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. 785 From these two strong and subtle spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed

Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook ;

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 790
Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harm.
This evening from the sun's decline arriv'd,
Who tells of some infernal spirit seen

795

Hitherward bent, who could have thought? escap'd
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; 800
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

Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise 805
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise

785 shield] Declinare ad hastam, vel ad scutum.' Livy.

8:2 organs] v. Mer. W. of Wind. A. v. S. v. • Raise up the organs of her fantasy.'

Hume.

Todd.

810

At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires
Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but retur£s
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and surpriz'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun, some magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war, the smutty grain
With sudden blaze diffus'd inflames the air:
So started up in his own shape the fiend.
Back stepp'd those two fair angels, half amaz'd 820
So sudden to behold the grisly king;

Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accost him soon.

815

Which of those rebel spirits adjudg'd to hell Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison? and transform'd, Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait,

825

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Know ye not then, said Satan fill'd with scorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where
durst not soar;
Not to know me argues your selves unknown, 830
The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

ye

Your message, like to end as much in vain?

829 sitting] Nor shall he hope to sit where Nero scars.' See Tragedy of C. T. Nero, p. 13 (1607). 830 Not to know] Nobilem ignorari, est inter ignobiles censeri. v. J. C. Scaligeri Vitam, p. 5. 4to.

·

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with

scorn.

Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same 835
Or undiminish'd brightness, to be known

As when thou stood'st in heav'n 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. 810
But come, for thou, besure, 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: abash'd the devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her shape how lovely, saw, and pin'd
His loss; but chiefly to find here observed
His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd
Undaunted. 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.

845

850

855

835 same] The commentators think that a difficulty of construction exists in this passage, and Bentley would alter it. It seems to me to be plain. Think not thy brightness undiminished, or thy shape to be known the same as,' &c. 848 pin'd] Pers. Sat. iii. 38.

• Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta.' Hume.

The fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage; But like a proud steed rein'd went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd 860 His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew they nigh The western point, where those half-rounding

guards

Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief Gabriel from the front thus call'd 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 splendor wan; who by his gait And fierce demeanour seems the prince of hell, Nor likely to part hence without contest: Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

865

870

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds pre

scrib'd

To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to transgress
By thy example, but have power and right

859 Champing] See Esch. Prom. Vinct. 1008.

δακὼν δέ στόμιον ως νεοζυγὴς

Πῶλος, βιάζη καὶ προς ἡνίας μάχη. Thyer.

830

To question thy bold entrance on this place, Employ'd, it seems, to violate sleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss ?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadst in heav'n th' esteem of wise, And such I held thee; but this question ask'd Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell, Though thither doom'd? thou wouldst thyself, no And boldly venture to whatever place [doubt,

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to

change

895

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 try'd: and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him surer barr
His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd.
The rest is true; they found me where they say ;
But that implies not violence or harm.

Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel mov'd, Disdainfully half smiling, thus reply'd. loss of one in heav'n to judge of wise, Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, And now returns him from his prison scap'd, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

$94 Dole] Hamlet. A. i. S. ii.

905

Weighing delight with dole.'

Todd.