Those have their course to finish round the Earth

By morrow evening, and from land to land
In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Ministering light prepared, they set and
rise;

Lest total Darkness should by night regain
Her old possession, and extinguish life
In nature and all things; which these soft
fires

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm, 669
Temper or nourish, or in part shed down
Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow
On Earth, made hereby apter to receive
Perfection from the Sun's more potent ray.
These, then, though unbeheld in deep of
night,

Shine not in vain. Nor think, though men

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

801

Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,
Assaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy, and with them
forge

Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams;
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
The animal spirits, that from pure blood
arise

Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise,

At least distempered, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, Blown up 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
Of force to its own likeness. Up he starts,
Discovered and surprised. As, when a
spark

Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun, some magazin to store
Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain,
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the
air;

So started up, in his own shape, the Fiend. Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed

820

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

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
Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid
The blasting volleyed thunder made all
speed

And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.
But still thy words at random, as before, 930
Argue thy inexperience what behoves,
From hard assays and ill successes past,
A faithful leader-not to hazard all

Through ways of danger by himself un

tried.

I, therefore, I alone, first undertook
To wing the desolate Abyss, and spy
This new-created World, whereof in Hell
Fame is not silent, here in hope to find
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
To settle here on Earth, or in mid Air; 940
Though for possession put to try once more
What thou and thy gay legions dare against;
Whose easier business were to serve their
Lord

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
Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,
Argues no leader, but a liar traced,
Satan; and couldst thou 'faithful' add?
O name,

950

O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Army of fiends, fit body to fit head!
Was this your discipline and faith ingaged,
Your military obedience, to dissolve
Allegiance to the acknowledged Power Su-
preme?

And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst

seem

Patron of liberty, who more than thou Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored

Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope

960

To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? But mark what I areed thee now: Avaunt! Fly thither whence thou fledd'st. If from this hour

Within these hallowed limits thou appear, Back to the Infernal Pit I drag thee chained,

And seal thee so as henceforth not to scorn The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred."

So threatened he; but Satan to no threats Gave heed, but waxing more in rage, replied:

"Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains,

970

Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then
Far heavier load thyself expect to feel
From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's

King