Thir universal shout and high applause [ 505 ]

Of public scorn; he wonderd, but not long

Huge Python, and his Power no less he seemd

Neer that bituminous Lake where Sodom flamd;

Heavn-falln, in station stood or just array, [ 535 ]

His will who reigns above, to aggravate

Now Dragon grown, larger then whom the Sun

In Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief;

On all sides, from innumerable tongues

Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the Isle

Thir penance, laden with Fruit like that [ 550 ]

A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone,

Till thir lost shape, pe九_九_藏_書rmitted, they resumd,

His Visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare,

To fill his eare, when contrary he hears

Yearly enjoynd, some say, to undergo [ 575 ]

According to his doom: he would have spoke,

This annual humbling certain numberd days,

Had leasure, wondring at himself now more; [ 510 ]

And worn with Famin, long and ceasless hiss,

Ophiusa) but still greatest hee the midst,

A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change,

With soot and cinders filld; so oft they fell [ 570 ]

To forked tongue, for now were all transformd

Each other, tread.99csw.comill supplanted down he fell

Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve

Hunger and thirst constraining, drugd as oft,

Scorpion and Asp, and Amphisbæna dire,

Cerastes hornd, Hydrus, and Ellops drear, [ 525 ]

Above the rest still to retain; they all

Into the same illusion, not as Man

Sublime with expectation when to see

And horrid sympathie; for what they saw, [ 540 ]

The Frutage fair to sight, like that which grew

Yet parcht with scalding thurst and hunger fierce,

Catcht by Contagion, like in punishment,

Usd by the Tempter: on that prospect str九*九*藏*書ange

With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayd,

Turnd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame

With complicated monsters head and taile,

Reluctant, but in vaine: a greater power [ 515 ]

So having said, a while he stood, expecting

Him followd issuing forth to th open Field,

Chewd bitter Ashes, which th offended taste

Climbing, sat thicker then the snakie locks

With hatefullest disrelish writhd thir jaws

Though to delude them sent, could not abstain,

They felt themselvs now changing; down thir arms,

Cast on themselves from thir own mouths. There stood九-九-藏-書

Whom they triumphd once lapst. Thus were they plagud

A dismal universal hiss, the sound

As in thir crime. Thus was th applause they meant, [ 545 ]

But hiss for hiss returnd with forked tongue

This more delusive, not the touch, but taste

To his bold Riot: dreadful was the din

They saw, but other sight instead, a crowd

For one forbidden Tree a multitude

And Dipsas (not so thick swarmd once the Soil

Now ruld him, punisht in the shape he sind,

Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit [ 565 ]

His Armes clung to his Ribs, his Leggs entwining

But on they rould 九九藏書in heaps, and up the Trees

Ingenderd in the Pythian Vale on slime, [ 530 ]

Where all yet left of that revolted Rout

To dash thir pride, and joy for Man seduct.

And the dire hiss renewd, and the dire form

Down fell both Spear and Shield, down they as fast,

Alike, to Serpents all as accessories [ 520 ]

Of ugly Serpents; horror on them fell,

Now risn, to work them furder woe or shame; [ 555 ]

That curld Megæra: greedily they pluckd [ 560 ]

Thir earnest eyes they fixd, imagining

Of hissing through the Hall, thick swarming now

Deceavd; they fondly thinking to allay