Then when I am thy captive talk of es, [ 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 peers,
Usd to the yoak, drawst his triumphant wheels [ 975 ]
In progress through the rode of Heavn Star-pavd.
While thus he spake, th Angelic Squadrht
Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes
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 ohreshing floore his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On th other side Satan allarmd [ 985 ]
Colleg all his might dilated stood,
Like Teneriff or Atlas unremovd:
His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest
Sat horror Plumd; nor wanted in his graspe
What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds [ 990 ]
Might have ensud, nor onely Paradise
In this otion, but the Starrie Cope
Of Heavn perhaps, or all the Elements
At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne
With violence of this flict, 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 weighd,
The pendulous rouh with balanct Aire [ 1000 ]
In terpoise, now ponders all events,
Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights
The sequel each of parting and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. [ 1005 ]
Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine,
her our own but givn; what follie then
To boast what Arms doe, sihine no more
Then Heavs, nor mihough doubld now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, [ 1010 ]
Ahy Lot in yoial Sign
Where thou art weighd, and shown how light, how weak,
If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. [ 1015 ]
The End of the Fourth Book.