Chapter 21 20
Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, [ 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
Turn fierie red, sharpening in mooned horns
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 thresshing floore his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On th other side Satan allarmd [ 985 ]
Collecting all his might dilated stood,
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremoved:
His stature reached the Skie, and on his Crest
Sat horror Plumd; nor wanted in his grasspe
What seemed both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds [ 990 ]
Might have ensud, nor only Paradise
In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope
Of Heavn perhaps, or all the Elements
At least had gon to rack, disturbed 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 weighed,
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 fighting;
The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. [ 1005 ]
Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowt mine,
Neither our own but givn; what follie then
To boast what Arms can do, since thine no more
Then Heavn permits, nor mine, though doubtful now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, [ 1010 ]
And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign
Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak,
If thou resist. The Fiend look up and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. [1015]