The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems
wars,
502
      
Wasting the earth, each other to destroy,
503
      
As if (which might induce us to accord 2113 )
504
      
Man had not hellish foes enow 2114 besides,
505
      
That day and night for his destruction wait!
506
      
    The Stygian 2115 council thus dissolved, and forth
507
      
In order came the grand infernal peers.
508
      
Midst came their mighty Paramount, 2116 and seemed
509
      
Alone th’ antagonist of Heav’n, nor less
510
      
Than Hell’s dread emperor, with pomp supreme,
511
      
And godlike imitated state. Him round
512
      
A globe 2117 of fiery Seraphim enclosed
513
      
With bright emblazonry, 2118 and horrent 2119 arms.
514
      
Then of their session ended they bid cry, 2120
515
      
With trumpet’s regal 2121 sound, the great result.
516
      
Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim
517
      
Put to their mouths the sounding 2122 alchemy, 2123
518
      
By herald’s voice explained. The hollow abyss
519
      
Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell
520
      
With deaf ’ning shout returned 2124 them loud acclaim.
521
      
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised
522
      
By false presumptuous hope, the rangèd 2125 Powers
523
      
Disband and, wand’ring, each his several way
524
      
Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
525
      
Leads him, perplexed, 2126 where he may likeliest find
526
      
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain

527
      
The irksome hours till his great chief return.
528
      
Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, 2127
529
      
Upon the wing or in swift race contend, 2128
530
      
As at th’ Olympian 2129 games or Pythian 2130 fields.
531
      
Part curb 2131 their fiery steeds, or shun 2132 the goal 2133
532
      
With rapid wheels, or fronted 2134 brigades form—
533
      
As when, to warn proud cities, war appears,
534
      
Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush
535
      
To battle in the clouds. Before each van 2135
536
      
Prick 2136 forth the airy knights, and couch 2137 their spears,
537
      
Till thickest 2138 legions close. 2139 With feats of arms
538
      
From either end of Heav’n the welkin 2140 burns.
539
      
Others, with vast Typhoean 2141 rage, more fell, 2142
540
      
Rend 2143 up both rocks and hills, and ride the air
541
      
In whirlwind. Hell scarce holds the wild uproar,
542
      
As when Alcides, 2144 from Oechalia 2145 crowned
543
      
With conquest, felt th’ envenomed robe, 2146 and tore
544
      
Through pain up by the roots Thessalian 2147 pines,
545
      
And Lichas 2148 from the top of Oeta 2149 threw
546
      
Into th’ Euboic sea. 2150 Others, more mild,
547
      
Retreated 2151 in a silent valley, sing
548
      
With notes angelical to many a harp
549
      
Their own heroic deeds and hapless 2152 fall
550
      
By doom 2153 of battle, and complain that Fate
551
      
Free virtue should enthrall 2154 to force or chance. 2155
552
      
Their song was partial, 2156 but the harmony
553
      
(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?
554
      
Suspended 2157 Hell, and took 2158 with ravishment
555
      
The thronging audience. In discourse 2159 more sweet
556
      
(For eloquence the soul, 2160 song charms the sense)
557
      
Others apart sat on a hill retired, 2161
558
      
In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high
559
      
Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate
560
      
Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute,
561
      
And found no end, in wand’ring mazes lost.
562
      
Of good and evil much they argued

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