BOOK IX. PARADISE LOST. Of geflure, or leaft action, overaw'd 463 His malice, and, with rapine fweet, bereav'd His ficrcenefs of the fierce intent it brought. That fpace the Evil One abftrad:td flood From his own evil, and for the time remain'd, Stupidly good ; of enmity difarm'd, Ofguile, of hate, of envy, of revenge : But the hot hell that always in him burns, Though in mid-heav'n, loon ended his delight ; And tortures him now more, the more he fees Of pleafure not for him ordain'd : then loon Fierce hate he recollets, and all his thoughts Of mifchief, gratulating, thus excites. Thoughts, whither have ye led me ! with what fweet Compulfion thus tranfported, to forget What hither brought us ! hate ; not love, nor hope 475 Of Paradife for hell, hope here to mile Of pleafure, but all pleafure to defiroy, Save what is in deftroying ; other joy To me is loft. Then let me not let pals Occafion which now fmiles, behold alone 480 The woman, opportune to all attempts ! Her hufband (for I view far round) not nigh, Whole higher intelledual more I fhun, And ftrength, of courage haughty, and of limb Heroic built, though of terreftlial mold, 483 Foe not informidable ! exempt from wound : I not : (fo much bath hell debas'd, and pain. Infeebled me, to what I was in heav'n !) She fair, divinely fair I fit love for Gods ; Not terrible : though terror be in love, 49© And beauty, not approach'd by fironger hate ; Hate, ftronger under Phew of love well feign'd ; The way which to her ruin now I tend. K k 24t 465 47('
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