And yet anon repairs his drooping head,

| The mother of mankind, what time his pride And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his host Flames in the forehead of the morning sky:

Of rebel angels, by whose aid aspiring » Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high,

To set himself in glory above his peers, Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves, He trusted to have equallid the Most High, Where other groves and other streams along, If he oppos’d; and, with ambitious aim, With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves,

Against the throne and monarchy of God And hears the unexpressive nuptial song,

Rais'd impious war in Heav'n and battle proud, In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love. With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power There entertain him all the saints above,

Hurl'd headlong flaming from the ethereal sky, In solemn troops and sweet societies,

With hideous ruin and combustion, down That sing, and singing in their glory move,

To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.

In adamantine chains and penal fire,
Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more ; Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms.
Henceforth thou art the genius of the shore,

Nine times the space that measures day and night In thy large recompense, and shalt be good

To mortal men, he with his horrid crew To all that wander in that perilous flood.

Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf
Thus sang the uncouth swain to th' oaks and rills; Confounded, though immortal : but his doom
While the still morn went out with sandals gray, Reserv'd him to more wrath ; for now the thought
He touch'd the tender stops of various quills, Both of lost happiness and lasting pain
With eager thought warbling his Doric lay: Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes,
Ånd now the sun had stretch'd out all the hills, That witness'd huge affliction and dismay,
And now was dropt into the western bay:

Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate :
At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle blue; At once, as far as angels ken, he views
To-morrow to fresh woods and pastures new.

The dismal situation waste and wild;
A dungeon horrible on all sides round
As one great furnace flam’d, yet from those flames

No light, but rather darkness visible
FROM PARADISE LOST.

Serv'd only to discover sights of woe,

Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
BOOK I.

And rest can never dwell, hope never comes
Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit

That comes to all; but torture without end Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste

Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd : W'ith loss of Eden, till one greater Man

Such place eternal Justice had prepar'd Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,

For those rebellious, here their prison ordaind Sing, heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top

In utter darkness, and their portion set
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire

As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n
That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, As from the centre thrice to th utmost pole.
In the beginning, how the Heav'ns and Earth O how unlike the place from whence they fell !
Rose out of chaos : or if Sion hill

There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelm'd Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, Fast by the oracle of God; I thence

He soon discerns, and weltring by his side Invoke thy aid to my advent'rous song,

One next himself in pow'r, and next in crime, That with no middle flight intends to soar

Long after known in Palestine, and nam'd Above th’ Aonian mount, while it pursues

Beelzebub. To whom th' arch-enemy, Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.

And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Breaking the horrid silence, thus began : Before all temples the upright heart and pure,

If thou beest he; but how fall’n ! how chang'd Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, Cloth'd with transcendent brightness didst outshine Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast abyss, Myriads though bright! If he whom mutual league, And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark United thoughts and counsels, equal hope Hlumine, what is low raise and support ;

And hazard in the glorious enterprise, That to the height of this great argument

Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd I may assert eternal providence,

In equal ruin : into what pit thou seest And justify the ways of God to men.

From what height fall’n, so much the stronger prov'd Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view, He with his thunder: and till then who knew Nor the deep tract of Hell, say first what cause The force of those dire arms ? yet not for those, Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state, Nor what the potent victor in his rage Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off

Can else inflict, do I repent or change, I'roin their Creator, and transgress his will,

Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, For one restraint, lords of the world besides? And high disdain from sense of injur'd merit, Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt ?

That with the Mightiest rais'd me to contend, Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, And to the fierce contention brought along Stir'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd

Innumerable force of spirits arı'd,

That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb
His utmost pow'r with adverse pow'r oppos'd His inmost councils from their destin'd aim.
In dubious battle on the plains of Heav'n,

But see the angry victor hath recallid And shook his throne. "What though the field be His ministers of vengeance and pursuit lost?

Back to the gates of Heav'n: the sulph'rous hail All is not lost; th' unconquerable will,

Shot after us in storm, o'erblown, hath laid And study of revenge, immortal hate,

The fiery surge, that from the precipice And courage never to submit or yield,

Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling ; and the thunder, And what else is not to be overcome !

Wing’d with red lightning and impetuous rage, That glory never shall his wrath or might

Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace To bellow through the vast and boundless deep. With suppliant knee, and deify his power,

Let us not slip the occasion, whether scorn, Who from the terror of this arm so late

Or satiate fury yield it from our foe. Doubted his empire; that were low indeed ;

Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild,
That were an ignominy, and shame beneath

The seat of desolation, void of light,
This downfal; since by fate the strength of gods Save what the glimmering of these livid flames
And this empyreal substance cannot fail,

Casts pale and dreadful ? thither let us tend
Since through experience of this great event

From off the tossing of these fiery waves ; In arms not worse, in foresight much advanc'd, There rest, if any rest can harbour there, We may with more successful hope resolve

And re-assembling our afflicted powers, To wage by force or guile eternal war,

Consult how we may henceforth most offend Irreconcileable to our grand foe,

Our enemy, our own loss how repair, Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy

How overcome this dire calamity, Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n.

