To intellectual; give both life and sense, Fancy and understanding; whence the soul Reason receives, and reason is her being, Discursive, or intuitive; discourse
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, Differing but in degree, of kind the same. Wonder not then, what God for you saw good If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
To proper substance. Time may come, when men With angels may participate, and find No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; And from these corporal nutriments perhaps Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, Improv'd by tract of time, and, wing'd, ascend Ethereal, as we: or may, at choice, Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; If ye be found obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire, Whose progeny you are. Meanwhile enjoy Your fill what happiness this happy state Can comprehend, incapable of more."
To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. "O favorable spirit, propitious guest, Well hast thou taught the way that might direct Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set From centre to circumference; whereon, In contemplation of created things,
By steps we may ascend to God. But say, What meant that caution join'd, If ye be found Obedient? Can we want obedience then To him, or possibly his love desert,
Who form'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here Full to the utmost measure of what bliss Human desires can seek or apprehend?"
Hath pass'd in Heaven, some doubts within me
But more desire to hear, if thou consent, The full relation, which must needs be strange, Worthy of sacred silence to be heard;
And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun Hath finish'd half his journey, and scarce begins His other half in the great zone of Heaven." Thus Adam made request: and Raphaël, After short pause assenting, thus began.
"High matter thou enjoin'st me, O prime of men Sad task and hard: for how shall I relate To human sense the invisible exploits Of warring spirits? how, without remorse, The ruin of so many glorious once
And perfect while they stood? how last unfold The secrets of another world, perhaps Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good This is dispens'd; and what surmounts the reach Of human sense, I shall delineate so, By likening spiritual to corporal forms, As may express them best; though what if Earth Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein Each to other like, more than on Earth is thought? "As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild Reign'd where these Heavens now roll, where Earth
Upon her centre pois'd; when on a day (For time, though in eternity, applied
To motion, measures all things durable By present, past, and future,) on such day
As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyrea! host
Of angels by imperial summons call'd,
To whom the angel. Son of Heaven and Earth, Innumerable before the Almighty's throne, Attend that thou art happy, owe to God; Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appear'd That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, Under their hierarchs in orders bright: That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanc'd, This was that caution given thee, be advis'd. Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear God made thee perfect, not immutable; Stream in the air, and for distinction serve And good he made thee; but to persevere Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; He left it in thy power; ordain'd thy will Or in their glittering tissues bear emblaz'd By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love Inextricable, or strict necessity: Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs Our voluntary service he requires, Of circuit inexpressible they stood, Not our necessitated; such with him Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how By whom in bliss embosom'd sat the Son, Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top Willing or no, who will but what they must Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. By destiny, and can no other choose? Myself, and all the angelic host, that stand In sight of God enthron'd, our happy state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; On other surety none: freely we serve, Because we freely love, as in our will To love or not; in this we stand or fall: And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall From what high state of bliss, into what woe!"
To whom our great progenitor. "Thy words Attentive, and with more delighted ear, Divine instructer, I have heard, than when Cherubic songs by night from neighboring hills Aerial music send: nor knew I not To be both will and deed created free; Yet that we never shall forget to love
Our Maker, and obey him whose command Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts
Hear, all ye angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, Hear my decree, which unrevók'd shall stand. This day I have begot whom I declare My only Son, and on this holy hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold At my right hand; your head I him appoint; And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord : Under his great vicegerent reign abide United, as one individual soul, For ever happy: him who disobeys, Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls Into utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place Ordain'd without redemption, without end.' "So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words All seem'd well pleas'd; all seem'd, but were not all That day, as other solemn days, they spent
Assur'd me, and still assure: though what thou In song and dance about the sacred hill:
Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere
Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem ; And in their motions Harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Listens delighted. Evening now approach'd, (For we have also our evening and our morn, We ours for change delectable, not need ;) Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Desirous; all in circles as they stood, Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd With angel's food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. On flowers repos'd and with fresh flowerets crown'd, They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet Quaff immortality and joy, secure
Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who shower'd With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhal'd From that high mount of God, whence light and shade Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had chang'd
To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there In darker veil,) and roseate dews dispos'd All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; Wide over all the plain, and wider far Than all this globous Earth in plain outspread, (Such are the courts of God,) the angelic throng Dispers'd in bands and files, their camp extend By living streams among the trees of life, Pavilions numberless, and sudden rear'd, Celestial tabernacles, where they slept
The quarters of the north; there to prepare Fit entertainment to receive our King, The great Messiah, and his new commands, Who speedily through all the hierarchies Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.'
