1/ Therefore I watch'd thy footsteps from that hour, And follow'd thee still on to this waste wild; Where by all beft conjectures I collect Thou art to be my fatal enemy. 525 Good reason then, if I before-hand seek And what he is; his wifdom, pow'r, intent, // To win him, or win from him what I can. 1/And opportunity I here have had 530 // To try thee, fift thee, and confefs have found thee // Proof against all temptation as a rock '' Of adamant, and as a center, firm // To th' utmost of meer man both wife and good, 535 Not more; for honours, riches, kingdoms, glory Have been before contemn'd, and may again: // Therefore to know what more thou art than man, // Worth naming Son of God by voice from heav'n, Another method I must now begin.)) 540 So faying he caught him up, and without wing. 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 tow'rs, And higher yet the glorious temple rear'd Her pile, far off appearing like a mount Of alabafter, top'd with golden fpires: 545 There on the highest pinnacle he fet The Son of God; and added thus in fcorn: 550 // There ftand, if thou wilt ftand; to ftand upright !! Will afk thee skill; 1 to thy father's house Have brought thee, and highest plac'd, highest is best, Now fhew thy progeny; if not to stand, Caft thyfelf down; fafely if Son of God: For it is written, He will give command Concerning thee to his angels, in their hands 555 560 565 To whom thus Jefus, alfo it is written, Tempt not the Lord thy God';, he said and stood, But Satan fmitten with amazement fell, As when earth's fon Antaeus (to compare Small things with greatest) in Irassa strove With Jove's Alcides, and oft foil'd still rofe, 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 affaults, amidst his pride Fell whence he stood to see his victor fall. And as that Theban monfter 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; So ftruck with dread and anguish fell the fiend, And to his crew that fat confulting, brought Joylefs triumphals of his hop'd fuccefs, Ruin, and desperation, and difmay, 570 575 Who durft so proudly tempt the Son of God. 580 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 foft As on a floating couch through the blithe air, 585 590 595 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, still expreffing The Son of God, with god-like force indu'd Against th' attempter of thy father's throne, And thief of paradife; him long of old Thou didst debel, and down from heaven cast With all his army, now thou haft aveng'd Supplanted Adam, and by vanquishing Temptation, hath regain'd lost paradife; {) And frustrated the conquest fraudulent : 1) He never more henceforth will dare fet foot In paradife to tempt; his fnares are broke: For though that feat of earthly blifs be fail'd, A fairer paradise is founded now 600 605 610 1/For Adam and his chofen fons, whom thou A Saviour art come down to re-instal 615 //Where they shall dwell fecure, when time shall be, Of tempter and temptation without fear. 1) But thou, infernal ferpent, fhalt not long 1 Rule in the clouds; like an autumnal star 621 Or lightning thou fhall fall from heav'n trod down 625 630* |