And he himself among them was baptiz'd, those writers, Ignatius and others among the Ancients, and Beza and others among the Moderns, who believed that the Devil, tho' he might know Jefus to be fome extraordinary perfon, yet knew him not to be the Meffiah, the Son of God and the words of the Devil If thou be the Son of God feem to exprefs his uncertainty concerning that matter. The Devils indeed afterwards knew him and pro 80 85 فو In clamed him to be the Son of God, but they might not know him to be fo at this time, before this temptation, or before he had enter'd upon his public miniftry, and manifefted himself by his miracles. And our author, who makes the Devil to hear the voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son, ftill makes him doubt in what fense Jesus was fo called. See IV. 514. thence. In all his lineaments, though in his face The glimpses of his father's glory shine. Of hazard, which admits no long debate, But must with something fudden be oppos'd, 95 Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well woven fnares, Ere in the head of nations he appear Their king, their leader, and fupreme on earth. I, when no other durft, fole undertook The dismal expedition to find out And ruin Adam, and th' exploit perform'd Successfully; a calmer voyage now 100 Will waft me; and the way found profp'rous once Induces beft to hope of like fuccefs. 105 He We'll ftrive to bear it for your worthy fake, To th' extreme edge of hazard. Milton applies this title very pro113. To him their great dictator,] tion, as the authority he is now perly to Satan in his prefent fituavefted with is quite dictatorial, and the expedition on which he is going of the utmoft confequence to the fall'n Angels. Thyer. 119. So to the coast of Fordan he directs His eafy fteps, girded with fnaky wiles,] For as Lightfoot obferves Vol. II. p. 299. the wildernefs, He ended, and his words impreffion left From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light, Regents and potentates, and kings, yea Gods Of many a pleasant realm and province wide. His easy steps, girded with fnaky wiles, 120 This man of men, attefted Son of God, So to fubvert whom he suspected rais'd 125 The purpos'd counsel pre-ordain'd and fix'd 120.-girded with fnaky wiles,] The imagery very fine, and the circumftance extremely proper. Satan is here figured engaging on a great expedition, fuccinct, and his habit girt about him with a girdle of fnakes; which puts us in mind of the inftrument of the fall. Warburton. 122. This man of men, attefted Son of God,] The phrafe is low and idiotic; and I wish the poet had rather written To and Heaven of Heavens are truly grand expreffions: but then there is an idea of greatness in the words themselves to fupport the dignity of the phrafe; which is wanting in Milton's man of men. Calton. 129. thus to Gabriel smiling Spake.] This fpeech is properly addrefs'd to Gabriel particularly among the Angels, as he seems to have been the Angel particularly employed in the embaffies' and tranfactions relating to the Gofpel. Gabriel was fent to inform Daniel of the famous prophecy of the feventy weeks; Gabriel notified the In the holy Scriptures God of Gods, conception of John the Baptift to This man, of Heav'n attefted To verify that folemn meffage late, On which I fent thee to the Virgin pure In Galilee, that she should bear a fon 135 Great in renown, and call'd the Son of God; Then toldft her doubting how these things could be The Holy Ghost, and the pow'r of the Highest 141 His utmost subtlety, because he boasts his father Zacharias, and of our Olli fubridens hominum fator at- Of but by the authority of Scripture itself. See Paradise Loft, V. 718. 131. Thou and all Angels converfant on earth With man or mens affairs,] This feems to be taken from the verfes attributed to Orpheus. Αγγελοι, οισι μεμηλε βροτοις what Satan had juft before said to I, when no other durft, fole undertook &c. Thyer. |