Are his created, or to spite us more⁠— Determined to advance into our room A creature formed of earth, and him endow, Exalted from so base original, With Heavenly spoils, our spoils. What he decreed He effected; Man he made, and for him built Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat, Him lord pronounced, and, O indignity! Subjected to his service Angel-wings, And flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthy charge. Of these the vigilance I dread, and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry In every bush and brake, where hap may find The serpent sleeping, in whose mazy folds To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. O foul descent! that I, who erst contended With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained Into a beast, and, mixed with bestial slime, This essence to incarnate and imbrute, That to the highth of deity aspired! But what will not ambition and revenge Descend to? Who aspires must down as low As high he soared, obnoxious first or last