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880

Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd
To thy tranfgreffions, 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 fleep, and those
Whofe dwelling God hath planted here in blifs?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885
Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' efteem of wife,
And fuch 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 wouldst thyself, no
And boldly venture to whatever place

[doubt, Fartheft

Hope, Iliad. III. and torve intuitus, Iliad IV.

Hume.

odpadov, greions, but he could tranfgrefs in his thought and mind every moment; yet it is good fenfe, if Milton meant (as I fuppofe he did) that the bounds of Hell were by God prefcrib'd to Satan's tranfgreffions, fo as that it was intended he fhould tranfgrefs no where elfe, but within those bounds: whereas he was now attempting to tranfgrefs without them. And by this interpretation we shall not understand tranfgreffions in the fenfe of the pure Latin, and tranfgrefs in the very next line, in the ufual English acceptation, but fhall affix the fame

878-broke the bounds prefcrib'd To thy tranfgreffions,] Dr. Bentley reads tranfcurfions,] and Mr. Richardfon understands tranfgreffions in the fame fenfe. But as Dr. Pearce obferves, though it is right to fay that bounds are preferib'd to hinder tranfcurfions, yet I think it is not proper to fay, that bounds are prejerib'd to tranfcurfions. And the common reading is juftifiable for though (as Dr. Bentley fays) no bounds could be fet to Satan's tranf

Fartheft from pain, where thou might'ft hope to change
Torment with ease, and fooneft recompense
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reason, who know'ft only good,
But evil haft not try'd: and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him furer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay

895

In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd. The reft is true, they found me where they fay; 900 But that implies not violence or harm.

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd, Disdainfully half fmiling thus reply'd. O lofs of one in Heav'n to judge of wise, Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,

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And

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And now returns him from his prison scap'd,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wife
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
Unlicenc'd from his bounds in Hell prefcrib'd;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain
However, and to scape his punishment.
So judge thou still, prefumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and fcourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 915
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee
Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them
Lefs pain, lefs to be fled? or thou than they
Lefs hardy to indure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alledg'd
To thy deserted hoft this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive,

920

To which the Fiend thus answer'd frowning ftern.

Not

gation, by joining it in conftruction with what goes before; but afking the question gives a fpirit and quickness to it.

926.-well thou know'st I stood Thy fierceft,] Dr. Bentley reads

The fierceft, that is pain but Thy fiercet is right, and we may underftand it with Dr. Pearce Thy fierceft attack, or with Mr Richardton Thy fiercest enemy. Fierceft is ufed as a fubftantive, as our author often ufes

adjectives.

Not that I lefs indure, or fhrink from pain,
Infulting Angel; well thou know'st I stood
Thy fierceft, when in battel to thy aid
The blafting volied thunder made all speed,
And feconded thy elfe not dreaded fpear.
But ftill thy words at random, as before,

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Argue thy inexperience what behoves

From hard affays and ill fucceffes past

A faithful leader, not to hazard all

Through ways of danger by himself untry'd:

I therefore, I alone first undertook

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To wing the defolate abyss, and spy

This new created world, whereof in Hell
Fame is not filent, here in hope to find
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
To fettle here on earth, or in mid air;
Though for poffeffion put to try once more
What thou and thy gay legions dare against ;
Whofe easier bufinefs were to ferve their Lord

940

High

adjectives. Dr. Pearce gives feveral inftances, II. 278. The fenfible of pain. XI. 4. The ftony from their hearts. XI. 497. His beft of man.

928. The blafting] Thus 'tis in the firft edition, the fecond has it.Thy;

but 'tis wrong no doubt. The word occurs very often thereabouts, and probably occafion'd the mistake. The fenfe requires it to be The.

Richardfon.

945. And

High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn his throne, And practic'd distances to cringe, not fight.

To whom the warrior Angel foon reply'd. To say and strait unfay, pretending first Wife to fly pain, profeffing next the spy, Argues no leader but a liar trac'd,

945

Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 950
O facred 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 diffolve

Allegiance to th' acknowleg'd Pow'r fupreme?
And thou, fly hypocrite, who now wouldft seem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervily ador'd

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955

Heav'n's

A Latinifm, and very emphatical.
Que prima pericula vito. Virg. Æn.
III. 367. Cui famula trador? Quem
deminum voco? Senec. Troad. 473.
Richardjon.

966. And fealtbee fo,] This feems to allude to the chaining of the dragon, that old ferpent, which is the Devil and Satan, mention'd in the Revelation: And he caft him into the bottomless pit, and fhut him up, and fet a feal upon him. XX. 3. Hume. 971. Proud

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