A leader steps forward for the visible, risky task and instantly closes the floor — and you want to know whether it's sacrifice or credit-hoarding.

The plan is settled; only the dangerous execution remains, and every fallen angel goes silent. Satan volunteers — then "prevented all reply," precisely so no one else can offer now and "win cheap the high repute which he through hazard huge must earn." Milton hands you the diagnostic himself: "close ambition varnished o'er with zeal." The self-sacrifice and the credit-hoard are the same gesture.