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78 PARADISE REGAINED. BOOK IV.
Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view
And narrower fcrutiny, that I might learn
In what degree or meaning thou art call'd
The Son of God, which bears no fingle fenfej
The Son of God I alfo am, or was,
And if I was, I am; relation Hands;
_A11 men are fons of God; yet thee I thought
In fome refpeft far higher fo declar'd.
Therefore I watch'd thy footfteps from that hour,
And follow'd thee Hill on to this wafte wild ;
Where by all bell conjectures I colled
Thou art to me my fatal enemy.
Good reafon then, if I before-hand feek
To underftand my adverfary, who
And what he is; his wifdom, pow'r, intent;
By pari, or compofition, truce, or league
To win him, or win from him what I can.
And opportunity I here have had
To try thee, lift thee, and confefs have found thee
Proof againft all temptation, as a rock
Of adamant, and as a centre, firm,
To th' utmolt of mere man both wife and good,
Not more; for honours, riches, kingdoms, glory,
Have been before contemn'd, and may again :
Therefore to know what more thou art than man,
Worth naming Son of God by voice from Heav'n,
Another method I mull now begin."
So fay'ing he caught him up, and without wing
Of hippogrif bore through the air fublime
Over the wildernefs and o'er the plain;