Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hospitable door
Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape.
These were the prime in order and in might;
The reft were long to tell, though far renown'd:
Th' Ionian Gods, of Javan's issue held

Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth,
Their boasted parents: Titan Heav'n's first-born,
With his enormous brood, and birthright feis'd
By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove
His own and Rhea's fon like measure found;
So Jove ufurping reign'd: these first in Crete
And Ida known, thence on the snowy top
Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air,
Their highest Heav'n; or on the Delphian cliff,
Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds
Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old

Fled over Adria to th' Hefperian fields,
And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost iles.

All these and more came flocking; but with looks
Down caft and damp, yet fuch wherein appear'd
Obfcure fome glimpse of joy, to' have found their chief
Not in despair, to' have found themselves not loft
In lofs itself; which on his count'nance cast
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore
Semblance of worth not substance, gently rais'd
Their fainting courage, and difpell'd their fears.
Then ftrait commands that at the warlike found
Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd

His mighty ftandard: that proud honor clam'd
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;

Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd
Th' imperial enfign, which full high advanc'd
Shone like a meteor ftreaming to the wind,
With gems and golden luftre rich imblaz'd,
Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while
Sonorous metal blowing martial founds:
At which the universal hoft up fent

A fhout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were feen
Ten thousand banners rife into the air

With orient colors waving: with them rose
A foreft huge of fpears; and thronging helms
Appear'd, and ferried shields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable: anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
of flutes and soft recorder; fuch as rais'd
To highth of nobleft temper heroes old
Arming to battel, and instead of rage
Deliberate valor breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and swage
With folemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase
Anguish and doubt and fear and forrow' and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force with fixed thought
Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes, that charm'd
Their painful steps o'er the burnt foil; and now

Advanc'd in view they stand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazling arms, in guife
Of warriors old with order'd spear and fhield,
Awaiting what command their mighty chief
Had to impofe: He through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
'The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their vifages and stature as of Gods :

Their number laft he fums. And now his heart
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his ftrength
Glories for never fince created man

Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that small infantry
Warr'd-on by cranes; though all the giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide
Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds
In fable or romance of Uther's fon
Begirt with British and Armoric knights;
And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban,
Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebisond,
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore,
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far thefe beyond
Compare of mortal prowefs, yet observ'd
Their dread commander: he above the reft
In fhape and gefture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft
All her original brightness, nor appear'd

Lefs

Lefs than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th' excess
Of glory' obfcur'd'; as when the fun new rifen
Looks through the horizontal misty air
Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon
In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds

On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel: but his face
Deep fears of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntlefs courage, and confiderate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but caft
Signs of remorfe and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc'd
Of Heav'n, and from eternal splendors flung
For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
Hath feath'd the foreft oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their ftately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd
To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half inclose him round
With all his peers: attention held them mute.
Thrice he affay'd, and thrice in spite of scorn
Tears, fuch as Angel's weep, burst forth: at last
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers

Matchlefs,