Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/152

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��PARADISE LOST

��Had to impose. He through the armed

files

Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse The whole battalion views their order

due,

Their visages and stature as of Gods; 57 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 imbodied force as, named with

these,

Could merit more than that small infantry Warred on by cranes though all the

giant brood

Of Phlegra with the heroic race were joined That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each

side

Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what re- sounds

In fable or romance of Uther's son, 580 Begirt with British and Armoric knights; And all who since, baptized 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 observed Their dread Commander. He, above the

rest

In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 590 Stood like a tower. His form had yet not

lost

All her original brightness, nor appeared Less than Archangel ruined, and the excess Of glory obscured: 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. Darkened so, yet

shon Above them all the Archangel: but his

face 600

Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, 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), condemned For ever now to have their lot in pain Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven, and from eternal splendours

flung 610

For his revolt yet faithful how they

stood,

Their glory withered ; as, when heaven's fire Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain

pines, With singed top their stately growth,

though bare,

Stands on the blasted heath. He now pre- pared 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 assayed, and thrice, in spite of

scorn, Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth:

at last 620

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

feared

How such united force of gods, how such As stood like these, could ever know re- pulse ? 630 For who can yet believe, though after loss, That all these puissant legions, whose exile Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re- ascend,

Self-raised, and re-possess their native seat ? For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, If counsels different, or danger shunned 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 640

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