So Satan fell; and straight a fiery globe Of angels on full sail of wing flew nigh, Who on their plumy vans receiv'd him soft From his uneasy station, and upbore
As on a floating couch through the blithe air, 385 Then in a flow'ry valley set him down
On a green bank, and set 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, That soon refresh'd him wearied, and repair'd What hunger, if aught 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.
True Image of the father, whether thron'd In the bosom of bliss, and light of light Conceiving, or remote from heav'n, enshrin'd
581 globe] G. Fletcher's Christ's Triumph, st. xiii. "out there flies
A globe of winged angels swift as thought.' Todd. 583 him] This inaccuracy has been remarked: and that him must refer to Satan; therefore I would suppose that him is used emphatically—so Satan fell; but angels received him, and upbore.
87 spread] G. Fletcher's Christ's Triumph, &c. st. 61. 'But to their Lord, now musing in his thought,
A heavenly volley of light angels flew,
And from his father him a banquet brought
Through the fine element: for well they knew After his lenten fast he hungry grew; And, as he fed, the holy quires combine To sing a hymn of the celestial trine.'
In fleshly tabernacle and human form, Wand'ring the wilderness, whatever place, Habit, or state, or motion, still expressing The Son of God, with god-like force indu'd Against th' attempter of thy Father's throne, And thief of paradise; him long of old
Thou didst debel, and down from heav'n cast 605 With all his army, now thou hast aveng'd Supplanted Adam, and by vanquishing Temptation, hast regain'd lost Paradise; And frustrated the conquest fraudulent: He never more henceforth will dare set 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 sons, whom thou A Saviour art come down to re-install Where they shall dwell secure, when time shall be, Of tempter and temptation without fear. But thou, infernal serpent, shalt not long Rule in the clouds; like an autumnal star Or light'ning thou shalt fall from heav'n, trod down Under his feet for proof, ere this thou feel'st Thy wound, yet not thy last and deadliest wound, By this repulse receiv'd, and hold'st in hell No triumph. In all her gates Abaddon rues Thy bold attempt; hereafter learn with awe 625 To dread the Son of God: he all unarm'd Shall chase thee with the terror of his voice
605 debel] Virg. Æn. vi. 853.
Debellare superbos.' Newton.
From thy demoniac holds, possession foul, Thee and thy legions; yelling they shall fly, And beg to hide them in a herd of swine, Lest he command them down into the deep Bound, and to torment sent before their time. Hail Son of the most High, heir of both worlds, Queller of Satan, on thy glorious work Now enter, and begin to save mankind.
Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek Sung 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.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON PARADISE LOST.
B. I. ver. 46. With hideous ruin and combustion] So in an Order of the two Houses, &c., in 1642, apud Clarendon's Hist. of the Reb. iii. 46, ed. 1826. and thereby to bring the whole kingdom into utter ruin and combustion.' A. Dyce.
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock] So Sannazari
'Jucundus geminos fecit tibi, Sequana, pontes : Jure tuum potes hunc dicere Pontificem.'
CHISWICK PRESS-PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS,
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.
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