Why doft thou then fuggest to me distrust, 355 Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art? Whom thus anfwer'd th' Arch-Fiend now undif'Tis true, I am that Spi'rit unfortunate, (guis'd. Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revolt Kept not my happy station, but was driven 360 With them from bliss to the bottomlefs deep, Yet to that hideous place not fo confin'd By rigour unconniving, but that oft Leaving my doiorous prison I enjoy Large liberty to round this globe of earth, 365 Or range in th' air, nor from the Heav'n of Heav'ns Hath he excluded my refort sometimes. I came among the Sons of God, when he Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job To prove him, and illustrate his high worth; 370 To draw the proud king Ahab into fraud 380 What 385 What can be then lefs in me than defire To all mankind: why fhould I? they to me I loft not what I loft, rather by them 390 I gain'd what I have gain'd, and with them dwell If not difpofer; lend them oft my aid, And answers, oracles, portents and dreams, 395 400 At first it may be; but long fince with woe To whom our Saviour fternly thus reply'd. 405 Who boaft'ft release from Hell, and leave to come Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns: thou com'ft indeed, 410 As a poor miserable captive thrall Comes to the place where he before had fat To all the host of Heav'n: the happy place 415 So never more in Hell than when in Heav'n. 420 What but thy malice mov'd thee to misdeem Yet thou pretend'st to truth; all oracles 430 By thee are giv'n, and what confess'd more true Return'd 440 Return'd the wifer, or the more inftruct 445 450 In every province? who themselves disdaining Into the world to teach his final will, 455 460 And fends his Spi'rit of truth henceforth to dwell In pious hearts, an inward oracle To all truth requifite for men to know. So fpake our Saviour; but the fubtle Fiend, 465 Though inly stung with anger and disdain, Diffembled, and this answer smooth return'd. 479 Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke, And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will But mifery hath wrefted from me: where Easily canft thou find one miserable, And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth; If it may ftand him more in ftead to lie, Say and unfay, feign, flatter, or abjure? But thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord; 475 From thee I can and must submiss indure Check or reproof, and glad to 'scape so quit. Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk, Smooth on the tongue difcours'd, pleasing to th' ear, And tuneable as fylvan pipe or song; What wonder then if I delight to hear Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire Virtue, who follow not her lore: permit me To hear thee when I come (fince no man comes) And talk at least, though I despair to' attain. 485 Thy Father, who is holy, wife and pure, Suffers the hypocrite or atheous priest To tread his facred courts, and minister About his altar, handling holy things, 480 Praying or vowing, and vouchsaf'd his voice 490 To whom our Saviour with unalter'd brow. I |