Mountains of ice, that flop th' imagin'd way 295 They faften'd, and the mole immense wrought on, 300 305 turn; which is a cold planet, according to the aftrologers, being fær from us. L. 292. Petfora,] or Petzorka; Ruf. A province in the north of Mufcovy, under the arctick circle, upon the Icy Sea, on the weft fide of the river aby; fo called from the capital city, which standeth in a lake of the fame name. There is a river fo called, which falleth into that ocean, at the mouth of the Waygats. L. 293. Cathay,] or Catae. A province of Tartary, having the frozen ocean on the north, and China on the fouth. It is called Cara Kitaia, and Ava, by the Tartars, i. e. Black China; because the inhabitants were fun-burnt; whereas thofe of China, at least in the northern provinces, are white. L. 307, Xerxes.] Perf. i. e. the grand warrior. The fourth king of Perfia, and firft of that name. He was the fecond fou of Darius, i. e. the avenger, (Abafuerus is the fcriptural name, i. e. one that defeats the fchemes of another man,) and the nephew of Cyrus the Great, i. e. the fun. L. 308. Sufa.] Heb. i. e. a lily; becaufe many lilies grow thereabout. So Jericho is called the city of palm trees, Deut. xxxiv. 3. and Florence in Italy, from abundance of flowers there. It is called Shufhan; and there Ahafuerus held his court, Efth. i. 2.; and hence the whole country was called Sufiana. L. 309. Hellefpont.] Lat. Gr. i. e. the fea of Helle, daughter of A Bridging his way, Europe with Afia join'd,` * 3:0 And fcourg'd with many a ftroke th' indignant waves. Over the vex'd abyfs, following the track 315 And chains, they made all faft; too fast they made, And durable; and now in little space 320 The confines met of empyrean heav'n, And of this world, and on the left hand hell With long reach interpos'd; three several ways And now their way to earth they had defcry'd, 325 Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion fteering thamas king of Thebes in Greece; who, flying with her brother Phryrus from the indignation of her mother-in-law, perished there. It is a narrow fea, between the Propontis or White fea, and the head of the Archipelago, not above ten or twelve leagues in length; at the mouth, it is a large league and a half broad, and at the narrowest, about seven furlongs over. It is the entrance into Conftan tinople from the Archipelago, and divides Europe from Asia. L. 310. Europe.] Phen. i. e. a white face, of a fair countenance; because the people of it are whiter and fairer than thofe of Afia and Africa. One of the four grand quarters of the world; though it be leaft of all, yet it is moft confiderable now for all manner of arts, fciences, arms, laws and learning in the world, &c. It is about 3300 miles in length, and 2300 in breadth. Ibid. Afia.] Phen. i. e. the middle; because it (especially Leffer Afia) lies in the middle of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The third quarter of the world, larger than the other two, and very famous for being the original feat of man's creation, fall, and redemption; for the first and most renowned tranfactions of mankind, recorded in facred writ, and all ancient histories. L. 328. Centaur.] Lat. from the Gr. i. e. pricking, a bull. A fabulous monster, half man half horse. This fable rofe from a His zenith, while the fun in Aries rofe: 330 335 Upon her husband, faw their fhame that fought Vain covertures; but when he faw defcend 340 345 Of this new wondrous pontifice, unhop'd Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. Great joy was at their meeting, and at fight 350 Of that ftupendous bridge his joy increas'd. Thy trophies, which thou view'ft as not thine own; 355 For I no fooner in my heart divin'd, My heart, which by a fecret harmony Still moves with thine, join'd in connection fweet, people of Theffaly, who firft broke horses to war, and riding upon horfeback, drove their cattle before them. Other men feeing them at a distance, thought they were but one creature and fo the poor Americans thought of the Spaniards, when they firft invaded them upon horfes. That thou on earth hadft profper'd, which'thy looks 360- Though diftant from thee worlds between, yet felt Detain from following thy illuftrious track. 365 370 With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. Th' infernal empire, that fo near heav'n's door Mine with this glorious work, and made one realm, 380 385 3900 To my affociate pow'rs, them to acquaint 395 There dwell, and reign in blifs; thence on the earth Dominion exercife, and in the air, Chiefly on man, fole lord of all declar'd; Him first make sure your thrall, and laftly kill. 400 405 So faying, he difmifs'd them; they with fpeed 410 Their courfe through thickeft conftellations held, Spreading their bane; the blafted ftars look'd wan, And planets, planet-ftruck, real eclipse Then fuffer'd. Th' other way Satan went down 415 Difparted Chaos over-built exclaim'd, And with rebounding furge the bars affail'd, That fcorn'd his indignation: through the gate, 4201 Appointed to fit there, had left their charge, Far to th' inland retir'd, about the walls Of Pandemonium, city and proud feat Of Lucifer, fo by allufion call'd, 425 Of that bright ftar to Satan paragon'd. There kept their watch the legions, while the grand 430 |