“Best with the best, the sender, not the sent,
853
Or all at once. More glory will be won,
854
Or less be lost.” “Thy fear,” said Zephon bold,
855
“Will save us trial what the least can do
856
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.
857
The fiend replied not, overcome with rage,
858
But like a proud steed reined, went haughty on,
859
Champing3182 his iron curb. 3183 To strive or fly3184
860
He held it vain; awe3185 from above had quelled3186
861
His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh
862
The western point, where those half-rounding guards
863
Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined,
864
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,
865
Gabriel, from the front3187 thus called aloud:
866
“O friends! I hear the tread of nimble3188 feet
867
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
868
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
869
And with them comes a third of regal 3189 port,3190
870
But faded splendor wan,3191 who by his gait
871
And fierce demeanor seems the Prince of Hell,
872
Not likely to part 3192 hence without contest.
873
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.”3193
874
He scarce had ended, when those two approached
875
And brief related whom they brought, where found,
876
How busied, in what form and posture couched.3194
877
To whom with stern regard3195 thus Gabriel spoke:
878
“Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed
879
To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge3196
880
Of others, who approve 3197 not to transgress
881
By thy example, but have power and right
882
To question thy bold entrance on this place,
883
Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those
884
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss!
885
To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow:
886
“Gabriel, thou had’st in Heav’n th’ esteem3198 of wise,
887
And such I held thee. But this question asked
888
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?
889
Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
890
Though thither doomed?3199 Thou would’st thyself, no doubt,
891
And boldly venture to whatever place
892
Farthest from pain, where thou might’st hope to change3200
893
Torment with ease, and soonest recompense3201
894
Dole3202 with delight, which in this place I sought.
895
To thee no reason, who know’st only good,
896
But evil hast not tried. And wilt object
897
His will who bound us? Let him surer3203 bar
898
His iron gates, if he intends our stay
899
In that dark durance. 3204 Thus much what was asked.
900
The rest is true, they found me where they say,
901
But that implies not violence or harm.
902
Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel, moved,3205
903
Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied:
904
“O loss of one in Heav’n to judge of wise,3206
905
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
906
And now returns him from his prison ’scaped,
907
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise
908
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
909
Unlicensed 3207 from his bounds3208 in Hell prescribed.
910
So wise he judges it to fly3209 from pain,
911
However, 3210 and to ’scape his punishment!
912
So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath,
913
Which thou incurr’st by flying, meet 3211 thy flight
914
Sevenfold, and scourge 3212 that wisdom back to Hell,
915
Which taught thee yet no better, than no pain
916
Can equal anger infinite provoked.
917
But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee
918
Came not all Hell broke loose? Is pain to them
919
Less pain, less to be fled, or thou than they
920
Less hardy 3213 to endure? Courageous chief,
921
The first in flight from pain! Had’st thou alleged 3214
922
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,
923
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.
924
To which the fiend thus answered, frowning stern:
925
“Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,
926
Insulting Angel! Well thou know’st I stood
927
Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid
928
The blasting vollied thunder made all speed 3215
929
And seconded 3216 thy else3217 not dreaded spear.
930
But still thy words at random,3218 as before,
931
Argue thy inexperience what 3219 behooves3220
932
From hard assays3221 and ill successes3222 past
933
A faithful leader, not to hazard all
934
Through ways3223 of danger by himself untried.
935
I, therefore, I alone first undertook
936
To wing3224 the desolate abyss, and spy
937
This new created world, whereof in Hell
938
Fame3225 is not silent, here in hope to find
939
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
940
To settle here on earth, or in mid air,
941
Though3226 for possession put 3227 to try once more
942
What thou and thy gay legions dare against,
943
Whose easier business were to serve their Lord
944
High up in Heav’n, with songs to hymn His throne,
945
And practised distances to cringe, not fight.
946
To whom the warrior Angel soon3228 replied:
947
“To say and straight unsay, pretending first
948
Wise to fly 3229 pain, professing3230 next the spy,
949
Argues3231 no leader but a liar traced,3232
950
Satan—and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
951
O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!
952
Faithful to whom? To thy rebellious crew?
953
Army of fiends, fit body to
fit head!
954
Was this your discipline and faith engaged,
955
Your military obedience, to dissolve
956
Allegiance to th’ acknowledged Power supreme?
957
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now would’st seem
958
Patron of liberty, who more than thou
959
Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely 3233 adored
960
Heav’n’s awful 3234 Monarch? Wherefore, 3235 but in hope
961
To dispossess Him, and thyself to reign?