What reinforcement we may gain from hope, So spake the apostate angel, though in pain, If not, what resolution from despair. Vaunting aloud, but rack'd with deep despair ; Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, And him thus answer'd soon his bold compeer:

With head up-lift above the wave, and eyes O Prince! O Chief of many throned powers, That sparkling blaz'd, his other parts besides That led th’ embattled seraphim to war

Prone on the flood, extended long and large, Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds

Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge
Fearless, endanger'd Heav'n's perpetual King, As whom the fables name of monstrous size,
And put to proof his high supremacy,

Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr'd on Jove,
Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, Briareus or Typhon, whom the den
Too well I see and rue the dire event,

By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast
That with sad overthrow and foul defcat

Leviathan, which God of all his works
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host Created hugest that swim the ocean stream:
In horrible destruction laid thus low,

Him haply slumb'ring on the Norway foam
As far as gods and heavenly essences

The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff, Can perish: for the mind and spirit remain

Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell,
Invincible, and vigour soon returns,

With fixed anchor in his scaly rind
Though all our glory extinct, and happy state Moors by his side under the lee, while night
Here swallow'd up in endless misery.

Invests the sea, and wished morn delays:
But what if he our Conqu’ror (whom I now So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay
Of force believe Almighty, since no less

Chain’d on the burning lake, nor ever thence Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours) Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will Have left us this our spirit and strength entire And high permission of all-ruling Heaven Strongly to suffer and support our pains,

Left him at large to his own dark designs, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,

That with reiterated crimes he might Or do him mightier service as his thralls

Heap on himself damnation, while he sought By right of war, whate'er his business be,

Evil to others, and enrag'd might see Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire,

How all his malice sery'd but to bring forth Or do his errands in the gloomy deep;

Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn What can it then avail, though yet we feel

On Man by him seduc'd; but on himself Strength undiminish'd, or eternal being

Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd. To undergo eternal punishment ?

Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool Whereto with speedy words the arch-fiend reply'd : His mighty stature; on each hand the flames Fall'n Cherub, to be weak is miserable,

Driv’n backward slope their pointing spires, and rollid Doing or suffering: but of this be sure,

In billows, leave i'th' midst a horrid vale. To do aught good never will be our task,

Then with expanded wings he steers his flight But ever to do ill our sole delight,

Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air As being contrary to his high will

That felt unusual weight, till on dry land Whom we resist. If then his providence

He lights, if it were land that ever burn'd Out of our evil scek to bring forth good,

With solid, as the lake with liquid fire ; Our labour must be to pervert that end,

And such appear'd in hue, as when the force And out of good still to find means of evil;

Of subterranean wind transports a hill Which oft-times may succeed, so as perhaps

Torn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd side

Of thundering Ætna, whose combustible

Nathless he so endur'd, till on the beach And fuel'd entrails thence conceiving fire,

Of that inflamed sea he stood, and callid Sublim'd with mineral fury, aid the winds,

His legions, angel forms, who lay entranc'd And leave a singed bottom all involv'd

Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks
With stench and smoke: such resting found the sole In Vallombrosa, where th’ Etrurian shades
Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate, High over-arch'd embow'r; or scatter'd sedge
Both glorying to have scap'd the Stygian flood Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm'd
As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, Hath vex'd the Red Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew
Not by the suff'rance of supernal Power.

Busiris and his Memphian chivalry,
Is this the region, this the soil, the clime, While with perfidious hatred they pursued
Said then the lost Arch-angel, this the seat

The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom From the safe shore their floating carcases
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he

And broken chariot wheels: so thick bestrown, Who now is Soy'reign, can dispose and bid Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood, What shall be right: farthest from him is best, Under amazement of their hideous change. Whom reason hath equall'd, force hath made supreme He call’d so loud, that all the hollow deep Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields,

Of Hell resounded. Princes, Potentates, Where joy for ever dwells : Hail Horrors, hail Warriors, the flow'r of Heav'n, once yours, now lost, Infernal World, and thou profoundest Hell

If such astonishment as this can seize Receive thy new possessor; one who brings

Eternal spirits ; or have you chosen this place, A mind not to be chang'd by place or time.

