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 Heaven, 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 fet The Son of God, and added thus in scorn. 550 The stand, if thou wilt stand; to stand upright Will ask thee skill; I to thy Father's house Have brought thee', and highest plac'd, highest is best, Now show thy progeny, if not to stand, Cast thyself down; safely, if Son of God: 555 For it is written, He will give command Concerning thee to his Angels, in their hands They shall up lift thee, lest at any time Thou chance to dash thy foot against a stone. To whom thus Jefus; Also it is written, 560 Tempt not the Lord thy God:, he said and stood ; But Satan smitten with amazement fell. As. when earth's son Antaeus (to compare Small things with greatest) in Irassa strove With Jove's Alcides, and of foild still rose, 565 Receiving from his mother earth new strength, Fresh from his fall, and fiercer grapple join'd, Throttled at length in th'air, expird and fell; So after many a foil the Tempter proud, Renewing 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, devour'd, That once found out and solv'd, for grief and spite Caft herself headlong from th' 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 durft so proudly tempt the Son of God, 580 So Satan fell; and strait a fiery globe Of Angels on full fail of wing flew nigh,, Who on their plumy vans receiv'd him soft® air, 585 Then in a flaw'ry valley set him down On a green bank, and led before him spread A table of celestial food, divine, Ambrosial fruits, fetch'd from the tree of life, And from the fount of life ambrosial drink, 590 That foon refreshd him wearied, and repair'd, What hunger, if ought hunger had impair'd, Or thirst; and as he fed, angelic quires Sung heav'nly anthems of his victory, Over temptation, and the Tempter proud. 595 True Image of the Father, whether thron'd cast .610 He never more henceforth will' dare fet foot In Paradise to tempt; his snares are 'broke: For though that seat of earthly bliss be fail'd, A fairer Paradise is founded now For Adam and his chosen fons, whom thou A Saviour art come down to re-install, 615 Where they shall dwell secure, when time shall be, Of Tempter and temptation without fear. But thou, infernal Serpent, shallt not long Rule in the clouds; like an autumnal star Or linghtning thou shalt fall from Heav'n, *trod down 620 Under his feet: for proof, ere this thou feel'st Thy wound, yet not thy last and deadliest wouud, By this repulse receiv'd, and hold'st in Hell No triumph; in all her gates Abaddon tues Thy 'bold attempt; hereafter learn with 625 To dread the Son of God : hè all unarm’d Shah chace thee with the terror of his voice From thy demoniac holds, poflellion foul, Thee and thy legions; yelling they shall fly, And beg to hide them in a herd of fwine, 630 Left he command them down into thee deep Bound, and to torment sent before their time. awe Hail Son of the most high, heir of both worlds, Queller of Satan, on thy glorious work Now enter, and begin to save mankind. 635 Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek Sang victor, and from heav'nly feast refresh'd Brought on his way with joy; he unobserv'd Home to his mother's house private return'd. |