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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,

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Not likely to part hence without contest;
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, 875 How busied, in what form and posture couch'd.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd

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though it is right to say that bounds are prescribed to hinder transcursions, yet I think it is not proper to say, that bounds are prescribed to transcursions. And the common reading is justifiable: for though (as Dr. Bentley says) no bounds could be set to Satan's transgressions, but he could transgress in his thought and mind every moment; yet it is good sense, if Milton meant (as I suppose he did) that the bounds of hell were by God prescribed to Satan's transgressions, so as that it was intended he should transgress no where else, but within those bounds; whereas he was now attempting to transgress. without them. And by this interpretation we shall not understand transgressions in the sense of the pure Latin, and transgress in the very next line in the usual English acceptation, but shall affix the same notion both to the one and the other.

To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to transgress

By thy example, but have pow'r and right
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 ?

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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 would'st thyself, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place

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Farthest from pain, where thou might'st 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

883. -to violate sleep,] Shakespeare in Macbeth has a stronger expression, to murder sleep; both equally proper in the places where they are employed.

887. -but this question ask'd Puts me in doubt.]

Homer: Thou seemedst a wise man formerly, Νυν δ' αφρονι φωτι 10ικας. Bentley.

892. -to change

Torment with ease,]

We commonly say to change one thing for another, and Dr. Bentley would read for ease in this place: but to change torment with ease is according to the

895

Latins, whom Milton often follows. Glandem mutavit aristd. Virg. Geor. i. 8.

896. -and wilt object

His will who bound us?] If these words are to be read with a note of interrogation as in all the editions, thou must be understood, and Dr. Bentley chooses to read and wilt thou object. It is a concise way of speaking, somewhat like that in ii. 730. and knowest for whom. I have sometimes thought that the passage may be read without the note of interrogation, by joining it in 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 ask'd.
The rest is true, they found me where they say;
But that implies not violence or harm.

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Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel mov'd, Disdainfully half smiling thus replied.

O loss of one in heav'n to judge of wise,
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,

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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
Unlicens'd from his bounds in hell prescrib'd;
So wise he judges it to fly from pain

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However, and to scape his punishment.
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and scourge that wisdom back to hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

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 indure ? courageous chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleg'd
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

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To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning stern.

construction with what goes tion gives a spirit and quickness before; but asking the ques- to it.

Not that I less indure, or shrink from pain,
Insulting angel; well thou know'st I stood
Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid
The blasting vollied 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 spy
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 heav'n, with songs to hymn his throne,
And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight.

To whom the warrior angel soon replied.

stood

Thy fiercest,]

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926. -well thou know'st I pain. xi. 4. The stony from their hearts. xi. 497. His best of man. 928. The blasting] Thus it is in the first edition, the second has it Thy; but the sense requires it to be The. Richardson.

Dr. Bentley reads The fiercest, that is pain: but Thy fiercest is right, and we may understand it with Dr. Pearce Thy fiercest attack, or with Mr. Richardson Thy fiercest enemy. Fiercest is used as a substantive, as our author often uses adjectives. Dr. Pearce gives several instances, ii. 278. The sensible of

945. And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight.] With is understood. With songs to hymn his throne, and with practised distances to cringe, not fight. Dr. Bentley has strangely mistaken it.

To say and strait unsay, pretending first
Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,
Argues no leader but a liar trac'd,
Satan, and could'st thou faithful add? O name,

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O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew ?

Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head.
Was this your discipline and faith engag'd,
Your military obedience, to dissolve

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Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Power supreme ?
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now would'st seem

Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilely ador'd
Heav'n's awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope 960

To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant;
Fly thither whence thou fledd'st: if from this hour

Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of hell too slightly barr'd.

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So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,

962. -arreed] To decree, to award.

965. -I drag thee] The present tense used for the future, to signify the immediate execution of the menace. Hume.

A Latinism, and very emphatical. Quæ prima pericula vito. Virg. Æn. iii. 367. Cui famula trador? Quem dominum vo

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co? Senec. Troad. 473. Richard

son.

966. And seal thee so.] 'This seems to allude to the chaining of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, mentioned in the Revelation: and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him. xx. 3. Hume.

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