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To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. [ 885 ]

Gabriel, thou hadst in Heavn th esteem of wise,

And such I held thee; but this question askt

Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain?

Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt, [ 890 ]

And boldly venture to whatever place

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change

Torment with ease, and; soonest recompence

Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;

To thee no reason; who knowst only good, [ 895 ]

But evil hast not trid: 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 askt.

The rest is true, they found me where they say; [ 900 ]

But that implies not violence or harme.

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel movd,

Disdainfully half smiling thus replid.

O loss of one in Heavn to judge of wise,

Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew, [ 905 ]

And now returns him from his prison scapt,

Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

Unlicenct from his bounds in Hell prescribd;

So wise he judges it to fly from pain [ 910 ]

However, and to scape his punishment.

So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrauth,

Which thou incurrst by flying, meet thy flight

Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain [ 915 ]

Can equal anger infinite provokt.

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 then they

Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief, [ 920 ]

The first in flight from pain, hadst thou allegd

To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern.

Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, [ 925 ]

Insulting Angel, well thou knowst I stood

Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide

The blasting volied Thunder made all speed

And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear.