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06 - Paradise Lost - John Milton · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Book four, Part two. So spake our general mother, and
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Speaker 1: with eyes of conjugal attraction, unreproved and meek surrender, half embracing,
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Speaker 1: leaned on our first father half, her swelling breast, naked
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Speaker 1: met his under the flowing gold of her loose tresses.
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Speaker 1: Hid he in delight, both of her beauty and submissive charms,
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Speaker 1: smiled with superior love, as Jupiter on Juno's smiles. When
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Speaker 1: he imprains the clouds that shed may flowers, and pressed
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Speaker 1: her matron lip with kisses pure aside, the devil turned
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Speaker 1: for envy, yet with jealous leer, malign eyed them askance,
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Speaker 1: and to himself thus plained sight, hateful sight, tormenting. Thus
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Speaker 1: these two imparadised in one another's arms. The happier Eden
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Speaker 1: shall enjoy their fill of bliss on bliss, while I
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Speaker 1: to Hell, a thrust where neither jaw way nor love
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Speaker 1: but fierce desire. Among our other torments, not the least
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Speaker 1: still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. Yet let me
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Speaker 1: not forget what I have gained from their own mouths.
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Speaker 1: All is not theirs. It seems one fatal tree there
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Speaker 1: stands of knowledge called forbidden them to taste knowledge forbidden, suspicious, reasonless?
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Speaker 1: Why should their lord envy them that? Can it be
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Speaker 1: sin to know? Can it be death? And do they
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Speaker 1: only stand by ignorance? Is that their happy state, the
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Speaker 1: proof of their obedience and their faith O fair foundation
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Speaker 1: laid whereon to build their ruin. Hence I will excite
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Speaker 1: their minds with more desire to know and to reject
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Speaker 1: envious commands invented with design to keep them low, whom
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Speaker 1: knowledge might exalt, equal with gods. Aspiring to be such,
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Speaker 1: they taste and die? What likely I can ensue? But first,
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Speaker 1: with narrow search, I must walk round this garden, and
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Speaker 1: no corner leave unspied a chance. But chance may lead
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Speaker 1: where I may meet some wandering spirit of Heaven by
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Speaker 1: fountain side, or in thick shade retired from him, to
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Speaker 1: draw what further would be learnt? Live while ye may,
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Speaker 1: yet happy pair enjoy till I return. Short pleasures, for
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Speaker 1: long woes are to succeed. So, saying his proud step,
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Speaker 1: he scornful turned, but with sly circumspection, and began through wood,
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Speaker 1: through waste o'er hill, o'er dale his roam. Meanwhile in
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Speaker 1: utmost longitude where heaven with Earth and ocean meets the
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Speaker 1: setting sun slowly descended, and with right aspect against the
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Speaker 1: eastern gate of Paradise, leveled his evening rays. It was
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Speaker 1: a rock of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, conspicuous,
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Speaker 1: far winding, with one ascent accessible from Earth, one entrance high.
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Speaker 1: The rest was craggy cliff that overhung still as it rose,
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Speaker 1: impossible to climb. Betwixt these rocky pillars. Gabriel sat, chief
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Speaker 1: of thangelic guards, awaiting night. About him, exercised heroic games
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Speaker 1: the unarmed youth of Heaven, But nigh at hand celestial armory, shields,
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Speaker 1: helms and spears hung high with diamond flaming and with gold.
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Speaker 1: Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even on a sunbeam,
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Speaker 1: swift as a shooting star in autumn, thwarts the night
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Speaker 1: when vapors fired impressed the air, and shows the mariner
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Speaker 1: from what point of his compass to beware impetuous winds.
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Speaker 1: He thus began in haste, Gabriel to thee thy course
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Speaker 1: by lot hath given charge and strict watch that to
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Speaker 1: this happy place no evil thing approach or enter in
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Speaker 1: this day. At height of noon came to my sphere
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Speaker 1: as spirit zealous as he seemed to know more of
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Speaker 1: the Almighty's works, and chiefly man God's latest image. I
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Speaker 1: described his way bent on all speed, and marked his
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Speaker 1: airy gait. But in the mounth that lies from Eden north,
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Speaker 1: where first he lighted, soon discerned his looks alien from Heaven.
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Speaker 1: With passions foul obscured. Mine eye pursued him still, but
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Speaker 1: under shade lost sight of him, one of the banished crew.
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Speaker 1: I fear hath ventured from the deep to raise new
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Speaker 1: troubles him. Thy care must be defined to whom the
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Speaker 1: winged warrior thus returned Uriel. No wonder if thy perfect
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Speaker 1: sight amid the Sun's bright circle, where thou sitt'st see
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Speaker 1: far and wide in at this gate none pass the
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Speaker 1: vigilance here placed, but such as come well known from
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Speaker 1: heid heaven, and since meridian hour no creature. Thence, if
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Speaker 1: spirit of other sort so minded have o'lept these earthly
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Speaker 1: bounds on purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude a
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Speaker 1: spiritual substance with corporeal bar But if within the circuit
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Speaker 1: of these walls, in whatsoever shape he lurk of whom
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Speaker 1: thou tell'st by morrow dawning, I shall know, so promised
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Speaker 1: he and Urial to his charge, returned on that bright beam,
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Speaker 1: whose point now raised bore him slope downward to the sun,
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Speaker 1: now fallen beneath the azores, whither the prime orb incredible,
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Speaker 1: how swift had the rolled diurnal or this less voluble earth,
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Speaker 1: by shorter flight to the east had left him there
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Speaker 1: arraying with reflected purple and gold. The clouds that on
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Speaker 1: his western throne attend now came still evening on and twilight.
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Speaker 1: Gray had in her sober livery all things clad silence
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Speaker 1: accompanied for beast and bird, they to their grassy couch,
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Speaker 1: These to their nests were slunk all but the wakeful nightingale.
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Speaker 1: She all night long, her amorous, descant sung silence was pleased,
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Speaker 1: now glowed the firmament with living sapphires hesperus that led
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Speaker 1: the starry host rode brightest till the moon rising in
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Speaker 1: clouded majesty at length apparent Queen unveiled her peerless light,
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Speaker 1: and o'er the dark her silver mantle, through when adam
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Speaker 1: thus to eve fair consort the hour of night, and
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Speaker 1: all things now retired to rest. Mind us of like repose,
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Speaker 1: Since God hath set labor and rest as day and
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Speaker 1: night to men successive, and the timely dew of sleep
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Speaker 1: now falling with soft, slumbrous weight inclines, our eyelids. Other
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Speaker 1: creatures all day long rove eyes unemployed and less need rest.
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Speaker 1: Man hath his daily work of body or mind appointed,
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Speaker 1: which declares his dignity and the regard of Heaven on
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Speaker 1: all his ways, while other animals unactive range and of
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Speaker 1: their doings. God takes no account to morrow. Ere fresh
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Speaker 1: mornings streak the east with first approach of light. We
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Speaker 1: must be risen and at our pleasant labor to reform
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Speaker 1: yon flowery arbors yonder alley's green. Our walks at noon
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Speaker 1: with branches overgrown that mock our scant manuring, and require
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Speaker 1: more hands than ours to lop their wanton growth. Those
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Speaker 1: blossoms also, and those dropping gums that lie bestrewn, unsightly
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Speaker 1: and unsmooth, ask riddance if we mean to tread with ease. Meanwhile,
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Speaker 1: as nature wills, Night bids us rest to whom thus
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Speaker 1: eve with perfect beauty adorned my author and disposer, what
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Speaker 1: thou bidst unargued I obey, so God ordains. God is
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Speaker 1: thy law, Thou mine to know. No more is woman's
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Speaker 1: happiest knowledge, and her praise with THEE conversing, I forget
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Speaker 1: all time, all seasons, and their change. All please alike.
