第21章 21
Nor was his name unheard or unadord
In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land
Men calld him Mulciber; and how he fell [ 740 ]
From Heavn, they fabld, thrown by angry Jove
Sheer ore the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn
To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve,
A Summers day; and with the setting Sun
Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star, [ 745 ]
On Lemnos th Ægean Ile: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught availd him now
To have built in Heavn high Towrs; nor did he scape
By all his Engins, but was headlong sent [ 750 ]
With his industrious crew to build in hell.
Mean while the winged Haralds by command
Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony
And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim
A solemn Councel forthwith to be held [ 755 ]
At Pandamonium, the high Capital
Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons calld
From every Band and squared Regiment
By place or choice the worthiest; they anon
With hunderds and with thousands trooping came [ 760 ]
Attended: all access was throngd, the Gates
And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall
(Though like a coverd field, where Champions bold
Wont ride in armd, and at the Soldans chair
Defid the best of Paynim chivalry [ 765 ]
To mortal combat or carreer with Lance)
Thick swarmd, both on the ground and in the air,
Brusht with the hiss of russling wings. As Bees
In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth thir populous youth about the Hive [ 770 ]
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,
The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel,
New rubd with Baum, expatiate and confer
Thir State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd [ 775 ]
Swarmd and were straitnd; till the Signal givn.