Thy manhood last, though yet in private bred ; 510 525 Good reason then, if I before-hand seek To understand my adversary, who And what he is; his wisdom, pow'r, intent; By parl or composition, truce or league, To win him, or win from him what I can: 530 And opportunity I here have had To try thee, sift thee, and confess 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 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 say'ing he caught him up, and, without wing Of hippogrif, bore through the air sublime, Over the wilderness and o'er the plain, Till underneath them fair Jerusalem, The holy city, lifted high her towers, 545 And higher yet the glorious temple rear'd Her pile, far off appearing like a mount of alabaster, topt with golden spires : There on the highest pinnacle he set * There stand, if thou wilt stand; to stand upright To whom thus Jesus.“ Also it is written, 1560 "Tempt not the Lord thy God: " he said, and stood : But Satan, smitten with amazement, fell. As when Earth's son Antæus (to compare Small things with greatest) in I rassa strove With Jove's Alcides, and, oft foil'd, still rose, 565 Receiving from his mother Earth new strength, Fresh from his fall, and fiercer grapple joind, Throttled at length in th' air, expird and fell ; So, after many a foil, the Tempter proud, Benewing fresh assaults amidst his pride, 570 Fell whence he stood to see his victor fall: And as that Theban monster, that propos'd Her riddle', and him who solv'd it not devourd, That once found out and solv'd, for grief and spite Cast herself headlong from the Ismenian steep; 575 So, struck with dread and anguish, fell the Fiend, And to his crew, that sat consulting, brought (Joyless triumphals of his hop'd success) Ruin, and desperation, and dismay, Who dorst so proudly tempt the Son of God. 580 So Satan fell; and straight a fiery globe Of Angels on fall sail 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, set him down On a green bank, and set before birn spread table of celestial food, divine Ambrosial fruits, fetch'd from the tree of life, * True image of the Father; whether thron'd 615 Where they shall dwell secure, when time shall 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 shalt fall from Heav'n, trod down Under his feet: for proof, ere this thou feel'st 621 Thy wound, (yet not thy last and deadliest wound) By this repulse receiv'd, and hold'st in Hell No triumpb: in all her gates Abaddon rues Thy bold attempt. Hereafter learn with awe 625 To dread the Son of God : he, all unarm'd, Shall chase thee with the terror of his voice From thy demoniac holds, possession foul, 630 Thee and thy legions; yelling they shall fly, Thus they the Son of God, our Saviour meek, 635 THE END OF PARADISE REGAINED. |