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Speaker 1: Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising, sweet with
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Speaker 1: charm of earliest birds, pleasant the sun when first on
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Speaker 1: this delightful land he spreads his orient beams on herb, tree,
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Speaker 1: fruit and flower, glistering with dew, fragrant the fertile earth
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Speaker 1: after soft showers, and sweet the coming on of grateful
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Speaker 1: evening mild, then silent night with this her solemn bird,
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Speaker 1: and this fair moon, and these the gems of heaven
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Speaker 1: her starry train. But neither breath of morn when she
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Speaker 1: ascends with charm of earliest birds, nor rising sun on
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Speaker 1: this delightful land, nor herb fruit flower glistering with nor
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Speaker 1: fragrance after showers, nor grateful evening mild, nor silent night
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Speaker 1: with this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon or
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Speaker 1: glittering starlight without THEE is sweet. But wherefore all night
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Speaker 1: long shine, these for whom this glorious sight, when sleep
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Speaker 1: hath shut, all lies to whom our general ancestor, replied Daughter,
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Speaker 1: of God and man accomplished eve, those have their course
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Speaker 1: to finish round the earth by to morrow evening, and
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Speaker 1: from land to land, in order though to nations yet unborn,
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Speaker 1: ministering light prepared, they set and rise, lest total darkness
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Speaker 1: should by night regain her old possession and extinguish life
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Speaker 1: in nature and all things which these soft fires not
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Speaker 1: only enlighten, but with kindly heat of various influence, ferment
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Speaker 1: and warm temper, or nourish or in part shed down
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Speaker 1: their staf a virtue on all kinds that grow on earth,
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Speaker 1: made hereby apt to receive perfection from the Sun's more
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Speaker 1: potent ray. These then, though unbeheld in deep of night shine,
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Speaker 1: not in vain, nor think though men were none, that
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Speaker 1: Heaven would want spectators. God want praise. Millions of spiritual
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Speaker 1: creatures walk the earth unseen, both when we wake and
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Speaker 1: when we sleep, All these with ceaseless praise His works.
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Speaker 1: Behold both day and night. How often from the steep
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Speaker 1: of echoing hill or thicket have we heard celestial voices
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Speaker 1: to the midnight air. Soul are responsive each to others,
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Speaker 1: note singing. Their great creator often bands while they keep
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Speaker 1: watch or nightly rounding walk with heavenly touch of instrumental
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Speaker 1: sounds in full harmonic number, joined their songs divide the
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Speaker 1: night and lift our thoughts to heaven. Thus talking hand
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Speaker 1: in hand alone, they cassed on to their blissful bower.
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Speaker 1: It was a place chosen by the sovereign planter when
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Speaker 1: he framed all things to man's delightful use. The roof
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Speaker 1: of thickest covert was inwoven shade laurel and myrtle, and
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Speaker 1: what higher grew of firm and fragrant leaf on either
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Speaker 1: side Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub fenced up the
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Speaker 1: verdant wall. Each beauteous flower, iris or hues, Roses and
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Speaker 1: jasmine reared high, their flourished heads between, and wrought mosaic underfoot.
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Speaker 1: The violet crocus and hyacinth, with rich inlay broidered the
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Speaker 1: ground more colored than with stone of costliest emblem. Other
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Speaker 1: creature here beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter. None
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Speaker 1: such was their awe of man in shadier bower, more
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Speaker 1: sacred and sequestered, though, but feigned. Pan or Sylvanus never slept,
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Speaker 1: nor nymph nor fawnas haunted here in close recess with flowers, garlands,
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Speaker 1: and sweet smelling herbs espoused Eve decked first her nuptial
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Speaker 1: bed and heavenly quires. The Hymenaean sung, what day the
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Speaker 1: genial angel to our sire brought her in naked beauty,
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Speaker 1: more adorned, more lovely than Pandora, whom the gods endowed
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Speaker 1: with all their gifts and o two like in sad event,
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Speaker 1: when to the unwiser son of Japhet, brought by Hermes,
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Speaker 1: she ensnared mankind with her fair looks to be avenged
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Speaker 1: on him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. Thus, at
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Speaker 1: their shady lodge arrived, both stood, both turned and under
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Speaker 1: open sky, adored the God that made both sky, air,
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Speaker 1: earth and heaven, which they beheld the moon's resplendent globe
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Speaker 1: and starry pole. Thou also madest the night make her omnipotent,
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Speaker 1: And thou the day which we, in our appointed work employed,
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Speaker 1: have finished happy in our mutual help and mutual love.
