810 815 Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. Yet 814. As when a fpark Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, &c.] Ariofto ules the fame fimile to defcribe a fudden ftart of paffion. Orl. Fur. Cant. 10. St. 40. Non cofi fin falnitro, e zolfo puro ftone pure, 819. So ftarted up in his own fhope the Fiend. His planting himself at the ear of Eve under the form of a toad, in order to produce vain dreams and imaginations, reader; as his ftarting up in his is a circumftance that furprifes the own form is wonderfully fine, both in the litteral defcription, and in the moral which is concealed under it. His answer, upon his being discover'd and demanded to give an account of himself, is conformable to the pride and intrepidit, of his character. Zephon's rebuke, with the influence it had on Satan, is exquifitely graceful and moral. Y 3 Addijon 8.9-there Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon. Which of those rebel Spi'rits adjudg'd to Hell Com'ft thou, efcap'd thy prison? and transform'd, Why fatft thou like an enemy in wait, 825 Here watching at the head of these that sleep? Your meffage, like to end as much in vain? To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with scorn. Think not, revolted Spi'rit, thy fhape the fame, 835 829.-there fitting where ye durft not foar:] As fitting is frequently used in the Scriptures, and in other ancient writers, for a pofture that implies a high rank of dignity and power; Satan by this expreffion intimates his great fuperiority over them, that he had the privilege to fit, as an Angel of figure and authority, in an eminent part of Heaven, where they durft not foar, where they did not prefume even to come. Greenwood. 834. To whom thus Zephon,] Zephon is very properly made to anver him, and not Ithuriel, that Or each of them may appear as actors upon this occafion. Ithuriel with his pear reftor'd the Fiend to his own hape, and Zephon rebukes him. It would not have been fo well, if the fame person had done both. 835. Think not, revolted Spirit, thy fhape the fame, Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,] Dr. Bentley judges rightly enough that the prefent reading is faulty: for if the words thy Jhape the fame are in the ablative cafe put abfolutely, it is neceffary that undimini'd fhould fol low Or undiminish'd brightness to be known, As when thou ftood'st in Heav'n upright and pure; And felt how awful goodness is, and faw 845 His luftre vifibly impair'd; yet seem'd Or all at once; more glory will be won, 850 Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold, Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. 85-5 860 He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd Awaiting next command. To whom their chief O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, gate 865 And with them comes a third of regal port, He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How bufied, in what form and posture couch'd. 876 To whom with ftern regard thus Gabriel fpake. 865. Gabriel from the front] Gabriel is pronounced here as a word of three fyllables, tho' commonly it is ufed as only of two; a liberty which Milton takes in the names of the Angels. Why Diomede into the Trojan camp as fpies, Iliad. X. 533. Ω φιλοι Ιππων μ' ωκυπόδων αμφι κλυπος κατα βαλλει. O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet. 866. O friends, I hear &c.] Gabriel's discovering Satan's approach at a distance is drawn with great trength and livelinets of imagina- Quπw way espnto st&, it' ap' nhuver. 540. tion. Addifon. θον αυτοί. He fcarce had ended, when thofe two approach'd. 877-with fern regard] Anfwering to the Homeric vor deg |