rise into the air with colours waving with them rose a forest huge of and appear d and in thick array of depth anon they move in perfect to the mood of and soft such as raised to height of noblest temper heroes old to battle and instead of rage deliberate breathed firm and unmoved with dread of death to flight or foul retreat nor wanting power to and with solemn touches troubled thoughts and chase th english poets anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain from mortal or immortal minds thus they breathing united force with fixed thought moved on in silence to soft pipes that charm d their painful steps o er the burnt soil and now advanced in view they stand a horrid front of dreadful length and dazzling arms in guise of warriors old with order d spear and shield awaiting what command their mighty chief had to impose he through the armed his experienced eye and soon the whole views their order due their and stature as of gods their number last he sums and now his heart with pride and in his strength glories for never since created man met such embodied force as named with these could merit more than that small d on by though all the giant brood of with the heroic race were join d that fought at and on each side mix d with gods and what in fable or romance of s son with british and knights and all who since or in or or or or whom sent from shore when with all his fell by thus far these beyond compare of mortal yet observed their dread commander he above the rest in shape and gesture proudly eminent stood like a tower his form had yet not lost all her original brightness nor appeared less than ruin d and the excess of glory obscured as when the sun new risen looks through the misty air of his beams or from behind the moon john milton in dim disastrous twilight sheds on half the nations and with fear of change darkened so yet shone above them all the but his face deep of thunder had d and care sat on his faded cheek but under brows of courage and considerate pride waiting revenge cruel his eyes but cast signs of remorse and passion to behold the fellows of his crime the followers rather far other once beheld in bliss condemned for ever now to have their lot in pain millions of spirits for his fault of heaven and from eternal flung for his revolt yet faithful how they stood their glory d as when heaven s fire hath the forest oaks or mountain pines with top their stately growth though bare stands on the heath he now prepared to speak their doubled ranks they bend from wing to wing and half him round with all his attention held them mute thrice he d and thrice in spite of scorn tears such as angels weep burst forth at last words with sighs found out their way o of immortal spirits i o powers but with the almighty and that strife was not though the event was dire as this place and this dire change hateful to utter but what power of mind or from the depth of knowledge past or present could have fear d how such united force of gods how such as stood like these could ever know for who can yet believe though after loss that all these whose exile hath emptied heaven shall fail to self raised and their native seat for me be witness all the host of heaven the english poets if counsels different or dangers d by me have lost our hopes but he who monarch in heaven till then as one secure sat on his throne by old consent or custom and his state put forth at fuu but still his strength concealed which tempted our attempt and wrought our fall henceforth his might we know and know our own so as not either to provoke or dread new war provoked our better part remains to work in dose design by fraud or what force effected not that he no less at length from us may find who by force hath overcome but half his foe space may produce new worlds whereof so there went a fame in heaven that he ere long intended to create and therein plant a generation whom his choice regard should favour equal to the sons of heaven thither if but to shall be perhaps our first thither or elsewhere for this infernal pit shall never hold celestial spirits in bondage nor the abyss long under darkness cover but these thoughts full counsel must mature peace is despair d for who can think submission war then war open or understood must be resolved he and to confirm his words out millions of flaming swords drawn from the of mighty the sudden blaze far round hell highly they raged against the highest and fierce with grasped arms on their sounding the din of war defiance toward the vault of heaven there stood a hill not far whose top d fire and rolling smoke the rest entire shone with a glossy sign that in his was hid ore the work of thither winged with speed john milton a numerous hasten d as when bands of with and arm d the royal camp to a field or cast a led them on the least erected spirit that fell from heaven for e en in heaven his looks and thoughts were always downward bent admiring more the riches of heaven s pavement trodden gold than aught divine or holy else enjoy d in vision by him first men also and by his suggestion taught d the centre and with hands the of their mother earth for treasures better hid soon had his crew open d into the hill 