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700

Nigh on the plain in many cells prepar'd,
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
Sluc'd from the lake, a fecond multitude
With wondrous art found out the maffy ore;
Severing each kind, and fcumm'd the bullion drofs;
A third as foon had form'd within the ground 705
A various mold; and from the boiling cells
By ftrange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook:
As in an Organ from one blaft of wind
To many a row of pipes the found-board breaths.
Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rofe like an exhalation, with the found
Of dulcet fymphonies, and voices sweet;
Built like a Temple, where pilafters round
Were fet, and Doric pillars overlaid
With golden architrave: nor did there want
Cornice or freeze, with boffy fculptures grav'n;
The roof was fretted gold. Not BABYLON,
Nor great ALCAIRO fuch magnificence
Equall'd in all their glories, to infhrine
PELUS, or SERAPIS their Gods; or feat

710

715

720

Their King, when ÆGYPT with ASSYRIA ftrove

In wealth and luxury. Th' afcending pile

725

730

Stood fixt her ftately height, and ftreight the doors
Op'ning their brazen folds, difcover wide
Within her ample spaces, o'er the fmooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof,
Pendent by fubtle magic, many a row
Of ftarry lamps and blazing creffets, fed
With Naphtha and Afphaltus, yielded light
As from a sky. The hafty multitude
Admiring enter'd, and the work fome praise
And fome the architect: his hand was known
In Heav'n by many a towred ftructure high,
Where fceptred angels held their refidence,
And fate as Princes; whom the fupreme King
Exalted to fuch power, and gave to rule,
Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright.

B 3

735

Nor

Nor was his name unheard, or unador'd,

745

In ancient GREECE; and in AUSONIAN land
Men call'd him MULCIER; and how he fell 740
From Heav'n they fabled, thrown by angry JOVE
Sheer o'er the chryftal battlements; from morn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A fummer's day; and with the setting Sun
Dropt from the Zenith like a falling ftar,
On LEMNOS th' EGEAN ifle: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now
T have built in Heav'n high tow'rs; nor did he fcape
By all his engins, but was headlong fent
With his induftrious crew to build in Hell,
Mean while the winged heralds by command
Of fov'reign pow'r, with awful ceremony

750

And trumpets found, throughout the hait proclaim
A folemn council forthwith to be held
At PANDEMONIUM, the high Capital

755

Of SATAN and his Peers: their fummons call'd
From every band and fquared regiment,
By place or choice the worthieft; they anon
With hundreds and with thoufands trooping came 760
Attended all accefs was throng'd, the gates
And porches wide, but chief the fpacious hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the SOLDAN'S Chair
Defi'd the belt of PANM chivalry
765

770

To mortal combat, or carriere with lance)
Thick fwarm'd, both on the ground and in the air,
Brush'd with the hifs of ruling wings. As bees
In fpring time, when the Sun with TAURUS rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flow'rs
Fly to and fro, or on the fmoothed plank,
The fuburb of their straw built cittadel,..
New rubb'd with baum, expatiate and confer
Their ftate affairs: So thick the aery crowd

775 Swarm'd

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