Now would one think the Battle quite were done,
And time for the black Prince away to run:
But he revived, and did fresh Courage take;
As men would do, when all doth lie at stake,
⟨p. 40⟩And a third Battle was resolved to see,
What ere the fatal Consequence might be.
Apollyon now to his last shift was driven,
Almost of all his Magazine bereaven.
But one poor Weapon more he had to try;
If worsted there, resolved was to fly.
And here indeed God suffered him once more
To take him up, as he had done before.
Ah! twas a sight most dismal to behold,
What foe was e'er thus impudently bold!
That so was baffled, forced to retreat,
And found his Enemy too wise and great
A thousand times for him, yet would essay
By force of Arms to carry him away.
Don't Heaven and Earth, and all amazed stand
To see the Prince of Light in Satan's hand,
Or rather in his Arms carried on high,
As if he would have killed him secretly;
But on a mighty Mountain him he set,
Hoping he might some great advantage get;
A cunning Stratagem he did devise,
Thinking thereby our Saviour to surprise,
And him 'o'ercome by subtle Policy,
And that was to present unto his Eye
The Glory of this World, the only Snare
By which poor Mortals often ruined are.
This Hellish Prince is full of Craft and Wiles,
And with's inventions all the World beguiles.
From him the Politic Ahithophel,
And our more modern famous Machiavel,
⟨p. 41⟩With other States-men learnt their puzzling Arts
To plague the World, that Science he imparts,
To embroil Nations, and cheat honest Hearts.
Sly Stratagems in War, most wise men know
Have oft prevailed, where Force no good could do.
The Walls sometimes of Castles down do fall,
When ne'er a Bullet hath been shot at all,
Unless discharged from a Silver Gun;
Thousands (alas!) this way have been undone.
Strong Cities Gates (we know) have opened been
With Golden Keys, and Enemies let in,
Which force nor strength could ne'er have made to fly,
Nor been broke down by fiercest Battery.
The Maxim's true, which frequently we read,
That Policy doth very far exceed
The Strength and power of great & haughty Kings;
And to subjection mighty Nations brings.
But all the Strength, nor Craft, nor power either,
Which Satan hath with all his fiends together,
Could with this Glorious Lord prevail in the least,
Who hath the strength of Heaven to assist,
And was himself Omnipotent in power:
Now would one think the Battel quite were done,
And time for the black Prince away to run:
But he reviv'd, and did fresh Courage take;
As men would do, when all doth ly at stake,
⟨p. 40⟩And a third Battel was resolv'd to see,
What ere the fatal Consequence might be.
Apollyon now to his last shift was driven,
Almost of all his Magazine bereaven.
But one poor Weapon more he had to try;
If worsted there, resolved was to fly.
And here indeed God suffer'd him once more
To take him up, as he had done before.
Ah! twas a sight most dismal to behold,
What foe was e're thus impudently bold!
That so was bafled, forced to retreat,
And found his Enemie too wise and great
A thousand times for him, yet would essay
By force of Arms to carry him away.
Don't Heaven and Earth, and all amazed stand
To see the Prince of Light in Satan's hand,
Or rather in his Arms carry'd on high,
As if he would have kill'd him secretly;
But on a mighty Mountain him he set,
Hoping he might some great advantage get;
A cunning Stratagem he did devise,
Thinking thereby our Saviour to surprize,
And him 'orecome by subtile Policy,
And that was to present unto his Eye
The Glory of this World, the only Snare
By which poor Mortals often ruin'd are.
This Hellish Prince is full of Craft and Wiles,
And with's inventions all the World beguiles.
From him the Politick Achitophel,
And our more modern famous Machiavel,
⟨p. 41⟩With other States-men learn't their puzling Arts
To plague the World, that Science he imparts,
To imbroil Nat'ions, and cheat honest Hearts.
Sly Stratagems in War, most wise men know
Have oft prevail'd, where Force no good could do.
The Walls sometimes of Castles down do fall,
When n'ere a Bullet hath been shot at all,
Unless discharged from a Silver Gun;
Thousands (alas!) this way have been undone.
Strong Citties Gates (we know) have open'd been
With Golden Keyes, and Enemies let in,
Which force nor strength could ne're have made to fly,
Nor been broke down by fiercest Battery.
The Maxime's true, which frequently we read,
That Policy doth very far exceed
The Strength and pow'r of great & haughty Kings;
And to subjection mighty Nations brings.
But all the Strength, nor Craft, nor power either,
Which Satan hath with all his fiends together,
Could with this Glorious Lord prevail i'th least,
Who hath the strength of Heaven to assist,
And was himself Omnipotent in power:
