no
��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
�� �
