THE CIIKI.STIAD. 55 



xxviir. 

 " This comes." at length burst from the furious chief, 

 " This comes of distant counsels ! Here behold 

 The fruits of wilj cunning ! the relief 

 Which coward policy would fain unfold, 

 To soothe the powers that warr'd with Heaven of 

 old! 

 O wise ! O potent ! sagacious snare ! 



And lo ! our prince — the mighty and the bold, 

 There stands he, spell struck, gaping at the air, 

 "While Heaven subverts his reign, and plants her stan- 

 dard there." 



XXIX. 



Here, as, recovered, Satan fixed his eye 



Full on tlie speaker ; dark it was and stern ; 

 He wrapt his black vest round him gloomily, 



Aud stood like one whom weightiest thoughts con- 

 cern. 

 Him Moloch marked, and strove again to turn 

 His soul to rage. " Behold, behold," he cried, 

 " The lord of Hell, who bade these legions spurn 

 Almighty rule — behold, he lays aside 

 The spear of just revenge, and shrinks, by man defied." 



XXX. 



Thus ended ^Moloch, and his burning tongue 

 Hung quivering, as if [mad] to quench its heat 



In slaughter. So, his native wilds among. 

 The famish'd tiger pants, when near his seat, 

 Press'd on the sands, he marks the traveller's feet. 



Instant low murmurs rose, and many a swcrd 



Had from its scabbard sprung ; but toward the seat 



Of ttie arch-fiend all turn'd with one accord, 

 As loud he thus harangued the sanguinary horde. 

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