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Speaker 1: The crown of all our bliss ordained by THEE. And
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Speaker 1: this delicious place for us too large, where thy abundance
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Speaker 1: wants partakers and uncropt folds to the ground. But Thou
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Speaker 1: hast promised from us to a race to fill the earth.
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Speaker 1: Who shall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when
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Speaker 1: we wake and when we seek as now thy gift
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Speaker 1: of sleep. This said, unanimous and other rights, observing none
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Speaker 1: but adoration pure, which God likes best, into their innermost
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Speaker 1: bower handed, they went and eased the putting off. These
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Speaker 1: troublesome disguises, which we wear straight side by side, were laid,
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Speaker 1: nor turned thy ween Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve.
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Speaker 1: The rights mysterious of connubial love refused. Whatever hypocrites austerely
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Speaker 1: talk of purity and place and innocence defame it as impure.
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Speaker 1: What God declares pure and commands to some leaves free
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Speaker 1: to all our make bids increase. Who bids abstain, but
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Speaker 1: our destroyer Foe to God and man hail wedded love,
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Speaker 1: mysterious law, true source of human offspring, sole propriety, in
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Speaker 1: paradise of all things common else by thee, adulterous lust
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Speaker 1: was driven from men among the bestial herds to range
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Speaker 1: by thee founded in reason, loyal, just and pure relations dear,
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Speaker 1: and all the charities of father, son and brother first
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Speaker 1: were known. Far be it that I should write thee
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Speaker 1: sin or blame, or think thee unbefitting, holiest place, perpetual
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Speaker 1: fountain of domestic sweets, whose bed is undefiled and chaste
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Speaker 1: pronounced present or past, as saints and patriarchs used here
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Speaker 1: love his golden shafts, employs here, lights his constant lamp,
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Speaker 1: and waves his purple wings. Reigns here and revels not
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Speaker 1: in the bought smile of Harlot's loveless, joyless, unendeared casual fruition,
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Speaker 1: nor in quarter Moor's mixed dance or wanton mask, or
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Speaker 1: midnight ball or serenate, which the starved lover sings to
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Speaker 1: his proud fare best quitted with disdain, These lulled by nightingales,
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Speaker 1: embracing slept and on their naked limbs the flowery roof
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Speaker 1: showered roses, which the morn repaired, sleep on blessed pair,
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Speaker 1: and oh yet happiest, if ye seek no happier state,
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Speaker 1: and know to know no more. Now had night measured
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Speaker 1: with her shadowy cone half way uphill this vast sublooner vault,
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Speaker 1: and from their ivory port, the cherubim, forth, issuing at
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Speaker 1: the customed hour, stood armed to their night watches in
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Speaker 1: warlike parade. When Gabriel, to his next in power, thus
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Speaker 1: spake Uzil. Half these draw off and coast the south
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Speaker 1: with strictest watch. These other wheel the north. Our circuit
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Speaker 1: meets full west as flame. They part, half wheeling to
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Speaker 1: the shield, half to the spear. From these two strong
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Speaker 1: and subtle spirits, he called that near him stood, and
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Speaker 1: gave them Thus in charge Ethuriel and Zephon, with winged speed,
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Speaker 1: searched through this garden, leave unsearched no nook, but chiefly
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Speaker 1: where those two fair creatures lodge, now laid, perhaps asleep,
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Speaker 1: securer of harm, this evening, from the sun's decline arrived
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Speaker 1: who tells of some infernal spirits seen hitherwood bent, who
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Speaker 1: could have thought escaped the bars of hell on errand
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Speaker 1: bad no doubt such where ye find sees fast, and
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Speaker 1: hither bring so saying on he led his radiant files,
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Speaker 1: dazzling the moon, these to the bower direct in search
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Speaker 1: of whom they sought him. There they found squat like
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Speaker 1: a toad, close at the ear of eve A, saying
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Speaker 1: by his devilish art to reach the organs of her fancy,
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Speaker 1: and with them forge delusions as he list phanfasms and dreams,
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Speaker 1: or if inspiring venom, he might taint of animal spirits
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Speaker 1: that from pure blood arise like gentle breaths from rivers.