After the toil of battle, to repose The mind is its own place, and in itself

Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find Can make a heav'n of Hell, a hell of Heav'n. To slumber here, as in the vales of Heav'n? What matter where, if I be still the same,

Or in this abject posture have you sworn
And what I should be, all but less than he

To adore the Conqueror ? who now beholds,
Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least Cherub and seraph rolling in the flood
We shall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built With scatter'd arms and ensigns, till anon
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence :

His swift pursuers from Heav'n gates discern
Here we may reign secure, and, in my choice, Th’advantage, and descending tread us down
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heav'n. Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf.
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!
Th' associates and copartners of our loss,

They heard, and were abash'd ; and up they sprung Lie thus astonish'd on th' oblivious pool,

Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch And call them not to share with us their part On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, In this unhappy mansion, or once more,

Rouse and bestir

themselves ere well awake. With rallied arms, to try what may be yet

Nor did they not perceive the evil plight Regain'd in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell ? In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Šo Satan spake, and him Beelzebub

Yet to their General's voice they soon obey'd,
Thus answer'd: Leader of those armies bright, Innumerable. As when the potent rod
Which but the Omnipotent none could have foil'd, Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day,
If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud
Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft

Of locusts, warping on the castern wind,
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung
Of battle when it rag'd, in all assaults

Like night, and darken'd all the land of Nile:
Their surest signal, they will soon resume

So numberless were those bad angels seen, New courage, and revive; though now they lie Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, ”Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires ; As we ere while, astounded and amaz’d;

Till, at a signal giv'n, th' uplifted spear No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious height. Of their great Sultan waving to direct

He scarce had ceas'd, when the superior Fiend Their course, in even balance down they light Was moving tow'rd the shore ; his pond'rous shield, On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain; Ethereal temper, massy, large and round,

A multitude, like which the populous North Behind him cast; the broad circumference

Pour'd never from her frozen loins, to pass Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Rhene or the Danaw, when her barb'rous sons Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views Came like a deluge on the South, and spread At evening from the top of Fesole,

Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands. Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands,

Forthwith from every squadron and each band Rivers or mountains on her spotty globe.

The heads and leaders thither haste, where stood His spear, to equal which the tallest pine,

Their great Commander ; godlike shapes and forms Hewn on Norwegian hills to be the mast

Excelling human, princely dignities, Of some great admiral, were but a wand,

And powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones ; He walk'd with to support uneasy steps

Though of their names in heav'nly records now Over the burning marle, not like those steps Be no memorial, blotted out and ras'd On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime

By their rebellion from the books of Life. Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire ; Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve

H

Got them new names, till wand'ring o'er the earth, And works of love or enmity fulfil.
Through God's high suff'rance for the trial of man, For those the race of Israel oft forsook
By falsities and lies the greatest part

Their living strength, and unfrequented left
Of mankind they corrupted to forsake

His righteous altar, bowing lowly down God their Creator, and th' invisible

To bestial gods; for which their heads as low Glory of him that made them to transform

Bow'd down in battle, sunk before the spear Oft to the image of a brute, adorn'd

Of despicable foes. With these in troop With gay religions full of pomp and gold,

Came Ashtoreth, whom the Phænicians call'd And devils to adore for deities;

Astarte, Queen of Heaven, with crescent horns; Then were they known to men by various names, To whose bright image nightly by the moon And various idols through the heathen world. Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who | In Sion also not unsung, where stood Rous'd from the slumber on that fiery couch, [last, Her temple on th’ offensive mountain, built At their great Emp'ror's call, as next in worth By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large, Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, Beguil'd by fair idolatresses, fell While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof. To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, The chief were those who from the pit of Hell, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix The Syrian damsels to lament his fate Their seats long after next the seat of God,

In amorous ditties all a summer's day; Their altars by his altar, gods ador'd

While smooth Adonis from his native rock Among the nations round, and durst abide

Ran purple to the sea, suppos'd with blood Jehovah thund'ring out of Sion, thron'd

Of Thammuz yearly wounded ; the love-tale Between the cherubim; yea often plac'd

Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Within his sanctuary itself their shrines,

Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Abominations; and with cursed things

Ezekiel saw, when by the vision led His holy rites and solemn feasts profan'd,

His eyes survey'd the dark idolatries And with their darkness durst affront his light.

Of alienated Judah. Next came one First Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood Who mourned in carnest, when the captive ark Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears,

Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopt off Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd through fire Where he fell flat, and sham'd his worshippers : To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite

Dagon his name, sea-monster, upward man - Worshipp'd in Rabba and her wat'ry plain,

And downward fish: yet had his temple high In Argob and in Basan, to the stream

Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such

Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart

And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. Of Solomon he led by fraud to build

Him follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful seat His temple right against the temple of God

Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks On that opprobrious hill, and made his

Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence He also against the house of God was bold: And black Gehenna call’d, the type of Hell. A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king, Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons, Ahaz his sottish conqu’ror, whom he drew From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild

God's altar to disparage and displace Of southmost Abarim: Hesebon

For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn And Horonaim, Seon's realm, beyond

His odious offerings, and adore the Gods The flow'ry dale of Sibina, clad with vines,

Whom he had vanquish'd. After these appear'd And Eleale to th’ Asphaltic pool.

