Of union irresistible, mov'd on In silence their bright legions, to the sound 65 Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, Nor strait'ning vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 70 Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground Their march was, and the passive air upbore Their nimble tread; as when the total kind Of birds in orderly array on wing 75 80 Bristled with upright beams innumerable Various, with boastful argument portray'd, The banded powers of Satan hasting on 85 With furious expedition; for they ween'd 82 Bristled] Virg. Æn. xi. 601. 'Tum late ferreus hastis horret ager.' Newton. Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, 95 Th' apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, 100 With flaming cherubim and golden shields: Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval, and front to front 105 Of hideous length: before the cloudy van, 110 Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood 115 93 hosting] Johnson has cited this unusual word from Spenser on Ireland. 'Leading of their own followers to the general hostings.' 105 dreadful interval] 'a needful counterview.' x. 231. Bentl. MS. Remain not; wherefore should not strength and might There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 120 125 So pondering, and, from his armed peers Forth stepping opposite, half way he met His daring foe, at this prevention more Incens'd, and thus securely him defied. [reach'd Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have The highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd, The throne of GOD unguarded, and his side Abandon'd at the terror of thy power Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain 135 Against th' Omnipotent to rise in arms; Who out of smallest things could without end Have rais'd incessant armies to defeat Thy folly; or, with solitary hand Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow Unaided could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd Thy legions under darkness: but thou seest All are not of thy train; there be, who faith Prefer and piety to GOD; though then 140 To thee not visible, when I alone 145 Seem'd in thy world erroneous to dissent From all: my sect thou seest; now learn too late How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, Thus answer'd, Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour Of my revenge, first sought for thou return'st 151 From flight, seditious angel, to receive Of this right hand provok'd, since first that tongue Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose A third part of the gods, in synod met 155 160 Their deities to assert, who, while they feel As both their deeds compar'd this day shall prove. 175 Of servitude to serve whom God ordains, 185 Yet leudly dar'st our minist'ring upbraid. So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, 195 He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee 188 greeting] Virg. Æn. ix. 635. 'Bis capti Phryges hæc Rutulis responsa remittunt. 189 a noble] v. Beaumont's Psyche, c. vi. st. 90. 'A noble stroke it was.' Newton. 197 mountain] Q. Smyrnæus says, that Achilles fell, ἀλίγκιος ὄυρει μάκρω. V. iii, 176. A. Dyce. |