poem Gabriel concludes a short address to Lucifer with these words—

" Go from us straightway.

Lucifer. Wherefore?

Gabriel. Lucifer,

Thy last step in this place, trod sorrow up.

Recoil before that sorrow, if not this sword.

Lucifer. Angels are in the world—wherefore not I?

Exiles are in the world—wherefore not I?

The cursed are in the world—wherefore not I?

Gabriel. Depart.

Lucifer. And where's the logic of 'depart?'

Our lady Eve had half been satisfied

To obey her Maker, if I had not learnt

To fix my postulate better. Dost thou dream

Of guarding some monopoly in heaven

Instead of earth? Why I can dream with thee

To the length of thy wings.

Gabriel. I do not dream.

This is not heaven, even in a dream; nor earth,

As earth was once,—first breathed among the stars,—

Articulate glory from the mouth divine,—

To which the myriad spheres thrill'd audibly,

Touch'd like a lute-string,—and the sons of God

Said, singing it. I know that this

Is earth not new created, but new cursed—

This, Eden's gate, not open'd, but built up

With a final cloud of sunset. Do I dream?

Alas, not so! this is the Eden lost

By Lucifer the serpent! this the sword

(This sword, alive with justice and with fire,)

That smote upon the forehead, Lucifer

The angel! Wherefore, angel, go. . . depart—

Enough is sinn'd and suffer'd.

Lucifer. By no means."

It will be observed, that in this passage Gabriel thrice desires Lucifer to "move on;" it will also be observed that Gabriel has a sword—or perhaps it may be the revolving sword which guards Paradise that he speaks of; but be it so or not, he threatens Lucifer with the edge of the sword unless he decamps; and yet, although the warning is repeated, as we have said, three distinct times and although Lucifer pertinaciously refuses to stir a step, still the weapon remains innocuous, and the arch-fiend remains intact. This is not the way in which Milton manages matters. Towards the conclusion of the fourth book of Paradise Lost, this same Gabriel orders Satan to leave his presence—

"Avant!

Fly thither whence thou fledd'st."

The rebel angel refuses to retire:—upon which, without more ado, both sides prepare themselves for battle. On the side of Gabriel

"Th' angelic squadron bright

Turn'd fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns

Their phalanx."

What an intense picture of ardour preparatory to action (it is night, remember) is presented to our imaginations by the words "turned fiery red!"

"On t'other side, Satan alarm'd,

Collecting all his might, dilated stood,