"So spake the false archangel, and infus'd Bad influence into the unwary breast Of his associate: he together calls,
Or several one by one, the regent powers, Under him regent; tells, as he was taught, That the Most High commanding, now ere night, Now ere dim night had disencumber'd Heaven, The great hierarchal standard was to move; Tells the suggested cause, and casts between Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted signal, and superior voice Of their great potentate; for great indeed His name, and high was his decree in Heaven; His countenance, as the morning-star that guides The starry flock, allur'd them, and with lies Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. Meanwhile the Eternal Eye, whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, And from within the golden lamps that burn Nightly before him, saw without their light Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread Among the sons of morn, what multitudes Were banded to oppose his high decree; And, smiling, to his only Son thus said.
"Son, thou in whom my glory I behold In full resplendence, heir of all my might, Nearly it now concerns us to be sure Of our omnipotence, and with what arms We mean to hold what anciently we claim
Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who, in their Of deity or empire: such a foe
Melodious hymns about the sovran throne Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd Satan; so call him now, his former name Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, If not the first archangel, great in power, In favor and pre-eminence, yet fraught With envy against the Son of God, that day Honor'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd Messiah King anointed, could not bear Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair'd. Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd With all his legions to dislodge, and leave Unworshipt, unobey'd, the throne supreme, Contemptuous; and his next subordinate Awakening, thus to him in secret spake :
Is rising, who intends to erect his throne Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north: Nor so content, hath in his thought to try In battle, what our power is, or our right. Let us advise, and to this hazard draw With speed what force is left, and all employ In our defence; lest unawares we lose This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.' ́ "To whom the Son with calm aspéct and clear Lightening divine, ineffable, serene, Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes Justly hast in derision, and, secure,
Laugh'st at their vain designs and tumults vain, Matter to me of glory, whom their hate Illustrates, when they see all regal power Given me to quell their pride, and in event Know whether I be dextrous to subdue
"Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven."
Thy eyelids and remember'st what decree Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips
Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart ; Both waking we were one: how then can now Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou see'st impos'd; New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise In us who serve, new counsels, to debate What doubtful may ensue: more in this place To utter is not safe. Assemble thou Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, And all who under me their banners wave, Homeward, with flying march, where we possess
"So spake the Son; but Satan, with his powers, Far was advanc'd on winged speed; an host Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the Sun Impearls on every leaf and every flower. Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies Of seraphim, and potentates, and thrones, In their triple degrees; regions to which All thy dominion, Adam, is no more Than what this garden is to all the earth, And all the sea, from one entire globose Stretch'd into longitude; which having pass'd, At length into the limits of the north They came; and Satan to his royal seat High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and towers
From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; How provident he is; how far from thought
The palace of great Lucifer, (so call That structure in the dialect of men Interpreted,) which not long after, he, Affecting all equality with God,
In imitation of that mount whereon Messiah was declar'd in sight of Heaven, The Mountain of the Congregation call'd; For thither he assembled all his train, Pretending, so commanded, to consult About the great reception of their king, Thither to come, and with calumnious art Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears: "Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues,
If these magnific titles yet remain Not merely titular, since by decree Another now hath to himself engross'd All power, and us eclips'd under the name Of King anointed, for whom all this haste Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, This only to consult how we may best, With what may be devis'd of honors new, Receive him coming to receive from us Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! Too much to one! but double how endur'd, To one, and to his image now proclaim'd? But what if better counsels might erect Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves Natives and sons of Heaven possess'd before By none; and if not equal all, yet free, Equally free; for orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well consist. Who can in reason then, or right, assume Monarchy over such as live by right His equals, if in power and splendor less, In freedom equal? or can introduce Law and edict on us, who without law Err not? much less for this to be our lord, And look for adoration, to the abuse Of those imperial titles, which assert Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.'
"Thus far his bold discourse without control Had audience: when among the seraphim Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd The Deity, and divine commands obey'd, Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe The current of his fury thus oppos'd.
