All these and more came flocking; but with looks Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their Chief 525 Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost In loss itself; which on his countenance cast His mighty standard : | that proud honour claimed 535 Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled A shout, that tore Hell's concave, | and, beyond With Orient colours waving with them rose a Trans. Verb, is more unusual than to range. 526. Understand: which circumstance did cast on Satan's countenance a like doubtful hue, viz., some obscure glimpse of joy. 539. Trophies.-Properly speaking, the devils could have none, for they had gained no victory. 540. Nom. Absol. 543. The reign.-A Latinism for realm. The realm of Chaos and Night fills up the space between Hell and Heaven, vi. 871, and the newly-created world. See ii. 932, ff. 545. Were seen rise. This is the Indirect Obj. with the passive verb. Gr. 77, Ex. 3. 546. Orient, originally eastern, is equivalent to splendid. 550 In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Deliberate valour breathed, firm and unmoved 555 With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage, With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase Moved on in silence to soft pipes, that charmed 570 Their visages and stature as of gods; Their number last he sums. And now his heart Met such imbodied force, as named with these 550. Dorian mood, i.e., Dorian style of music. 551. Recorder-a kind of flute. 555. Unmoved to flight or retreat by the dread of death. See 572. Hardening in his strength glories.Milton uses his frequently for its. Trench, English Past and Present. 573. Never since created man-A Latinis for since the creation of man. Pygmics. 575. Small infantry-the Bentley remarks that the pygmies rode upon rams and goats. The term infantry is therefore inaccurate. Bentley corsequently rejects as spurious the words, from as named to cranes. A difficulty lies also in this word merit; but it is probably to be taken as equivalent to could be esteemed as anything more. Milton here again dwells upon the great number of devils. See i. 351. That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mixed with auxiliar gods and what resounds 580 In fable or romance of Uther's son Begirt with British and Armorick knights :] 585 Or whom Biserta sent from Africk shore, | Stood like a tower | his form had yet not lost Shorn of his beams; or, from behind the moon, On half the nations,] and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.] Darkened so, yet shone 600 Above them all, the Archangel | but his face 579. Auxiliar-helping. 580 to 587. All nominative enlargements to the Subj. were joined. 580. Bentley remarks,-Milton, indeed, in his prose works tells us, that in his youth he was a great lover and reader of romances; but surely he had more judgment in his old age than to clog and sully his poem with such romantic trash, as even then, when he wrote, was obsolete and forgot. To stuff in here a heap of barbarous words, without any ornament or poetical colouring, serving only to make his own argument, which he takes from the Scripture, to be supposed to be equally fabulous, would be such pedantry, such a silly boast of useless reading, as I will not charge him with." Bentley accordingly considers the whole passage spurious. 580. Uther's son-King Arthur. Amorica, the ancient name of Brittany. 581. Begirt, in imitation of the Latin cinctus. 585. Or [those] whom, &c. 588. Observe, in the sense of the Latin observare, to respect. 590. In shape and gesture proudly eminent, stood like a tower.-Bentley proposes to read stature for gesture, because the latter word does not apply to a tower. 593. And the excess of glory obscured— Probably a Latinism for obscured as to the excess of glory. Deep scars of thunder had intrenched; and care The fellows of his crime, the followers rather, 609. To amerce, to fine. Amerced-deprived of. 611. Connect the sentence thus:-To behold (605) his followers condemned (607), and from eternal splendours flung (610); yet (to behold) how they stood faithful, their glory being withered. 614. Growth.-The Abstract used instead of the Concrete, as i. 767. See Cowper, Task, i. 15, Note. 619. Comp. Ovid Metam., xi. 419.-Ter conata loqui, ter fletibus ora rigavit. 627. Foreseeing or presaging.-The two words are complete synonyms. 628. Knowledge past or present, cannot mean past or present knowledge, but knowledge of the past and the present, whatever difficulties the grammatical structure may oppose. 628. Could have feared.-See 40, Note. 630 As stood like these, | could ever know repulse ?) But he,) who reigns 640 Consent or custom ;) and his regal state Put forth at full,] but still his strength concealed,] 645 New war provoked :] our better part remains : At length from us may find, who overcomes A generation, | whom his choice regard But these thoughts 660 Full counsel must mature: peace is despaired ;| 636. Counsels different, or dangers shunned. -A Latinism for the difference of counsels or the shunning of dangers. See 573, note. 647. No less has reference to 643, he, no less than we, has to learn something new. 649. Has but half overcome his foe. 650. Whereof to create.- Whereof is used as a Partitive Pronoun, standing in place of an accusative, like the German deren. 651. Fame, report, fama. F |