Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/342

336 The causey to Hell-gate. On either side Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed, And with rebounding surge the bars assailed That scorned his indignation. Through the gate, Wide-open and unguarded, Satan passed, And all about found desolate; for those Appointed to sit there had left their charge, Flown to the upper World; the rest were all Far to the inland retired, about the walls Of Pandemonium, city and proud seat Of Lucifer, so by allusion called Of that bright star to Satan paragoned. There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand In council sat, solicitous what chance Might intercept their emperor sent; so he Departing gave command, and they observed. As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, By Astracan, over the snowy plains, Retires; or Bactrian Sophi, from the horns Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond The realm af Aladule, in his retreat To Tauris or Casbeen: so these, the late Heaven-banished host, left desert utmost Hell Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch Round their metropolis, and now expecting Each hour their great adventurer from the search