Of Dorie land; or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to the Hesperian fields, And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Down-cast and damp; yet such wherein appear'd Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their Chief Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost In loss itself; which on his countenance cast Like doubtful hue: but he, his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, gently rais'd Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. Then straight commands, that at the warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions, be uprear'd His mighty standard: that proud honour claim'd Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall :
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd The imperial ensign, which, full high advanc'd, Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich emblaz'd, Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds; At which the universal host upsent A shout, that tore hell's concave, and beyond Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. All in a moment through the gloom were seen Ten thousand banners rise into the air,
With orient colours waving: with them rose
A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array, Of depth immeasurable; anon they move In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood Of flutes, and soft recorders; such as rais'd To height of noblest temper heroes old Arming to battle; and, instead of rage, Deliberate valor breath'd, firm, and unmov'd With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage, With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase Auguish, and doubt, and fear, and sorro sorrow, and pain, From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, Breathing united force, with fixed thought Mov'd on in silence to soft pipes, that charm'd Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil: and now Advane'd, in view they stand; a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of warriours old with order'd spear and shield; Awaiting what command their mighty Chief Had to impose. He through the armed files Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverse The whole battalion views; their order due; Their visages and stature as of Gods;
Their number last he sums. And now his heart Distends with pride, and, hardening, in his strength Glories: for never, since created man, Met such embodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that small infantry Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with the heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's son, Begirt with British and Armoric knights; And all who since, baptis'd or infidel, Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban, Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond; Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore, When Charlemain with all his peerage fell By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd Their dread Commander: he, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower; his form had not yet lost All her original brightness, nor appear'd Less than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and the excess Of Glory obscur'd: as when the sun, new risen, Looks through the horizontal misty 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 so, yet shone Above them all the Arch-Angel; but his face Deep scars of thunder had entrench'd, and care Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast Signs of remorse and passion, to behold The fellows of his crime, the followers rather, (Far other once beheld in bliss,) condemn'd For ever now to have their lot in pain; Millions of Spirits, for his fault amerc'd Of heaven, and from eternal splendours flung For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood, Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines, With singed top their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend From wing to wing, and half enclose him round With all his peers; attention held them mute. Thrice he assay'd, and thrice, in spite of scorn, Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last Words, interwove with sighs, found out their way. O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers Matchless, but with the Almighty! and that strife Was not inglorious, though the event was dire. As this place testifies, and this dire change, Hateful to utter; but what power of mind Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd, How such united force of Gods, how such As stood like these, could ever know repulse?
For who can yet believe, though after loss, That all these puissant legions, whose exíle, Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat ? For me be witness all the host of heaven If counsels different, or dangers shunn'd By me, have lost our hopes. But he, who reigns Monarch in heaven, till then as one secure Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, Consent or custom, and his regal state Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd, Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall Henceforth his might we know, and know our own; So as not either to provoke, or dread New war, provok'd; our better part remains, To work in close design, by fraud or guile, What force effected not; that he no less At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. Space may produce new worlds; whereof so rife There went a fame in Heaven, that he ere long Intended to create, and therein plant A generation, whom his choice regard Should favour equal to the sons of Heaven: Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere: For this infernal pit shall never hold Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor the abyss...
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