Despite Kester Svendsen's otherwise authoritative study of Milton and science, his statement that Milton's “curiosity in science never advanced to the experiments of a Royal Society nor the speculations of a Descartes or a Hoboes”1may now require some emendation. The evidence for this assertion appears in Book IV ofParadise Lostin the scene in which Gabriel and Satan stand ready to engage in what promises to be the world's first super‐heavyweight contest:Th’ Eternal to prevent such horrid fray Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen BetwixtAstreaand theScorpionsign, Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, The pendulous round Earth with balanc't Air in counterp