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Speaker 1: Pure thence rays at least distempered, discontented thoughts, vain hopes,
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Speaker 1: vain aims, inordinate desires, blown up with high conceits, engendering
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Speaker 1: pride him. Thus intent ethereal with his spear touched lightly,
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Speaker 1: for no falsehood can endure touch of celestial temper, but
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Speaker 1: returns of force to its own likeness. Up he starts,
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Speaker 1: discovered and surprised, as when a spark lights on a
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Speaker 1: heap of nitrous powder laid fit for the touns some
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Speaker 1: magazine to store against a rumored war. The smutty grain,
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Speaker 1: with sudden blaze, diffused inflamed the air, so started up
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Speaker 1: in his own shape. The fiend back stepped. Those two
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Speaker 1: fair angels, half amazed, so sudden to behold the grisly king,
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Speaker 1: yet thus unmoved with fear accost him. Soon which of
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Speaker 1: those rebel spirits adjudged to hell comest Thou escaped thy
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Speaker 1: prison and transformed Why sat'st Thou like an enemy in
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Speaker 1: weight here watching at the head of these that sleep,
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Speaker 1: know ye not, then said Satan, filled with scorn, know
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Speaker 1: ye not me, Ye knew me once? No mate for
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Speaker 1: you there, sitting where ye durst, not soar not to
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Speaker 1: know me, argues yourselves unknown, the lowest of your throng.
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Speaker 1: Or if ye know why, ask ye, and superfluous begin
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Speaker 1: your message like to end as much in vain to
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Speaker 1: whom thus zephon answering scorn with scorn, think not revolted spirit,
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Speaker 1: thy shape the same or undiminished brightness, to be known
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Speaker 1: as when thou stoodst in heaven, upright and pure that glory.
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Speaker 1: Then when thou no more wast good departed from thee,
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Speaker 1: and thou resemblest now thy sin and place of doom,
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Speaker 1: obscure and foul. But come, for thou be sure, shalt
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Speaker 1: give account to him who sent us, whose charge is
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Speaker 1: to keep this place inviolable and these from harm. So
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Speaker 1: spake the cherub and his grave rebuke, severe in youthful beauty,
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Speaker 1: added grace invincible, abashed. The devil stood and felt how
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Speaker 1: awful goodness is, and saw virtue in her shape, how
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Speaker 1: lovely sore, and hind his loss, But chiefly to find here,
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Speaker 1: observed his luster, visibly impaired, yet seemed undaunted. If I
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Speaker 1: must contend, said he best, with the best the sender,
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Speaker 1: not the scent, or all at once more glory will
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Speaker 1: be won, or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon,
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Speaker 1: bald will save us trial what the least can do
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Speaker 1: single against thee wicked, and thence weak. The fiend replied,
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Speaker 1: not overcome with rage, but like a proud steed, reigned
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Speaker 1: went haughty on, chomping his iron curb to strive or fly,
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Speaker 1: He held it vain or from above had quelled his heart,
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Speaker 1: not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh the western point,
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Speaker 1: where those half rounding guards just met, and closing stood
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Speaker 1: in squadron, joined, awaiting next command, to whom their chief, Gabriel,
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Speaker 1: from the front, thus called aloud o, friends, I hear
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Speaker 1: the tread of nimble feet hasting this way, and now
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Speaker 1: by glimpse discern Etheriel and Zephon through the shade, and
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Speaker 1: with them comes a third of regal port, but faded splendor,
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Speaker 1: one who, by his gait and fierce demeanor, seems the
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Speaker 1: prince of Hell not likely to part hence without contest,
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Speaker 1: stand firm, for in his look defiance lowers he scarce
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Speaker 1: had ended when those two approached, and brief related whom
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Speaker 1: they brought, where found how busied in what form and
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Speaker 1: posture couched to whom with stern regard. Thus Gabriel spake,
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Speaker 1: why hast thou Satan, broke the bounds prescribed to thy
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Speaker 1: transgressions and disturbed the charge of others, who approve not
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Speaker 1: to transgress by thy example, but have power and right
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Speaker 1: to question thy bold entrance on this place employed it
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Speaker 1: seems to violate sleep and those whose dwelling God hath
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Speaker 1: planted here in bliss, to whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow, Gabriel,
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Speaker 1: thou hadst in heaven the steam of wise, and such
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Speaker 1: I held thee. But this question asked puts me in doubt.
