The Poetical Works of John Milton


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The rest is true, they found me where they say;  
But that implies not violence or harme.  
900  
Thus hee in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,  
Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd.  
O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise,  
Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew,  
And now returns him from his prison scap't,  
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise  
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither  
Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd;  
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 incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight  
Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,  
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain  
Can equal anger infinite provok't.  
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,  
The first in flight from pain, had'st thou alleg'd  
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,  
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.  
To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern.  
Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,  
920  
345  


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343 344 345 346 347

Quick Jump
1 198 395 593 790