962
But mark what I agreed3236 thee now. Avaunt!3237
963
Fly thither whence thou fled’st! If from this hour
964
Within these hallowed limits3238 thou appear,
965
Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained,
966
And seal 3239 thee so as henceforth not to scorn
967
The facile3240 gates of Hell too slightly barred.
968
So threatened he, but Satan to no threats
969
Gave heed, but waxing3241 more in rage3242 replied:
970
“Then when I am thy captive, talk of chains,
971
Proud limitary3243 Cherub! But ere then
972
Far heavier load 3244 thyself expect to feel
973
From my prevailing3245 arm, though Heaven’s King
974
Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,3246
975
Used to the yoke, draw’st His triumphant wheels
976
In progress through the road of Heav’n star-
pav
977
While thus he spoke, the angelic squadron bright
978
Turned fiery red, sharp’ning in moonèd horns3247
979
Their phalanx,3248 and began to hem him round
980
With ported 3249 spears, as thick as when a field
981
Of Ceres,3250 ripe for harvest, waving3251 bends
982
Her bearded grove of ears which way the wind
983
Sways3252 them. The careful ploughman doubting stands,
984
Lest on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves3253
985
Prove chaff. On th’ other side, Satan, alarmed,3254
986
Collecting all his might, dilated 3255 stood,
987
Like Teneriffe 3256 or Atlas,3257 unremoved.3258
988
His stature reached the sky, and on his crest
989
Sat horror plumed,3259 nor wanted3260 in his grasp
990
What seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds
991
Might have ensued, nor only Paradise
992
In3261 this commotion, but the starry cope 3262
993
Of Heav’n, perhaps, or all the elements
994
At least had gone to wrack,3263 disturbed and torn
995
With violence of this conflict, had not soon3264
996
Th’ Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,
997
Hung forth in Heav’n His golden scales,3265 yet 3266 seen
998
Betwixt Astrea3267 and the Scorpion sign,
999
Wherein all things created first He weighed,
1000
The pendulous round earth with balanced air
1001
In counterpoise, now ponders 3268 all events,
1002
Battles and realms. In these 3269 he put two weights,
1003
The sequel3270 each of parting 3271 and of fight.
1004
The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam,3272
1005
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespoke3273 the fiend:
1006
“Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know’st mine
1007
Neither our own, but giv’n. What folly then
1008
To boast what arms can do? since thine no more
1009
Than Heav’n permits, nor mine, though doubled now
1010
To trample thee as mire. 3274 For proof look up,
1011
And read thy lot 3275 in yon celestial sign,
1012
Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak,
1013
If thou resist.” The fiend looked up, and knew3276
1014
His mounted scale aloft: nor more, but fled
1015
Murmuring, 3277 and with him fled the shades of
The End of the Fourth Book
BOOK V
THE ARGUMENT
Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her. They come forth to their day labors; their morning hymn at the door of their bower.
God to render man inexcusable3278 sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand; who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradise, his appearance described, his coming discerned by Adam afar off, sitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve; their discourse at table.
Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates at Adam’s request who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the North, and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel, a Seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him.
1
Now morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime3279
2
Advancing, sowed the earth with orient3280 pearl,
3
When Adam waked, so customed,3281 for his sleep
4
Was airy-light, from pure digestion bred,3282
5
And temperate3283 vapors3284 bland,3285 which th’ only sound
6
Of leaves and fuming3286 rills, Aurora’s3287 fan,
7
Lightly dispersed,3288 and the shrill matin3289 song
8
Of birds on every bough, so much the more
9
His wonder was to find unwakened Eve
10
With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek,
11
As through unquiet rest. He, on his side
12
Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial 3290 love
13
Hung over her enamored, and beheld
14
Beauty which, whether waking or asleep,
15
Shot forth peculiar3291 graces. Then with voice
16
Mild, as when Zephyrus3292 on Flora3293 breathes,
17
Her hand soft touching, whispered thus: “Awake,
18
My fairest, my espoused, my latest found,
19
Heav’n’s last best gift, my ever new delight!
20
Awake. The morning shines, and the fresh field
21
Calls us. We lose the prime, 3294 to mark3295 how spring3296
22
Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove,
23
What drops the myrrh,3297 and what the balmy reed,3298
24
How Nature paints her colors
, how the bee
25
Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet.
26
Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye
27
On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spoke:
28
“O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
29
The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Page 29