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Speaker 1: Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding
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Speaker 1: way break loose from hell? Though thither doomed, Thou wouldst
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Speaker 1: thyself no doubt and boldly venture to whatever place farthest
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Speaker 1: from pain, where thou mightst hope to change torment with ease,
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Speaker 1: and soonest recompense dole with delight, which in this place
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Speaker 1: I sought to thee no reason who know'st only good
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Speaker 1: but evil has not tried, and wilt object his will.
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Speaker 1: Who bound us let him surer bar his iron gates
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Speaker 1: if he intends, I'll stay in that black durrance. Thus
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Speaker 1: much what was asked. The rest is true. They found
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Speaker 1: me where they say, but that implies not violence nor harm.
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Speaker 1: Thus he in scorn The warlike angel moved disdainfully, half smiling.
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Speaker 1: Thus replied, O loss of one in Heaven? To judge
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Speaker 1: of wise, since Satan fell whom folly overthrew, and now
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Speaker 1: returns him from his prison escaped gravely in doubt whether
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Speaker 1: to hold them wise or not? Who ask what boldness
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Speaker 1: brought him hither, unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed
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Speaker 1: so wise, he judges it to fly from pain, however,
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Speaker 1: and escape his punishment. So judge thou, still presumptuous, till
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Speaker 1: the wrath which thou encoarst by flying, meets thy flight sevenfold,
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Speaker 1: and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, which taught THEE
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Speaker 1: yet no better, that no pain can equal anger infinite provoked.
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Speaker 1: But wherefore thou alone, wherefore with THEE came not all
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Speaker 1: hell broke? Loose? Is pain to them less pain less
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Speaker 1: to be fled? Or thou then they less hardy to endure,
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Speaker 1: courageous chief, the first in flight from pain, hadst thou
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Speaker 1: alleged to thy deserted host this cause of flight, Thou
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Speaker 1: surely hadst not come sole fugitive, to which the fiend
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Speaker 1: thus answered, frowning stern, not that I less endure or
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Speaker 1: shrink from pain, insulting angel, Well thou knowest I stand
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Speaker 1: thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid the blasting
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Speaker 1: volleyed thunder made all speed, and seconded thy else not
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Speaker 1: dreaded spear, but still thy words at random, as before,
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Speaker 1: argue thy inexperience, what behooves from harder says and ill
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Speaker 1: successes past a faithful leader not to hazard all through
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Speaker 1: ways of danger by himself untried. I therefore I alone
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Speaker 1: first undertook to wing the desolate abyss and spy this
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Speaker 1: the new created world, whereof in hell fame is not silent.
