Chapter 17 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 unaunted Fiend what this might be admired, Admird, not fear; 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, executable 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 replied, 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 condemned To waste Eternal days in woe and pain? [ 695 ] And recknst thou thy self with Spirits of Heavn, Hell-doomd, and breatht 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 threatening, grew tenfold [ 705 ] More dreadful and deform: on the other side Incenst with indignation Satan stood Unterrifid, and like a Comet burn, 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 aim; thir fatal 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 achieved, 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.