which is ascribed to the Prince of the fallen Angels, is admirably preserved in the Beginning of this Book.  His opening and closing the Debate; his taking on himself that great Enterprize at the Thought of which the whole Infernal Assembly trembled; his encountering the hideous Phantom who guarded the Gates of Hell, and appeared to him in all his Terrors, are Instances of that proud and daring Mind which could not brook Submission even to Omnipotence.

  Satan was now at hand, and from his Seat
  The Monster moving onward came as fast
  With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode,
  Th’ undaunted Fiend what this might be admir’d,
  Admired, not fear’d—­

The same Boldness and Intrepidity of Behaviour discovers it self in the several Adventures which he meets with during his Passage through the Regions of unformed Matter, and particularly in his Address to those tremendous Powers who are described as presiding over it.

The Part of Moloch is likewise in all its Circumstances full of that Fire and Fury which distinguish this Spirit from the rest of the fallen Angels.  He is described in the first Book as besmeared with the Blood of Human Sacrifices, and delighted with the Tears of Parents and the Cries of Children.  In the Second Book he is marked out as the fiercest Spirit that fought in Heaven:  and if we consider the Figure which he makes in the Sixth Book, where the Battle of the Angels is described, we find it every way answerable to the same furious enraged Character.

 —­Where the might of Gabriel fought,
  And with fierce Ensigns pierc’d the deep array
  Of Moloc, furious King, who him defy’d,
  And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound
  Threatened, nor from the Holy one of Heavn
  Refrain’d his tongue blasphemous; but anon
  Down cloven to the waste, with shatter’d arms
  And uncouth pain fled bellowing.—­

It may be worth while to observe, that Milton has represented this violent impetuous Spirit, who is hurried only by such precipitate Passions, as the first that rises in that Assembly, to give his Opinion upon their present Posture of Affairs.  Accordingly he declares himself abruptly for War, and appears incensed at his Companions, for losing so much Time as even to deliberate upon it.  All his Sentiments are Rash, Audacious and Desperate.  Such is that of arming themselves with their Tortures, and turning their Punishments upon him who inflicted them.

 —­No, let us rather chuse,
  Arm’d with Hell flames and fury, all at once
  O’er Heavens high tow’rs to force resistless way,
  Turning our tortures into horrid arms
  Against the Torturer; when to meet the Noise
  Of his almighty Engine he shall hear
  Infernal Thunder, and for Lightning see
  Black fire and horror shot with equal rage
  Among his Angels; and his throne it self
  Mixt with Tartarean Sulphur, and strange Fire,
  His own invented Torments—­