The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (62 page)

795

      

The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt.

796

      

Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.

797

      

   
So saying, on he led his radiant files,
³¹⁴⁸

798

      

Dazzling the moon. These to the bower direct

799

      

In search of whom they sought, him
³¹⁴⁹
there they found

800

      

Squat
³¹⁵⁰
like a toad, close at
³¹⁵¹
the ear of Eve,

801

      

Assaying
³¹⁵²
by his devilish art to reach

802

      

The organs of her fancy, and with them forge

803

      

Illusions, as he list,
³¹⁵³
phantasms and dreams,

804

      

Or if,
³¹⁵⁴
inspiring
³¹⁵⁵
venom, he might taint
³¹⁵⁶

805

      

The animal spirits that from pure blood arise

806

      

Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise

807

      

At least distempered,
³¹⁵⁷
discontented thoughts,

808

      

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,

809

      

Blown up with high conceits engend’ring pride.

810

      

Him thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear

811

      

Touched lightly, for no falsehood can endure

812

      

Touch of celestial temper,
³¹⁵⁸
but returns

813

      

Of force
³¹⁵⁹
to its own likeness. Up he starts,
³¹⁶⁰

814

      

Discovered and surprised.
³¹⁶¹
As when a spark

815

      

Lights on a heap of nitrous powder,
³¹⁶²
laid
³¹⁶³

816

      

Fit for the tun
³¹⁶⁴
some magazine
³¹⁶⁵
to store

817

      

Against a rumored war, the smutty
³¹⁶⁶
grain,
³¹⁶⁷

818

      

With sudden blaze diffused,
³¹⁶⁸
inflames the air,

819

      

So started up in his own shape the fiend.

820

      

Back stepped those two fair Angels, half amazed
³¹⁶⁹

821

      

So sudden to behold the grisly
³¹⁷⁰
king,

822

      

Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost
³¹⁷¹
him soon:
³¹⁷²

823

      

   
“Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged
³¹⁷³
to Hell

824

      

Com’st thou, escaped thy prison? And, transformed,

825

      

Why sat’st thou like an enemy in wait,

826

      

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

827

      

   
“Know ye not then,” said Satan, filled with scorn,

828

      

“Know ye not me? Ye knew me once no mate
³¹⁷⁴

829

      

For you, there
³¹⁷⁵
sitting where ye durst not soar.

830

      

Not to know me argues
³¹⁷⁶
yourselves unknown,

831

      

The lowest of your throng. Or if ye know,

832

      

Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

833

      

Your message, like to end as much in vain?

834

      

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn:

835

      

   
“Think not, revolted
³¹⁷⁷
Spirit, thy shape the same,

836

      

Or undiminished brightness, to be known

837

      

As when thou stood’st in Heav’n upright and pure.

838

      

That glory then, when thou no more wast good,

839

      

Departed from thee, and thou resembl’st now

840

      

Thy sin and place of doom,
³¹⁷⁸
obscure and foul.

841

      

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account

842

      

To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

843

      

This place inviolable, and these from harm.

844

      

   
So spoke the Cherub, and his grave rebuke,

845

      

Severe in youthful beauty, added grace

846

      

Invincible. Abashed the Devil stood,

847

      

And felt how awful
³¹⁷⁹
goodness is, and saw

848

      

Virtue in her shape how lovely, saw and pined
³¹⁸⁰

849

      

His loss, but chiefly to find here observed

850

      

His luster visibly impaired, yet seemed

851

      

Undaunted. “If I must contend,”
³¹⁸¹
said he,

852

      

“Best with the best, the sender, not the sent,

853

      

Or all at once. More glory will be won,

854

      

Or less be lost.” “Thy fear,” said Zephon bold,

855

      

“Will save us trial what the least can do

856

      

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

857

      

   
The fiend replied not, overcome with rage,

858

      

But like a proud steed reined, went haughty on,

859

      

Champing
³¹⁸²
his iron curb.
³¹⁸³
To strive or fly
³¹⁸⁴

860

      

He held it vain; awe
³¹⁸⁵
from above had quelled
³¹⁸⁶

861

      

His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh

862

      

The western point, where those half-rounding guards

863

      

Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined,

864

      

Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,

865

      

Gabriel, from the front
³¹⁸⁷
thus called aloud:

866

      

   
“O friends! I hear the tread of nimble
³¹⁸⁸
feet

867

      

Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern

868

      

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,

869

      

And with them comes a third of regal
³¹⁸⁹
port,
³¹⁹⁰

870

      

But faded splendor wan,
³¹⁹¹
who by his gait

871

      

And fierce demeanor seems the Prince of Hell,

872

      

Not likely to part
³¹⁹²
hence without contest.

873

      

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.”
³¹⁹³

874

      

   
He scarce had ended, when those two approached

875

      

And brief related whom they brought, where found,

876

      

How busied, in what form and posture couched.
³¹⁹⁴

877

      

   
To whom with stern regard
³¹⁹⁵
thus Gabriel spoke:

878

      

“Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed

879

      

To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge
³¹⁹⁶

880

      

Of others, who approve
³¹⁹⁷
not to transgress

881

      

By thy example, but have power and right