"O argument blasphemous, false and proud! Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate, In place thyself so high above thy peers. Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn The just decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn, That to his only Son, by right endued With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due Confess him rightful king? unjust, thou say'st, Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, And equal over equals to let reign, One over all with unsucceeded power. Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute With him the points of liberty, who made [Heaven Thee what thou art, and form'd the powers of Such as he pleas'd, and circumscrib'd their being? Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, And of our good and of our dignity
To make us less, bent rather to exalt Our happy state, under one head more near United. But to grant it thee unjust, That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, Or all angelic nature join'd in one, Equal to him begotten son? by whom,
As by his word, the Mighty Father made All things, even thee; and all the spirits of Heaven By him created in their bright degrees, Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, Essential powers; nor by his reign obscur'd, But more illustrious made; since he the head One of our number thus reduc'd becomes; His laws our laws; all honor to him done Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage And tempt not these; but hasten to appease The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, While pardon may be found in time besought.' "So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal None seconded, as out of season judg'd, Or singular and rash: whereat rejoic'd The apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. That we were form'd then, say'st thou and the work
Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd From Father to his Son? strange point and new! Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd:
When this creation was? remember'st thou Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? We know no time when we were not as now; Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd By our own quickening power, when fatal course Had circled his full orb, the birth mature Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. Our puissance is our own our own right hand Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold Whether by supplication we intend Address, and to begirt the almighty throne Beseeching or besieging. This report, These tidings carry to the anointed King; And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.'
"He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite host: nor less for that The flaming seraph fearless, though alone Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold "O alienate from God, O spirit accurs'd, Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread Both of thy crime and punishment; henceforth No more be troubled how to quit the yoke Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees Against thee are gone forth without recall: That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject, Is now an iron rod to bruise and break Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise; Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath Impendent, raging into sudden flame, Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. Then who created thee lamenting learn, When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.
"So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he; Among innumerable false, unmov'd, Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrified, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; Nor number, nor example, with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd, Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd Superior, nor of violence feared aught; And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd."
Raphaël continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight described: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council; invents devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up
mountains, overwhelmed both the force and
The better fight, who single hast maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the cause Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; And for the testimony of truth hast borne Universal reproach, far worse to bear Than violence; for this was all thy care To stand approv'd in sight of God, though worlds Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, Back on thy foes more glorious to return, Than scorn'd thou didst depart; and to subdue By force, who reason for their law refuse, Right reason for their law, and for their king Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, And thou, in military prowess next, Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons Invincible; lead forth my armed saints, By thousands and by millions, rang'd for fight, Rebellious: them with fire and hostile arms Equal in number to that godless crew Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven Into their place of punishment, the gulf Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.' Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
machines of Satan: yet, the tumult not so ending, God, on the third day, sends MESSIAH his Son, for whom he had reserved the glory of that vic- To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll "So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began tory: he, in the power of his Father, coming to In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign the place, and causing all his legions to stand Of wrath awak'd; nor with less dread the loud still on either side, with his chariot and thunder Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues At which command the powers militant them, unable to resist, towards the wall of That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate join'd Heaven; which opening, they leap down, with horror and confusion, into the place of punish- ment prepared for them in the deep: MESSIAH returns with triumph to his Father.
