Hail wedded Love, myfterious law, true fource 750 Of human ofspring, fole propriety In Paradise of all things common else. By thee adult'rous luft was driv'n from men 755 760 Of father, son, and brother first were known. 770 Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, No happier state, and know to know no more. 775 And And from their ivory port the Cherubim, 780 Uzziel, half these draw off, and coaft the south With ftricteft watch; these other wheel the north; Our circuit meets full weft. As flame they part, Half wheeling to the fhield, half to the fpear. 785 Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. So faying, on he led his radiant files, Dazling the moon; thefe to the bow'r direct 795 In search of whom they fought: him there they found Squat like a toad, clofe at the ear of Eve, Assaying,by his devilish art, to reach The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 800 805 Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise 810 815 Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. 820 ye not then, faid Satan,fill'd with fcorn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once,no mate 825 For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar: Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin Your message, like to end as much in vain? To To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with fcorn. Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the fame, 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 fin and place of doom,obfcure and foul. 840 But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who fent us; whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm. So fpake 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 845 Virtue in her shape how lovely; faw, and pin'd Beft with the beft, the fender not the fent, 850 855 The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage; But, like a proud fteed 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 elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh The western point, where those half-rounding guards Juft met, and,clofing, ftood, in fquadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief Gabriël from the front thus call'd aloud. 865 O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hafting this way, and now by glimpse discern Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, And with them comes a third,of regal port, But faded fplendor wan; who, by his gate 870 And fierce demeanour, seems the prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without conteft; Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and pofture couch'd. 876 To whom,with ftern regard, thus Gabriel spake. Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress By thy example, but have pow'r and right To queftion thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd it seems to violate fleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss? 880 To whom thus Satan,with contemptuous brow. 885 Gabriel, thou hadft in Heav'n th'esteem of wise, And fuch 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 |