Or think thee unbefitting holiest place; Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets, Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. Here love his golden shafts employs, here lights His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, Casual fruition; nor in court amours, Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, Or serenade, which the starved lover sings To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. These, fulled by nightingales, embracing slept, And on their naked limbs the flowery roof Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on, Blest pair; and oh! yet happiest, if ye seek No happier state, and know to know no more. Now had night measured with her shadowy cone1 Halfway up-hill this vast sublunar vault, And from their ivory port3 the cherubim, Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed To their night watches in warlike parade,
When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake:
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. From these, two strong and subtle spirits he called, That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge:
1 This is the form of the shadow of the earth, the base of the cone standing upon that side of the globe where the sun is not, and consequently when it is night there. This cone, to those who are on the darkened side of the earth, could it be seen, would mount as the sun fell lower, and be at its utmost height in the vault of their heaven when it was midnight. The shadowy cone had now arisen halfway, consequently, supposing it to be about the time when the days and nights were of equal length (as it was x. 329), it must be now about nine o'clock, the usual time of the angels setting their sentries, as it immediately follows. This is marking the time very poetically.Richardson.
2 Halfway towards midnight.
3 As the rock was of alabaster (vi. 543), so he makes the gate of ivory, which was very proper for an eastern gate, as the fairest ivory comes from the east.-Newton.
+ Strength of God; the angel next in command to Gabriel.
"Ithuriel and Zephon,' with winged speed
Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, Now laid, perhaps, asleep, secure of harm. 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
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 engendering pride Him thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear 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 magazine 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 stepped those two fair angels, half amazed So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon: "Which of those rebel spirits adjudged to Hell Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed, Why satt'st thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?" "Know ye not then," said Satan, filled with scorn, "Know ye not me? Ye knew me once no mate
1 Two angels having their names as indication of their offices. Ithuriel, in Hebrew, "the discovery of God;" Zephon, in Hebrew, “a secret, or searcher of secrets."-Hume.
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, The lowest of your throng; or if
ye know, Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain?
To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn: "Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same, Or undiminished brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in Heaven, upright and pure; That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm." So spake the cherub; and his grave rebuke, Severe in youthful beauty, added grace Invincible: abashed the devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is, and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined His loss; but chiefly to find here observed His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed
If I must contend," said he, "Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, Or all at once; more glory will be won, Or less be lost." "Thy fear," said Zephon bold, "Will save us trial what the least can do Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.”
The fiend replied not, overcome with rage; But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly He held it vain; awe from above had quelled His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh The western point, where those half-rounding guards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief, Gabriël, from the front thus called aloud:
"O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern 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,
Not likely to part hence without contést; Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours."
He scarce had ended, when these two approached, 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 transgressions, and disturbed the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress By thy example, but have power and right To question thy bold entrance on this place; Employed, 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 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; 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 prescribed; So wise he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to 'scape his punishment.
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath, 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 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, 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 untried: I, therefore, I alone first undertook
To wing the desolate abyss, and
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; 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, 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 engaged. Your military obedience, to dissolve
Allegiance to the acknowledged power supreme? And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored
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