Who forthwith from the glittering staff un
Th' imperial enseign; whith full high advanc'd,
Shone like a meteor ftreaming to the wind,
With gems and golden luftre rich imblaz'd,
Seraphic arms and trophies: all the while
Sonorous metal blowing martial founds: 540.
At which the universal hoft up fent
A fhout, that tore Hell's concave; and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment thro' the gloom were feen
Ten thoufand banners rife into the air 545
With orient colours waving: with them rose
A foreft huge of fpears; and thronging helms.
Appear'd, and ferried shields in thick array,
Of depth immeafurable: anon they move
In perfect Phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes, and foft recorders; fuch as rais'd
To height of noblest temper Heroes old
Arming to battel; and instead of rage,
Deliberate valor breath'd, firm, and unmov'd
With dreath of dead to flight or foul retreat; 555
Nor wanting power to mitigate and fwage,
With folemn touches, troubled thoughts, and
chafe
Anguish, and doubt, and fear, and forrow, and pain,
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they Breathing united force, with fixed thought 560
Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes, that charm'd
Their painful steps o'er the burnt foil: and now
Advanc'd in view, they stand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length, and dazling arms, in guife
Of warriors old with order'd fpear and
fhield,
565
Awaiting, what command their mighty Chief
Had to impofe: he thro' the armed files wit
Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverfe
The whole battalion views their order due;
Their vifages and ftature as of Gods;
Their number last he fums. And now his heart Distends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength
Glories for never fince, created man
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that fmall infantry 575
Warr'd on by cranes: tho' all the Giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' Heroic race were join'd,
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide
Mix'd with auxiliar Gods: and what refounds
In fable or romance of Uther's fon,
Begirt with British and Armoric Knights;
And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban,
Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebifqnd;
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore, 585
When Charlemain with all his Peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far thefe beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet obferv'd
Their dread commander: he, above the reft
In fhape and gefture proudly eminent,
590
Stood like a tow'r: his form had yet not loft
All her original brightness, nor appear'd
Lefs than Arch - Angel ruin'd, and th' excefs
Of glory obfcur'd: as when the Sun new-
Looks thro' the horizontal mifty air,
Shorn of his beams; or from behind the moon,
In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds
On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes Monarchs; darken'd fo, yet fhone
Above them all th' Arch- Angel: but his
Deep fcars of thunder had intrench'd, and
Sate on his faded cheek, but under brows Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but caft Signs of remorfe and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather,
Far other once beheld in blifs, condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain;
Millions of spirits for his fault amere'd
Of heav'n, and from eternal fplendors
For his revolt, yet faithful now they stood, Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
With finged top their stately growth tho' bare Stands on the blafted heath.
To speak, whereat their doubled ranks they
From wing to wing, and half inclofe him round
With all his Peers: attention held them mute: Thrice he assay'd, and thrice in spite of scorn Tears, fuch as Angels weep, burft forth: at
Words interwove with fighs found out their
O myriads of immortal spirits! O Pow'rs Matchlefs, but with th' Almighty, and that
Was not inglorious, tho' th' event was dire,
As this place teftifies, and this dire change, 625
Hateful to utter: but what pow'r of mind,
Foreseeing or prefaging, from the depth
Of knowledge paft or prefent, could have fear'd,
How fuch united force of Gods, how such
As stood like thefe, could ever know - re-
For who can yet believe, tho' after loss,
That all these puissant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, fhall fail to re- afcend
Self-rais'd, and re-poffefs their native feat?
For me be witnefs all the hoft of heav'n, 635
If counfels different, or danger shunn'd
By me, have loft our hopes: but he who
reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, 'till then as one fecure
Sate on his throne, upheld by old repute,
Confent or cuftom, and his regal state 640
Put forth at full, but ftill his ftrength con.
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and know
So as not either to provoke, or dread
New war, provok'd; our better part re
645 To work in clofe defign, by fraud or guile, What force effected not: that he no lefs At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. Space may produce new worlds; whereof lo
There went a fame in Heav'n, that he e'er
Intended to create; and therein plant
At generation, whom his choice regard
Should favour equal to the fons of Heav'n:
Thither, if but to pry, fhall be perhaps 655
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