Speed go through this Garden, and leave no Corner of PARADISE unfearch'd; but chiefly where thofe two fair Creatures lodge, now perhaps laid afleep and apprehending no Danger. This Evening is arriv'd an Angel from the Sun, who tells of fome infernal Spirit bent towards EDEN, (Who could have thought it poffible?) efcap'd the Bars of Hell, no Doubt come upon fome bad Errand: Wherever ye find fuch, feize him faft, and bring him hither, Saying this, he led on his radiant Files, dazling the Moon, directly to the Bower in Search after what they fought; there they found him fitting fquat in the Shape of a. Toad, clofe at the Ear of Ev E; trying by his devilish Art, to reach the Organs of her Fancy, and with them forge, juft as he pleas'd, Illufions, Phantafms, and Dreams; or if breathing in Venom, he might taint the animal Spirits that rife from the pure Blood, like gentle Gales from Rivers; and from thence at leaft raise diftemper'd and difcontented Thoughts, vain Hopes, vain Aims, and inordinate Defires, blown up with high Conceits that ingender Pride. As SATAN fat thus intent, ITHURIEL touch'd him lightly with his Spear; up he starts, discover'd and furpriz'd; for no Falfhood can endure the Touch of any Thing of celeftial Nature, but of Force it returns to its own Likenefs: As when a Spark of Fire lights upon a Heap of Gunpowder, laid ready to ftore fome Magazine against an expected War, diffus'd with fudden Blaze inflames the Air; fo in his own Shape started up the Fiend. Thofe two fair Angels ftep'd back, half amaz'd fo on a fudden to behold the King of Hell; yet unmov'd with Fear foon accofted him: Spy or Watch of God. Another of thofe Guardians, to whom Gabriel gives thefe Orders. Zephon, the Son of Gad, and Father of the Zephonites, is menti ་ WHICH oned, Num. 26. 15. But Ithuriel and Zephon are not Scriptu ral Names of Angels, good of evil. WHICH of thofe Rebel Spirits condemn'd to Hell art thou? That haft efcap'd thy Prifon; and why didit thou fit here transform'd, like an Enemy in wait, and watching at the Head of thofe here that fleep? DON'T ye then know? answer'd SATAN, fill'd with Scorn, me do you not know? Ye knew me once, no Companion for you, fitting there where you durft not approach: Not to know me, proves that you yourselves are unknown, fome of the lowest of your Throng; and if you do know, what do you ask for, and begin your Bufinefs in an idle and fuperfluous Speech, likely to end as much in vain? To whom ZEPHON made this Reply, anfwering Scorn with Scorn: Think not, revolted Spirit, that thy Brightness is not diminish'd, or to be known by the fame Shape as when thou ftoodft in Heaven, pure and upright: No; that Glory when thou waft no longer good departed from thee; and now thou refembleft thy Sin and Place of Doom, obfcure and foul. But come, for be affur'd thou fhalt give an Account to him who sent us; whofe Charge is, to keep this Place inviolable, and these two from Harm. THUS fpoke the Cherub; and his grave Rebuke, feverely spoke in youthful Beauty, added invincible Grace: The Devil stood abash'd, and felt how awful Goodness is, and faw Virtue how lovely fhe was; he faw, and regretted his own Lofs of it, but chiefly to find it obferv'd here, that his Luftre was vifibly im pair'd; yet he feem'd undaunted: Said he, if I must contend, beft to contend with the beft; the Sender, and not the Sent; or all at once; more Glory will be won then, or lefs loft. Thy Fear, faid bold ZEPHON, will fave us the Trial what the leaft of us can do fingle against thee, wicked and thence weak. M 4 SATAN SATAN made no Reply, but quite overcome with Rage went haughtily on, like a proud Steed under the Rein, champing his Iron Curb: He held it vain to fly, or to refift; for an Awe from above had quell'd his Heart, elfe he was not difmay'd. Now they drew nigh to the Western Point, where those half-rounding Guards juft met, and stood closing in a join'd Squadron, waiting the next Command; to whom GABRIEL their Chief, from the Front call'd loudly: Friends! I hear the nimble Tread of Feet haftening this Way; and now by Glimpfe through the Shade can difcern ITHURIEL and ZEPHON, and with them there comes a third of regal Port, but of a faded Brightness, who by his Gate and his fierce Demeanour seems to me to be the Prince of Hell; not likely to depart hence without a Conteft: Stand firm, for Defiance and Oppofition are in his Looks. HE scarcely had ended, when ITHURIEL