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Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief. As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element1 Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow, or shower, If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet, Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. O shame to men! Devil with devil damned Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife, Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: As if-which might induce us to accord-Man had not hellish foes enow besides, That day and night for his destruction wait.

The Stygian council thus dissolved, and forth

In order came the grand infernal peers.

Midst came their mighty paramount, and seemed

Alone the antagonist of Heaven, nor less

Than Hell's dread emperor with pomp supreme,

And god-like imitated state. Him round

A globe of fiery seraphim enclosed

With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms.

Then, of their session ended, they bid cry

With trumpets' regal sound the great result.

Toward the four winds four speedy cherubim

Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy,

By herald's voice explained; the hollow abyss

Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell

With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim.

\ Sounding alchemy - The metal of which trumpets are made.

Воок 11.—521-553] Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised By false presumptious hope, the ranged powers Disband, and, wandering, each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice Leads him, perplexed where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great chief return. Part on the plain, or in the air sublime Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, As at the Olympian games or Pythian fields;1 Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form. As when, to warn proud cities, war appears Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush To battle in the clouds, before each van Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spears Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms From either end of heaven the welkin burns. Others, with vast Typhæan rage, more fell, Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air In whirlwind. Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. As when Alcides,2 from Œchalia crowned With conquest, felt the envenomed robe, and tore Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, And Lichas from the top of Œta threw Into the Euboic sea. Others, more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall By doom of battle; and complain that fate Free virtue should enthral to force or chance. Their song was partial; but the harmony— What could it less when spirits immortal sing?—

^&lt;sup>1</sup> Element.—The higher atmosphere, the elements filling it.

² Paramount.—Chief—lord paramount.

as a custom from early times in Greek history, and were celebrated every four years. An Olympiad in Greek

\\As when Alcides.\\*—A name given to Hercules.