16

Satan was now at hand, and from his seat

The Monster moving onward came as fast [ 675 ]

With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode.

Th undaunted Fiend what this might be admird,

Admird, not feard; God and his Son except,

Created thing naught valud he nor shund

And with disdainful look thus first began. [ 680 ]

Whence and what art thou, execrable shape,

That darst, though grim and terrible, advance

Thy miscreated Front athwart my way

To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass,

That be assured, without leave askt of thee: [ 685 ]

Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof,

Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heavn.

To whom the Goblin full of wrauth replyd,

Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee,

Who first broke peace in Heavn and Faith, till then [ 690 ]

Unbrokn, and in proud rebellious Arms

Drew after him the third part of Heavns Sons

Conjurd against the highest, for which both Thou

And they outcast from God, are here condemnd

To waste Eternal dayes in woe and pain? [ 695 ]

And recknst thou thy self with Spirits of Heavn,

Hell-doomd, and breathst defiance here and scorn

Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more,

Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment,

False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, [ 700 ]

Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursue

Thy lingring, or with one stroke of this Dart

Strange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before.

So spake the grieslie terror, and in shape,

So speaking and so threatning, grew tenfold [ 705 ]

More dreadful and deform: on th other side

Incenst with indignation Satan stood

Unterrifid, and like a Comet burnd,

That fires the length of Ophiucus huge

In th Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair [ 710 ]

Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the Head

Leveld his deadly aime; thir fatall hands

No second stroke intend, and such a frown

Each cast at th other, as when two black Clouds

With Heavns Artillery fraught, come rattling on [ 715 ]

Over the Caspian, then stand front to front

Hovring a space, till Winds the signal blow

To join thir dark Encounter in mid air:

So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell

Grew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood; [ 720 ]

For never but once more was either like

To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds

Had been achievd, whereof all Hell had rung,

Had not the Snakie Sorceress that sat

Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key, [ 725 ]

Risn, and with hideous outcry rushd between.

O Father, what intends thy hand, she cryd,

Against thy only Son? What fury O Son,

Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart

Against thy Fathers head? and knowst for whom; [ 730 ]

For him who sits above and laughs the while

At thee ordaind his drudge, to execute

What ere his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids,

His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.