and ZEPHON approach'd, and briefly related whom they had brought, where they had found him, how he was bufied, and what Form and Pofture he was couch'd in; to whom, looking fternly at him, GABRIEL fpake: SATAN, why haft thou broke the Bounds prefcribed thee and thy Tranfgreffions? And why haft thou disturb'd the Charge of others, who do not approve to tranfgrefs by thy Example; but have a Power and a Right to question, why thou haft boldly enter'd on this Place, employ'd as it seems to violate Sleep, and thofe whofe Dwelling GOD has fettled here in Happiness? To whom SATAN, with a contemptuous Look, made Answer: GABRIEL! in Heaven thou hadst the Eftimation of being wife, and fuch indeed I thought thee, but thy afking this Question puts me in Doubt. Does there live any Body who loves his Pain? or who would would not, if he could find a Way, break loose from Hell, though he was doom'd thither? Thou thylelf would'ft, I make no Doubt, and boldly would'ft venture to whatever Place thou could'ft, to get fartheft from Pain; where thou mighteft hope to change Torment for Ease, and fooneft recompence Sorrow with Delight; which is what I fought in this Place: This to thee is no Reafon, because thou knoweft nothing but Good, and haft not try'd Evil. Wilt thou object his Will, who bound us? Let him bar his Iron Gates furer, if he intends we shall stay in that dark Durance! Thus much was afk'd me. The reft is true; they did find me where they fay, but that implies neither Harm nor Violence. THUS he spoke in Scorn: The warlike Angel was mov'd, and half fmiling, thus reply'd difdainfully: What Lofs there is in Heaven for one to judge of Wisdom, fince SATAN fell, whofe Folly overthrew him! and now returns him efcap'd from his Prifon, very gravely in Doubt, whether he fhould hold them wife or not, who afk what Boldness brought him hither from his Bounds prefcrib'd in Hell, without Leave granted him: However, he judges it wife to fly from Pain, and to escape his Punishment; fo judge thou ftill, prefumptuous Rebel, 'till that Wrath, which thou incur'ft by flying, meet thy Flight, and with fevenfold Vengeance fcourge that Wisdom back to Hell again; which yet taught thee no better, that could not teach thee that no Pain can equal infinite Anger provok'd. But wherefore art thou alone? Wherefore did not all Hell come with thee, broke loofe? Is Pain to them lefs Pain, or lefs to be fled? Or art thou lefs hardy to endure than they? A couragious Chief! the very firft in Flight from Pain! Hadit thou alledg'd this Caufe to thy deferted Hoft, furely thou hadst not come away the fole Fugitive. To To which, frowning fternly, the Fiend anfwer'd: Infulting Angel, not that I can endure lefs, or shrink from Pain; thou knoweft well: I ftood thy fierceft, when the blafting vollied Thunder made all Speed in the Battle to thy Affiftance, and feconded thy Spear, which elfe was not dreaded; but ftill thy Words, as they were before, are at Random, and argue thy Want of Experience, as to what behoves a faithful Leader, (from hard Trials and ill Succeffes paft) not to hazard all, through Ways of Danger which he had never try'd; therefore I alone undertook first to pass over the defolate Abyfs, and spy out this new created World, whereof Fame is not filent in Hell; hoping to find here a better Abode, and fettle here upon Earth, or else in the Air, my afflicted Powers; tho' against our taking Poffeffion, we try once more what thou and thy gay Legions can do, whose easier Bufinefs is, to ferve their Lord with Songs, and practice diftant Cringes, not to fight. To whom the Warrior Angel made fpeedy Reply: To fay, and then immediately to unfay, pretending firft to be wife and to fly Pain, next profeffing to be a Spy, argues no Leader, but a trac'd Liar, SATAN! and could't thou add faithful? Oh Profanation of the facred Name of Faithfulness! Faithful to whom? To thy rebellious Crew, an Army of Devils? A fit Body to fuch a Head! Was this your Difcipline, your Faith engag'd, and your military Obedience, to diffolve Allegiance to the acknowledg'd fupreme Power? And thou, fly Hypocrite, who now would'ft feem Patron of Liberty, who once fawn'd and cring'd more than thou, and fervilely ador'd the awful King of Heaven? Wherefore? but in Hopes to difpoffefs him, and reign thyfelf? But mark what I pronounce thee now; Avaunt! fly back again from whence thou art fled! for if from this Hour thou dar'ft but to ap pear |