A crew, who, under names of old renown, Peor his other name, when he entic'd

Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train,
Israel in Sittim on their march from Nile

With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd
To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to seek
Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarg'd

Their wand'ring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms Ev'n to that hill of scandal, by the grove

Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape Of Moloch homicide ; lust hard by hate ;

Th’ infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell.

The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king With these came they, who from the bord'ring flood Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts

Likening his Maker to the grazed ox, Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names Jehovah, who in one night when he pass'

s'd Of Baalim and Astaroth, those male,

From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke These feminine. For spirits, when they please, Both her first-born and all her bleating Gods. Can either sex assume, or both; so soft

Belial came last, than whom a spirit more lewd And uncompounded is their essence pure,

Fell not ftom Heaven, or more gross to love
Not ty'd or manacl'd with joint or limb,

Vice for itself: to him no temple stood
Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Or altar smok’d; yet who more oft than he
Like cumb'rous flesh; but in what shape they choose, In temples and at altars, when the priest
Dilated or condens’d, bright or obscure,

Turns Atheist, as did Eli's sons, who fill'd
Can execute their airy purposes,

With lust and violence the house of God?

grove

In courts and palaces he also reigns,

Advanc'd in view, they stand, a horrid front And in luxurious cities, where the noise

Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers,

Of warriors old with order'd spear and shield, And injury and outrage: and when night

Awaiting what command their mighty chief Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Had to impose ; he through the armed files Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.

Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverse Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night The whole battalion views, their order due, In Gibeah, when the hospitable door

Their visages and stature, as of Gods; Espos'd a matron to avoid worse rape.

Their number last he sums. And now his heart These were the prime in order and in might; Distends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, Glories : for never since created man Th' Ionian gods of Javan's issue held

Met such embodied force, as nam’d with these Gods, yet confess'd later than Heaven and Earth, Could merit more than that small infantry Their boasted parents : Titan, Heav'n's first-born, Warr'd on by cranes ; though all the giant brood With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'd Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove

That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side His own and Rhea's son like measure found; Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Crete In fable or romance of Uther's son, And Ida known, thence on the snowy top

Begirt with British and Armoric knights; Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air,

And all who since, baptiz'd or infidel, Their highest heaven ; or on the Delphian cliff,

Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban, Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds

Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old

Or whom Biserta sent from Afric's shore, Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields,

When Charlemain, with all his peerage, fell And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles.

By Fontarabia. Thus far these beyond All these and more came flocking; but with looks Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd Downcast and dampt, yet such wherein appear'd

Their dread commander: he above the rest Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their chief In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost Stood like a tower; his form had not yet lost In loss itself; which on his countenance cast All her original brightness, nor appear'd Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride Less than Arch-angel ruin'd, and th' excess Soon recollecting, with high words that bore

Of glory obscur'd; as when the sun new risen Sanblance of worth, not substance, gently rais’d Looks through the horizontal misty air Their fainting courage, and dispell’d their fears.

Shorn of his beams, from behind the moon Then strait commands, that at the warlike sound In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd

On half the nations, and with fear of change His mighty standard ; that proud honour claim'd Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd so, yet shone Azazel as his right, a cherub tall ;

Above them all th' Arch-angel; but his face Who forth with from the glittering staff unfurl'd Deep scars of thunder had entrench'd, and care Th' imperial ensign, which full high advanc'd Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind,

Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride With gems and golden lustre rich emblazd, Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while

Signs of remorse and passion to behold Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds :

The fellows of his crime, the followers rather At which the universal host up sent

(Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond For ever now to have their lot in pain, Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.

Millions of spirits for his fault amerc'd All in a moment through the gloom were seen Of Heav'n, and from eternal splendours fung Ten thousand banners rise into the air

For his revolt, yet faithf'l how they stood, With orient colours waving: with them rose Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines, Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array

With singed top their stately growth, though bare, Of depth immeasurable : anon they move

Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood

To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend Of Autes and soft recorders: such as rais'd

From wing to wing, and half inclose him round To height of noblest temper heroes old

With all his peers : attention held them mute. Arming to battle; and instead of rage

Thrice he essay'd, and thrice in spite of scom, Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd Tears such as angels weep, burst forth: at last With dread of death to flight or foul retreat ; Words, interwove with sighs, found out their way. Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and swage

O myriads of immortal spirits ! O powers With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase Matchless, but with th' Almighty, and that strife Anguish and doubt, and fear, and sorrow, and pain, Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, As this place testifies, and this dire change, Breathing united force, with fixed thought

Hateful to utter : but what pow'r of mind Mor'd on in silence to soft pipes that charm'd Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil; and now Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,

8