Paradise Lost

Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with Fire; 
Nathless he so endur'd, till on the Beach 
Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and call'd 
His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't 
Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks 
In VALLOMBROSA, where th' ETRURIAN shades 
High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge 
Afloat, when with fierce Winds ORION arm'd 
Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast, whose waves orethrew 
BUSIRIS and his MEMPHIAN Chivalrie, 
VVhile with perfidious hatred they pursu'd 
The Sojourners of GOSHEN, who beheld 
From the safe shore their floating Carkases 
And broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown 
Abject and lost lay these, covering the Flood, 
Under amazement of their hideous change. 
He call'd so loud, that all the hollow Deep 
Of Hell resounded.  Princes, Potentates, 
Warriers, the Flowr of Heav'n, once yours, now lost, 
If such astonishment as this can sieze 
Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place 
After the toyl of Battel to repose 
Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find 
To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n? 
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 
To adore the Conquerour? who now beholds 
Cherube and Seraph rowling in the Flood 
With scatter'd Arms and Ensigns, till anon 
His swift pursuers from Heav'n Gates discern 
Th' advantage, and descending tread us down 
Thus drooping, or with linked Thunderbolts 
Transfix us to the bottom of this Gulfe. 
Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n. 
  They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung 
Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch 
On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, 
Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. 
Nor did they not perceave the evil plight 
In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; 
Yet to their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd 
Innumerable.  As when the potent Rod 
Of AMRAMS Son in EGYPTS evill day 
Wav'd round the Coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 
Of LOCUSTS, warping on the Eastern Wind, 
That ore the Realm of impious PHAROAH hung 
Like Night, and darken'd all the Land of NILE: 
So numberless were those bad Angels seen 
Hovering on wing under the Cope of Hell 
'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding Fires; 
Till, as a signal giv'n, th' uplifted Spear 
Of their great Sultan waving to direct 
Thir course, in even ballance down they light 
On the firm brimstone, and fill all the Plain; 
A multitude, like which the populous North 
Pour'd never from her frozen loyns, to pass 
RHENE or the DANAW, when her barbarous Sons 
Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread 
Beneath GIBRALTAR to the LYBIAN sands. 
Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band 
The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood 
Their great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms 
Excelling human, Princely Dignities, 
And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones; 
Though of their Names in heav'nly Records now 
Be no memorial, blotted out and ras'd 
By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life. 
Nor had they yet among the Sons of EVE 
Got them new Names, till wandring ore the Earth, 
Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man, 
By falsities and lyes the greatest part 
Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake 
God their Creator, and th' invisible 
Glory of him, that made them, to transform 
Oft to the Image of a Brute, adorn'd 
With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold, 
And Devils to adore for Deities: 
Then were they known to men by various Names, 
And various Idols through the Heathen World. 
Say, Muse, their Names then known, who first, who last, 
Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery Couch, 
At thir great Emperors call, as next in worth 
Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, 
While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof? 
The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell 
Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix 
Their Seats long after next the Seat of God, 
Their Altars by his Altar, Gods ador'd 
Among the Nations round, and durst abide 
JEHOVAH thundring out of SION, thron'd 
Between the Cherubim; yea, often plac'd 
Within his Sanctuary it self their Shrines, 
Abominations; and with cursed things 
His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profan'd, 
And with their darkness durst affront his light. 
First MOLOCH, horrid King besmear'd with blood 
Of human sacrifice, and parents tears, 
Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud 
Their childrens cries unheard, that past through fire 
To his grim Idol.  Him the AMMONITE 
Worshipt in RABBA and her watry Plain,