Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/311

 BOOK THIRD

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��Of equal dread in flight or in pursuit All horsemen, in which fight they most ex- cel;

See how in warlike muster they appear, In rhombs, and wedges, and half -moons,

and wings."

He looked, and saw what numbers num- berless 3 10 The city gates outpoured, light - armed

troops

In coats of mail and military pride. In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and

strong, Prauncing their riders bore, the flower and

choice

Of many provinces from bound to bound From Arachosia, from Candaor east, And Margiana, to the Hyrcanian cliffs Of Caucasus, and dark Iberian dales; From Atropatia, and the neighbouring

plains

Of Adiabene, Media, and the south 320 Of Susiana, to Balsara's haven. He saw them in their forms of battle

ranged, How quick they wheeled, and flying behind

them shot Sharp sleet of arrowy showers against the

face

Of their pursuers, and overcame by flight; The field all iron cast a gleaming brown. Nor wanted clouds of foot, nor, on each

horn,

Cuirassiers all in steel for standing fight, Chariots, or elephants indorsed with towers Of archers; nor of labouring pioners 330 A multitude, with spades and axes armed, To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill, Or where plain was raise hill, or overlay With bridges rivers proud, as with a yoke : Mules after these, camels and dromedaries, And waggons fraught with utensils of war. Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp, When Agrican, with all his northern pow- ers,

Besieged Albracca, as romances tell, The city of Gallaphrone, from thence to win 340

The fairest of her sex, Angelica, His daughter, sought by many prowest

knights,

Both Paynim and the peers of Charlemane. Such and so numerous was their chivalry; At sight whereof the Fiend yet more pre- sumed,

��And to our Saviour thus his words re- newed: " That thou may'st know I seek not to

engage

Thy virtue, and not every way secure On no slight grounds thy safety, hear and

mark

To what end I have brought thee hither,

and shew 350

All this fair sight. Thy kingdom, though

foretold

By Prophet or by Angel, unless thou Endeavour, as thy father David did, Thou never shalt obtain: prediction still In all things, and all men, supposes means; Without means used, what it predicts re- vokes. But say thou wert possessed of David's

throne

By free consent of all, none opposite, Samaritan or Jew; how couldst thou hope Long to enjoy it quiet and secure 360

Between two such enclosing enemies, Roman and Parthian ? Therefore one of

these

Thou must make sure thy own: the Par- thian first,

By my advice, as nearer, and of late Found able by invasion to annoy Thy country, and captive lead away her

kings,

Antigonus and old Hyrcanus, bound, Maugre the Roman. It shall be my task To render thee the Parthian at dispose, Choose which thou wilt, by conquest or by league. 370

By him thou shalt regain, without him not, That which alone can truly reinstall thee In David's royal seat, his true successor Deliverance of thy brethren, those Ten

Tribes

Whose offspring in his territory yet serve In Habor, and among the Medes dispersed: Ten sons of Jacob, two of Joseph, lost Thus long from Israel, serving, as of old Their fathers in the land of Egypt served, This offer sets before thee to deliver. 380 These if from servitude thou shalt restore To their inheritance, then, nor till then, Thou on the throne of David in full glory, From Egypt to Euphrates and beyond, Shalt reign, and Rome or Caesar not need

fear."

To whom our Saviour answered thus, unmoved:

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