"ALL night the dreadless angel, unpursued, Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn,
Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a cave Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; Light issues forth, and at the other door Obsequious Darkness enters, till her hour
To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well
Seem twilight here: and now went forth the Morn, Such as in highest Heaven, array'd in gold Empyreal; from before her vanish'd Night, Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain, Cover'd with thick embattled squadrons bright, Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: War he perceiv'd, war in procinct; and found Already known what he for news had thought To have reported: gladly then he mix'd Among those friendly powers, who him receiv'd With joy and acclamations loud, that one, That of so many myriads fall'n yet one, Return'd not lost. On to the sacred hill They led him high applauded, and present Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. "Servant of God, well done; well hast thou fought
In silence their bright legions, to the sound Of union irresistible, mov'd on Of instrumental harmony, that breath'd Heroic ardor to adventurous deeds Under their godlike leaders, in the cause Of God and his Messiah. On they move, Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill,
Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides Their perfect ranks: for high above the ground Their march was, and the passive air upbore Their nimble tread; as when the total kind Of birds, in orderly array on wing, Came summoned over Eden to receive Their names of thee; so over many a tract Of Heaven they march'd, and many a province wide, Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last, Far in the horizon to the north appear'd From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd In battailous aspect, and nearer view Bristled with upright beams innumerable Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields Various, with boastful argument portray'd, The banded powers of Satan hasting on With furious expedition; for they ween'd That self-same day, by fight, or by surprise, To win the mount of God, and on his throne To set the Envier of his state, the proud Aspirer; but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain In the midway: though strange to us it seem'd At first, that angel should with angel war, And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet So oft in festivals of joy and love Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, Hymning the Eternal Father: but the shout Of battle now began, and rushing sound Of onset ended soon each milder thought. High in the midst exalted as a God,
The apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, Idol of majesty divine, inclos'd
With flaming cherubim, and golden shields; Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now "Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval, and front to front Presented stood in terrible array
Of hideous length: before the cloudy van, On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd, Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanc'd, Came towering, arm'd in adamant and gold; Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, And thus his own undaunted heart explores. "O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest
Should yet remain, where faith and realty [might Remain not wherefore should not strength and There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove Where boldest, though to sight unconquerable? His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, I mean to try, whose reason I have tried Unsound and false: nor is it aught but just, That he, who in debate of truth hath won, Should win in arms, in both disputes alike Victor; though brutish that contést and foul, When reason hath to deal with force, yet so Most reason is that reason overcome.'
So pondering, and from his armed peers Forth-stepping opposite, half-way he met His daring foe, at this prevention more Incens'd, and thus securely him defied. "Proud, art thou met? thy hope was The height of thy aspiring unoppos'd, The throne of God unguarded, and his side Abandon'd, at the terror of thy power Or potent tongue: fool! not to think how vain Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; Who out of smallest things could, without end, Have rais'd incessant armies to defeat Thy folly; or with solitary hand Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, Unaided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd Thy legions under darkness: but thou seest All are not of thy train; there be, who faith Prefer, and piety to God, though then To thee not visible, when I alone Seem'd in thy world erroneous to dissent
From all my sect thou seest; now learn too late How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.'
"Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, Thus answered. 'Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour Of my revenge, first sought for, thou return'st From flight, seditious angel! to receive Thy merited reward, the first assay
Such hast thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of Heaven, Servility with freedom to contend,
As both their deeds compar'd this day shall prove' To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied. Apostate! still thou err'st, nor end wilt find Of erring, from the path of truth remote: Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, Or nature: God and nature bid the same, When he who rules is worthiest, and excels Them whom he governs. This is servitude, To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebell'd Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to thyself enthrall'd; Yet lewdly dar'st our minist'ring upbraid. Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd ; Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: meanwhile From me return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, This greeting on thy impious crest receive.'
"So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge
He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee His massy spear upstaid; as if on Earth Winds under ground, or waters forcing way Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his seat, Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seiz'd The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to see [shout, Thus foil'd their mightiest; ours joy fill'd, and Presage of victory, and fierce desire
Of battle: whereat Michaël bid sound The archangel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven It sounded, and the faithful armies rung Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze The adverse legions, nor less hideous join'd The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, And clamor, such as heard in Heaven till now Was never; arms on armor clashing bray'd Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise Of conflict; over-head the dismal hiss Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew, And flying vaulted either host with fire. So under fiery cope together rush'd Both battles main, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth Had to her centre shook. What wonder? where Millions of fierce encountering angels fought On either side, the least of whom could wield These elements, and arm him with the force Of all their regions: how much more of power
Of this right hand provok'd since first that tongue, Army against army numberless to raise
Inspir'd with contradiction, durst oppose A third part of the gods, in synod met Their deities to assert; who, while they feel Vigor divine within them, can allow Omnipotence to none. But well thou com'st Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
From me some plume, that thy success may show Destruction to the rest: this pause between, (Unanswer'd lest thou boast,) to let thee know, At first I thought that liberty and Heaven To heavenly souls had been all one; but now 'I see that most through sloth had rather serve, Minist'ring spirits, train'd up in feast and song!
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, Though not destroy, their happy native seat; Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-rul'd And limited their might; though number'd such As each divided legion might have seem'd A numerous host; in strength each armed hand A legion; led in fight, yet leader seem'd Each warrior single as in chief, expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of battle, open when, and when to close The ridges of grim war: no thought of flight. None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
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