20

Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines, [ 970 ]

Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then

Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel

From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King

Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers,

Usd to the yoak, drawst his triumphant wheels [ 975 ]

In progress through the rode of Heavn Star-pavd.

While thus he spake, th Angelic Squadron bright

Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes

Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round

With ported Spears, as thick as when a field [ 980 ]

Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends

Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind

Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands

Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves

Prove chaff. On th other side Satan allarmd [ 985 ]

Collecting all his might dilated stood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremovd:

His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest

Sat horror Plumd; nor wanted in his graspe

What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds [ 990 ]

Might have ensud, nor onely Paradise

In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope

Of Heavn perhaps, or all the Elements

At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne

With violence of this conflict, had not soon [ 995 ]

Th Eternal to prevent such horrid fray

Hung forth in Heavn his golden Scales, yet seen

Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion signe,

Wherein all things created first he weighd,

The pendulous round Earth with balanct Aire [ 1000 ]

In counterpoise, now ponders all events,

Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights

The sequel each of parting and of fight;

The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam;

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. [ 1005 ]

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine,

Neither our own but givn; what follie then

To boast what Arms can doe, since thine no more

Then Heavn permits, nor mine, though doubld now

To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, [ 1010 ]

And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign

Where thou art weighd, and shown how light, how weak,

If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. [ 1015 ]

The End of the Fourth Book.