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
%
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."
�� �
