Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/192

 PARADISE LOST

��The Fiend replied not, overcome with

rage; But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty

on, Chaumping his iron curb. To strive or

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He held it vain; awe from above had quelled 860

His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh

The western point, where those half -round- ing guards

Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined,

Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,

Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud : " O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet

Hasting this way, and now by glimpse dis- cern

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade;

And with them comes a third, of regal port,

But faded splendour wan, who by his gait

And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell 871

Not likely to part hence without contest'.

Stiuul firm, for in his look defiance lours." He scarce had ended, when those two ap- proached,

And brief related whom they brought, where found,

How busied, in what form and posture couched.

To whom, with stern regard, thus Gabriel spake:

" Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed

To thy trangressions, and disturbed the charge 879

Of others, who approve not to transgress

By thy example, but have power and right

To question thy bold entrance on this place ;

Imployed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those

Whose dwelling God hath planted here in

bliss ? "

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

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. 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 : The rest is true; they found me where

they say; 900

But that implies not violence or harm." Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel

moved,

Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied: " O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise, Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, And now returns him from his prison

scaped, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them

wise Or not who ask what boldness brought him

hither

Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell pre- scribed !

So wise he judges it to fly from pain 910 However, and to scape his punishment ! So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the

wrauth, Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy

flight Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back

to Hell, Which taught thee yet no better that no

pain

Can equal anger infinite provoked. But wherefore thou alone ? Wherefore

with thee Came not all Hell broke loose ? Is pain to

them Less pain, less to be fled ? or thou than

they

Less hardy to endure ? Courageous chief, The first in flight from pain, hadst thou al- leged 921 To thy deserted host this cause of flight, Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive."

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