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Speaker 1: Here in hope to find better abode, and my afflicted
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Speaker 1: powers to settle here on earth or in mid air,
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Speaker 1: though for possession. Put to try once more what thou
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Speaker 1: and thy gay legions dare against whose easier business were
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Speaker 1: to serve their lord high up in heaven with songs
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Speaker 1: to him his throne, and practice distances to cringe, not fight,
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Speaker 1: to whom. The warrior angel soon replied to say, and
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Speaker 1: straight unsay, pretending first wise to fly pain professing. Next,
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Speaker 1: the spy argues, no leader but a liar tracked Satan,
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Speaker 1: and couldst thou faithful? Add o name, O sacred name
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Speaker 1: of faithfulness, profaned, faithful to whom to thy rebellious crew,
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Speaker 1: army of fiends, fit body to fit head? Was this
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Speaker 1: your discipline and faith engaged your military obedience to dissolve
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Speaker 1: allegiance to the acknowledged power supreme? And thou sly hypocrite,
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Speaker 1: who now would seem patron of liberty, who more than
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Speaker 1: thou once fawned and cringed and servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch. Wherefore,
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Speaker 1: but in hope to dispossess him and thyself to reign.
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Speaker 1: But mark what I read, THEE now avunt fly thither,
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Speaker 1: whence thou fledest if from this hour, within these hallowed
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Speaker 1: limits thou appear back to the infernal pit. I drag
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Speaker 1: thee chained and seal thee, so as henceforth not to
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Speaker 1: scorn the facile gaits of Hell too slightly barred, so
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Speaker 1: threatened he but Satan to no threats gave heed, but
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Speaker 1: waxing more enrage, replied than when I am thy captive,
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Speaker 1: talk of chains, proud, limitary cherub. But e're then far
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Speaker 1: heavier load thy self expect to feel from my preveil arm.
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Speaker 1: Though Heaven's king ride on thy wings, and thou with
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Speaker 1: thy compeers used to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels
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Speaker 1: in progress through the road of heaven star paved. While
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Speaker 1: thus he spake vangelic squadron bright turned fiery red, sharpening
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Speaker 1: in mooned horns their flanks, and began to hem him
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Speaker 1: round with ported spears as thick as when a field
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Speaker 1: of serres ripe for harvest, waving bends her bearded grove
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Speaker 1: of ears, which way the wind sways them. The careful plowman, doubting,
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Speaker 1: stands least on the threshing floor, his hopeful sheaves proved chaff.
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Speaker 1: On the other side, Satan, alarmed, collecting all his might, dilated,
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Speaker 1: stood like teneriff or atlas unremoved. His stature reached the sky,
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Speaker 1: and on his crest sat horror plumed, nor wanted in
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Speaker 1: his grasp what seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful
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Speaker 1: deeds might have ensued, nor only paradise in this commotion.
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Speaker 1: But the starry cope of heaven, perhaps or all the
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Speaker 1: elements had at least gone to rack, disturbed and torn
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Speaker 1: with violence of this conflict, had not soon the eternal
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Speaker 1: to prevent such horrid fray hung forth in heaven, his
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Speaker 1: golden scales yet seen betwixt Astria and the scorpion sign,
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Speaker 1: wherein all things created, First he weighed the pendulous round
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Speaker 1: earth with balanced air. In counterpoise now ponders all events,
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Speaker 1: battles and realms. In these he put two weights, the sequel,
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Speaker 1: each of parting and of fight. The latter quick up,
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Speaker 1: flew and kicked the beam which Gabriel spying. Thus bespake
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Speaker 1: the fiend, Satan. I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine,
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Speaker 1: neither our own. But given what folly, then to boast
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Speaker 1: what arms can do, since thine no more than Heaven
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Speaker 1: permits nor mine. Though doubled now to trample thee asmire
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Speaker 1: for proof, look up and read thy lot in yon
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Speaker 1: celestial sign, where thou art weighed and shone, How light,
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Speaker 1: how weak? If thou resist the fiend looked up and
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Speaker 1: knew his mounted scale aloft nor more but fled, murmuring,
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Speaker 1: and with him fled the shades of night. The end
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Speaker 1: of the second part of the fourth book,