But pain is perfect misery, the worst All patience. He who therefore can invent 465 470 Whereto with look compos'd Satan reply'd. Not uninvented that, which thou aright Believ'st so main to our success, I bring: Which of us who beholds the bright surface Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, This continent of spacious heaven, adorn'd With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrosial, gems, and gold, Whose eye so superficially surveys 476 These things, as not to mind from whence they grow Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame, 467 to me] i. e. in my opinion. 478 dark] dank. Bentl. MS. 486 To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands Impossible yet haply of thy race In future days, if malice should abound, 500 505 To blackest grain, and into store convey❜d. 510 515 Whereof to found their engines and their balls Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 520 525 Now when fair morn orient in heav'n appear'd, Up rose the victor angels, and to arms The matin trumpet sung: in arms they stood Of golden panoply, refulgent host, Soon banded; others from the dawning hills Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter, to descry the distant foe, 530 535 Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, Sad resolution and secure : let each 540 520 pernicious] probably to be understood in the sense of the Latin pernix, speedy. Newton. 526 matin] Tasso Gier. Lib. c. xi. st. 19. 'Quando a cantar la mattutina tromba Thyer. His adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, 545 550 555 So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon In order, quit of all impediment; Instant without disturb they took alarm, And onward move embattled; when behold Not distant far with heavy pace the foe Approaching gross and huge; in hollow cube Training his devilish enginery, impal'd On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both stood A while; but suddenly at head appear'd Satan; and thus was heard commanding loud. Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; That all may see, who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure, and with open breast Stand ready to receive them, if they like Our overture, and turn not back perverse; But that I doubt; however witness heaven, Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge Freely our part: ye who appointed stand Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch What we propound, and loud that all may hear. 542 coat] Hor. Od. i. vi. 13. 'Martem tunica tectum adamantina.' Todd. 545 aught] Fenton wishes to read 'right.' 560 565 So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce Had ended; when to right and left the front Divided, and to either flank retir'd: Which to our eyes discover'd, new and strange, A triple mounted row of pillars, laid On wheels, for like to pillars most they seem'd, Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir 570 With branches lop'd, in wood or mountain fell'd, 675 574 hollow'd bodies] Pallisadoes, 483. Bent. MS. 590 580 Stood waving] This is certainly an error, 'stood' occurs in the line before and after. Bentley would read 'Held;' but wishing to keep as close to the text as I can, I propose 'shone.' Mr. Dyce proposes 'shook.' 586 belch'd] See Beaumont's Psyche, c. xx. st. 103. |