Page:Paradise Lost (1667).djvu/73

---

690Who firſt broke peace in Heav’n and Faith, till then
Unbrok’n, and in proud rebellious Arms
Drew after him the third part of Heav’ns Sons
Conjur’d againſt the higheſt, for which both Thou
And they outcaſt from God, are here condemn’d
To waſte Eternal daies in woe and pain?
And reck’n’st thou thy ſelf with Spirits of Heav’n,
Hell-doomed, and breath’ſt defiance here and ſcorn,
Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more,
Thy King and Lord? Back to thy puniſhment,
700Falſe fugitive, and to thy ſpeed add wings,
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 terrour, and in ſhape,
So ſpeaking and ſo threatning, grew ten fold
More dreadful and deform: on th’ other ſide
Incenc’t with indignation Satan ſtood
Unterrifi’d, and like a Comet burn’,
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge
710In th’ Arctick Sky, and from his horrid hair
Shakes Peſtilence and Warr. Each at the Head
Level’d 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 Heav’ns Artillery fraught, come rattling on
Over the Caſpian, then ſtand front to front
Hov’ring a ſpace, till Winds the ſignal blow
To joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air:
So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell
720Grew darker at thir frown, ſo matcht they ſtood;
For never but once more was either like