Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he call'd That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge: "Ithuriel and Zephon! with wing'd speed Search through this garden; leave unsearch'd no
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,
Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm.
This evening from the sun's decline arrived,
Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) es-
The bars of hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring."
So saying, on he led his radiant files,
Dazzling the moon : these to the bower direct
In search of whom they sought. Him there they
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, [found
Essaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy; and with them forge
Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams:
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
The' animal spirits, that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride.
Him, thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can indure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover'd and surprised. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun some magazine to store
Against a rumor'd war: the smutty grain,
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air :
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stepp'd those two fair angels, half amazed
So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon:
"Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to hell
Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transform'd,
Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?"
"Know ye not then, (said Satan, fill'd with scorn,)
Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar:
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain ?"
To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with
“ Think not, revolted Spirit! thy shape the same,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou stood'st in heaven upright and pure:
That glory then, when thou no more wast good,
Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now
Thy sin and place of doom, obscure and foul.
But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account
To him who sent us; whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm."
So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abash'd the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined
His loss: but chiefly to find here observed
His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seem'd
Undaunted. "If I must contend, (said he)
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