440 Nor yet amidst this joy and brightest morn Defp'rate of better course, to vent his rage, 445 Him walking on a funny hill he found, And in a careless mood thus to him faid. 450 Fair morning yet betides thee, Son of God, And harmless, if not wholesome as a sneeze 465 Did 470 Did I not tell thee, if thou didst reject 476 Ere thou of Ifrael's scepter get fast hold ; 480 Whereof this ominous night that clos'd thee round, So many terrors, voices, prodigies May warn thee, as a fure fore-going fign. So talk'd he, while the Son of God went on And stay'd not, but in brief him answer'd thus. 485 Me worse than wet thou find'ft not; other harm Those terrors which thou spak'st of, did me none; I never fear'd they could, though noising loud And threatning nigh; what they can do as figns Betokening, or ill boding, I contemn 490 As false portents, not fent from God, but thee; Who knowing I fhall reign paft thy preventing, Obtrud'ft thy offer'd aid, that I accepting At least might seem to hold all pow'r of thee, Am Ambitious Spi'rit, and wouldft be thought my God, 496 500 To whom the Fiend now fwoln with rage reply'd. In what degree or meaning thou art call'd And if I was, I am; relation ftands; 510 515 All men are Sons of God; yet thee I thought 520 In some respect far higher fo declar'd. Therefore I watch'd thy footsteps from that hour, And And follow'd thee still on this wafte wild; Where by all beft conjectures I collect Thou art to be my fatal enemy. 525 Good reason, then if I before-hand feek To understand my adversary, who And what he is; his wifdom, pow'r, intent; To win him, or win from him what I can. 530 To try thee, fift thee, and confefs have found thee Proof against all temptation, as a rock Of adamant, and as a centre, firm, To th' utmost of mere man both wise and good, 535 Not more; for honors, 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 and without wing So fay'ing he caught him up, The Son of God, and added thus in fcorn. 545 550 There 555 560 There stand, if thou wilt ftand; to stand upright Will ask thee skill; I to thy Father's house Have brought thee', and highest plac'd, higheft is best, Now show 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 up lift thee, left at any time Thou chance to dash thy foot against a stone. To whom thus Jefus; Also it is written, Tempt not the Lord thy God: he said and flood: But Satan fmitten with amazement fell. As when earth's fon Antæus (to compare Small things with greatest) in Irassa strove With Jove's Alcides, and oft foil'd still rose, Receiving from his mother earth new ftrength, 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 flood to see his victor fall. 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 spite. Caft herself headlong from th' Ifmenian steep; 575 So ftruck with dread and anguish fell the Fiend, And to his crew, that fat confulting, brought Joylefs triumphals of his hop'd fuccefs, 565 570 |