The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (30 page)

522

      

All these and more came flocking, but with looks

523

      

Downcast and damp,
¹⁷¹⁸
yet such wherein appeared

524

      

Obscure
¹⁷¹⁹
some glimpse of joy to have found their chief
¹⁷²⁰

525

      

Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost

526

      

In loss itself, which on his countenance cast

527

      

Like
¹⁷²¹
doubtful
¹⁷²²
hue.
¹⁷²³
But he, his wonted
¹⁷²⁴
pride

528

      

Soon recollecting, with high words that bore

529

      

Semblance
¹⁷²⁵
of worth, not substance, gently raised

530

      

Their fainting courage and dispelled their fears

531

      

Then straight
¹⁷²⁶
commands that, at the warlike sound

532

      

Of trumpets loud, and clarions,
¹⁷²⁷
be upreared
¹⁷²⁸

533

      

His mighty standard.
¹⁷²⁹
That proud honor claimed

534

      

Azazel
¹⁷³⁰
as his right, a Cherub tall

535

      

Who forthwith from the glittering staff
¹⁷³¹
unfurled

536

      

Th’ imperial ensign, which, full high advanced,
¹⁷³²

537

      

Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind

538

      

With gems and golden luster rich emblazed

539

      

Seraphic arms and trophies, all the while

540

      

Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds

541

      

At which the universal host up-sent

542

      

A shout that tore Hell’s concave,
¹⁷³³
and beyond

543

      

Frighted the reign
¹⁷³⁴
of Chaos and old Night

544

      

All in a moment through the gloom were seen

545

      

Ten thousand banners rise into the air

546

      

With orient
¹⁷³⁵
colors waving. With them rose

547

      

A forest huge of spears, and thronging helms
¹⁷³⁶

548

      

Appeared, and serried
¹⁷³⁷
shields in thick array

549

      

Of depth immeasurable. Anon
¹⁷³⁸
they move

550

      

In perfect phalanx
¹⁷³⁹
to the Dorian mood
¹⁷⁴⁰

551

      

Of flutes and soft recorders
¹⁷⁴¹
—such as raised

552

      

To height of noblest temper
¹⁷⁴²
heroes old

553

      

Arming to battle, and instead of rage

554

      

Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved

555

      

With dread of death to flight or foul retreat

556

      

Nor wanting
¹⁷⁴³
power to mitigate
¹⁷⁴⁴
and suage
¹⁷⁴⁵

557

      

With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase

558

      

Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain

559

      

From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they

560

      

Breathing united force with fixèd thought

561

      

Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed

562

      

Their painful steps o’er the burnt soil.

And now

563

      

Advanced in view they stand—a horrid
¹⁷⁴⁶
front
¹⁷⁴⁷

564

      

Of dreadful length
¹⁷⁴⁸
and dazzling arms,
¹⁷⁴⁹
in guise
¹⁷⁵⁰

565

      

Of warriors old, with ordered
¹⁷⁵¹
spear and shield

566

      

Awaiting what command their mighty chief

567

      

Had to impose.
¹⁷⁵²
He through the armèd files
¹⁷⁵³

568

      

Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse
¹⁷⁵⁴

569

      

The whole battalion views—their order due,
¹⁷⁵⁵

570

      

Their visages and stature as of gods

571

      

Their number last he sums.
¹⁷⁵⁶
And now his heart

572

      

Distends
¹⁷⁵⁷
with pride and hard’ning in his strength

573

      

Glories, for never since created man

574

      

Met such embodied
¹⁷⁵⁸
force as, named
¹⁷⁵⁹
with these

575

      

Could merit
¹⁷⁶⁰
more than
¹⁷⁶¹
that small infantry

576

      

Warred on by cranes
¹⁷⁶²
—though all the giant brood

577

      

Of Phlegra
¹⁷⁶³
with th’ heroic race were joined

578

      

That fought at Thebes
¹⁷⁶⁴
and Ilium,
¹⁷⁶⁵
on each side

579

      

Mixed with auxiliar
¹⁷⁶⁶
gods, and what resounds
¹⁷⁶⁷

580

      

In fable or romance of Uther’s son,
¹⁷⁶⁸

581

      

Begirt with
¹⁷⁶⁹
British and Armoric
¹⁷⁷⁰
knights

582

      

And all who since, baptized or infidel

583

      

Jousted
¹⁷⁷¹
in Aspramont,
¹⁷⁷²
or Montalban,
¹⁷⁷³

584

      

Damasco,
¹⁷⁷⁴
or Marocco,
¹⁷⁷⁵
or Trebisond,
¹⁷⁷⁶

585

      

Or whom Biserta
¹⁷⁷⁷
sent from Afric shore

586

      

When Charlemain with all his peerage fell

587

      

By Fontarabbia.
¹⁷⁷⁸
Thus far these, beyond

588

      

Compare of
¹⁷⁷⁹
mortal prowess, yet observed

589

      

Their dread
¹⁷⁸⁰
commander. He, above the rest

590

      

In shape and gesture proudly eminent

591

      

Stood like a tow’r. His form had yet not lost

592

      

All her original brightness, nor appeared

593

      

Less than Archangel ruined, and th’ excess

594

      

Of glory obscured, as when the sun new-ris’n

595

      

Looks through the horizontal misty air

596

      

Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon

597

      

In dim eclipse, disastrous
¹⁷⁸¹
twilight sheds
¹⁷⁸²

598

      

On half the nations, and with fear of change

599

      

Perplexes
¹⁷⁸³
monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone

600

      

Above them all th’Archangel, but his face

601

      

Deep scars of thunder had intrenched,
¹⁷⁸⁴
and care

602

      

Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows

603

      

Of dauntless courage, and considerate
¹⁷⁸⁵
pride

604

      

Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast
¹⁷⁸⁶

605

      

Signs of remorse and passion, to behold