This evening from the Sun's decline arrived Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen Hitherward bent (who could have thought?), escaped The bars of Hell, on errand bad, no doubt: Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring." So saying, on he led his radiant files, Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct In search of whom they sought. Him there they found Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, Assaying by his devilish art to reach 801 The organs of her fancy, and with them forge Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams; Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise, At least distempered, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, Blown пр with high conceits ingendering pride. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 810 Touched lightly; for no falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid So started up, in his own shape, the Fiend. Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed 820 To whom, with stern regard, thus Gabriel spake: "Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed To thy transgressions, 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, And boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain, where thou mightst 910 So wise he judges it to fly from pain 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 alleged 921 To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 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 know'st I stood And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. Through ways of danger by himself untried. I, therefore, I alone, first undertook High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practised distances to cringe, not fight." To whom the Warrior-Angel soon replied: "To say and straight unsay, pretending first 950 O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst |