Is risen to invade us, whom no less
Threatens our expulfion down to Hell,
I, as I undertook, and with the yote
Consenting in full frequence was impower'd,
Have found him, view'd him, tasted him, but find
Far other labour to be undergon
Than when I dealt with Adam first of Men,
Though Adam by his Wife's allurement fell,
However to this Man inferior far,
If he be Man by Mother's fide at least,
With more than human gifts from Heav'n adorn'd,
Perfections abfolute, Graces divine,
And amplitude of mind to greatest Deeds.
Therefore I am return'd, left confidence
Of my fuccefs with Eve in Paradise
Deceive ye to perfuafion over-fure
Of like fucceeding here; I fummon all
Rather to be in readiness, with hand
Or counsel to affift; left I who erst
Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd.
So fpake th❜old Serpent doubting, and from all With clamour was affur'd their utmost aid
At his command, when from amidst them rose
Belial, the diffoluteft Spirit that fell,
The fenfuallest, and after Afmodai
The fleshlieft Incubus, and thus advis’d.
Set women in his eye, and in his walk,
Among daughters of men the fairest found;
Many are in each Region passing fair
As the noon Sky; more like to Goddeffes
Than Mortal Creatures, graceful and discreet,
Expert in am'rous Arts, enchanting tongues
Perfuafive, Virgin majesty with mild
And sweet allay'd, yet terrible t'approach,
Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw
Hearts after them tangl❜d in Amorous Nets.
Such object hath the pow'r to foft❜n and tame
Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow,
Enerve, and with voluptuous hope diffolve,
Draw out with credulous defire, and lead
At will the manlieft, refolutest breast,
As the Magnetic hardest Iron draws.
Women, when nothing else, beguil❜d the heart
Of wifest Solomon, and made him build,
And made him bow to the Gods of his Wives.
To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd, Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st
All others by thy felf; because of old
Thou thy felf doat'dst on woman-kind; admiring
Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace,
None are, thou think'st, but taken with fuch toys.
Before the Flood thou with thy lusty Crew,
False titled Sons of God, roaming the Earth
Caft wanton eyes on the daughters of men,
And coupled with them, and begot a race.
Have we not feen, or by relation heard,
In Courts and Regal Chambers how thou lurk❜dft,
In Wood or Grove by moffie Fountain fide,
In Valley or green Meadow to way-lay
Some Beauty rare, Califto Clymene,
Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,
Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more
Too long, then lay'dft thy scapes on names ador❜d,
Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter or Pan,
Satyr, or Fawn, or Silvan? But these haunts
Delight not all, among the Sons of Men,
How many have with a fmile made fmall account
Of beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd
All her affaults, on worthier things intent?
Remember that Pellean Conqueror,
A Youth, how all the Beauties of the Eaft
He flightly view'd, and flightly overpafs'd;
How he firnam'd of Africa dismiss'd
In his prime youth the fair Iberian Maid.
For Solomon he liv'd at ease, and full
Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond
Higher design than to enjoy his State;
Thence to the bait of Women lay expos'd;
But he whom we attempt is wiser far
Than Solomon, of more exalted mind,
Made and fet wholly on th' accomplishment
Of greatest things, what Woman will you find,
Though of this age the wonder and the fame,
On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye.
Of fond defire? or should she confident,
As fitting Queen ador'd on Beauty's Throne,
Descend with all her winning charms begirt
T'enamour, as the Zone of Venus once
Wrought that effect on Jove, fo Fables tell;
How would one look from his Majestick brow
Seated as on the top of Virtue's hill,
Discount'nance her defpis'd, and put to rout,
All her array; her female pride deject,
Or turn to rev'rent awe? for Beauty stands
In th' admiration only of weak minds
Led captive, cease t'admire, and all her Plumes
Fall flat and fhrink into a trivial toy,
At ev'ry sudden flighting quite abasht:
Therefore with manlier objects we must try
His conftancy, with fuch as have more shew
Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praife;
Rocks whereon greatest Men have often wreck'd
Or that which only feems to fatisfie
Lawful defires of Nature, not beyond,
And now I know he hungers where no food
Is to be found, in the wild Wilderness,
The reft commit to me, I fhall let pafs
No advantage, and his strength as oft affay.
He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud acclaim:
Then forthwith to him takes a chofen band:
Of Spirits likeft to himself in guile
To be at hand, and at his beck appear,
If caufe were to unfold fome active Scene
Of various Perfons each to know his part;
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