REDEMPTION. 271
"Abject ! art thou now subdued ? and hast tbou Learn'd, that who reigns here supreme, the pow'r hath His own to keep, against thee, join'd with him, Who sent thee whence thou earnest? Or would'st thou still, Rebellious, farther proof demand, that I No rival brook here, and of all, least Thee ? I, who, thy bold invasion of my rights, Repel ; rights by my prowess won, and skill, Adventuring from the Stygean pool, where thou Vain hoped'st to keep me, forceful held enchain' d ; Thine equal ever, thy superior now ; Nor more will spare thee torturing fine imposed, Than thou spared'st me, who sought but to be freej Sought, and in spite of thee, did fairly win. Not spare thee, but with tenfold hate beset, Will thee, lash'd by these furies, drag from hence, To taste the anguish of that prison dim, By Him almighty deem'd, enjoin'd on us; When, who almighty is, thou quick shalt learn. But if thou yet would'st my allegiance own, Once offer'd thee, with all earth's kingdoms join'd, I, even now, if thou wert wise t' accept, Would fain divide with thee, to me subuiiss, More merciful than Him, who naught relents ; Who makes to unmake, raises to dethrone, And in his sport, capricious, all destroys ; Who spares not any, spares not even Thee, His own Son call'd, whose blood distains the ground."
With vaulting pride, the wily Serpent thus, And threats, his project to seduce, renew'd. To whom, though sad, deject, and sorrowful To death, neath Sin's dire burden sorely press'd,
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