Chapter 19 18
To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. [ 885 ]
Gabriel, thou hadst in Heavn th appreciation 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 has not trid: and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him suer barr
His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay
In that dark durance: thus much what was asked.
The rest is true, they found me where they say; [ 900 ]
But that implies not violence or harm.
Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel movd,
Disdainfully half smiling thus reply.
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
Seanfold, 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 alleged
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.
To which the Fiend thus answered frowning stern.
Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, [ 925 ]
Insulting Angel, well thou knowt I stood
Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide
The blasting volied Thunder made all speed
And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear.