880 Why haft thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. 885 [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 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, 905 And 910 And now returns him from his prison scap'd, But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 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, 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 935 To wing the defolate abyss, and spy This new created world, whereof in Hell 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 Allegiance to th' acknowleg'd Pow'r fupreme? 955 Heav'n's A Latinifm, and very emphatical. 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 |