Of Hippogrif, bore through the Air fublime
Over the Wilderness and o'er the Plain;
Till underneath them fair Jerufalem,
The holy City, lifted high her Towr's,
And higher yet the glorious Temple rear'd
Her pile, far off appearing like a Mount
Of Alabafter, topt with Golden Spires:
There on the highest Pinnacle he fet

545

The Son of God; and added thus in fcorn.

550

There ftand, if thou wilt ftand; to stand upright Will ask thee skill; I to thy Father's house Have brought thee, and highest plac'd; highest is beft.

555

Now fhew thy Progeny; if not to stand,
Caft thyself down; fafely, if Son of God:
For it is written, He will give command
Concerning thee to his Angels, in their hands
They fhall uplift thee, left at any time
Thou chance to dafh thy foot against a stone.
To whom thus Jefus: Also it is written, 560
Tempt not the Lord thy God: he said and stood.
But Satan fmitten with amazement fell.

As when Earth's Son Antaus (to compare
Small things with greatest) in Irassa strove
With Jove's Alcides, and oft foil'd still rofe, 565
Receiving from his mother Earth new strength,
Fresh from his fall and fiercer grapple join'd,
Throttled at length in th' Air expir'd and fell:
So after many a foil the Tempter proud,
Renewing fresh assaults, amidst his pride
Fell whence he ftood to fee his Victor fall.

570

And

And as that Theban monster that propos'd

Her riddle, and him, who folv'd it not, devour'd; That once found out and folv'd, for grief and spight Caft herself headlong from th' Ifmenian steep; 575 So ftrook with dread and anguish fell the Fiend, And to his crew that fat confulting, brought Joylefs Triumphals of his hop'd fuccefs,

Ruin, and defperation, and dismay,

Who durft fo proudly tempt the Son of God. 589
So Satan fell; and straight a fiery Globe

Of Angels on full fail of wing flew nigh,
Who on their plumy Vans receiv'd him soft
From his uneasy station, and upbore

As on a floating couch through the blithe Air; 585
Then in a flow'ry valley fet him down

On a green bank, and set before him fpred
A Table of Celestial Food, Divine,

Ambrofial fruits, fetcht from the Tree of Life,
And from the Fount of Life Ambrofial drink, 590
That foon refresh'd him weary'd, and repair'd
What hunger, if aught hunger had impair'd,
Or thirst; and as he fed, Angelic Choirs
Sung Heav'nly Anthems of his Victory
Over temptation, and the Tempter proud.

True Image of the Father, whether thron'd
In the bofom of blifs, and light of light
Conceiving, or remote from Heav'n, enshrin'd
In fleshly Tabernacle, and human form,
Wand'ring the Wilderness, whatever place,
Habit or state, or motion, ftill expreffing
The Son of God, with God-like force indu'd

595

600

Against

Against th' Attempter of thy Father's Throne,
And Thief of Paradife; him long of old

Thou didst debel, and down from Heaven caft 605
With all his Army; now thou haft aveng'd
Supplanted Adam, and by vanquishing
Temptation, haft regain'd loft Paradife;
And frustrated the conqueft fraudulent:

He never more henceforth will dare fet foot 610
In paradife to tempt; his fnares are broke.
For though that seat of earthly blifs be fail'd,
A fairer Paradife is founded now

615

For Adam and his chofen Sons, whom thou
A Saviour art come down to re-inftal,
Where they shall dwell fecure, when time fhall be,
Of Tempter and Temptation without fear.
But thou, Infernal Serpent, shalt not long
Rule in the Clouds; like an Autumnal Star,
Or Lightning, thou fhalt fall from Heav'n, trod

620

down Under his feet for proof, ere this thou feel'st Thy wound, yet not thy laft and deadlieft wound, By this repulse receiv'd, and hold'st in Hell No triumph in all her Gates Abaddon rues Thy bold Attempt; hereafter learn with aw 625 To dread the Son of God: he all unarm'd Shall chafe thee with the terror of his voice From thy Demoniac holds, poffeffion foul, Thee and thy Legions; yelling they shall fly, And beg to hide them in a herd of Swine, Left he command them down into the deep, Bound, and to torment sent before their time.

630

Hail Son of the moft High, heir of both Worlds,
Queller of Satan, on thy glorious work
Now enter, and begin to fave mankind.

Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek
Sung Victor, and from Heav'nly Feast refresht
Brought on his way with joy; he unobferv'd
Home to his Mother's house private return'd.

635

THE END.