At least, their own; their future selves applauds.
How excellent that life they ne'er will lead!
Time lodged in their own hands is folly's vails;
That lodged in fate's, to wisdom they consign;

The thing they can't but purpose, they postpone: 'Tis not in folly, not to scorn a fool;

5

And scarce in human wisdom to do more.

All promise is poor dilatory man,

And that through every stage: when young, indeed,
In full content we sometimes nobly rest,

10

Unanxious for ourselves; and only wish,

As duteous sons, our fathers were more wise.

At thirty, man suspects himself a fool;
Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan;
At fifty, chides his infamous delay,
Pushes his prudent purpose to resolve;
In all the magnanimity of thought

Resolves, and re-resolves; then dies the same.

15

20

25

And why? Because he thinks himself immortal.
All men think all men mortal, but themselves;
Themselves, when some alarming shock of fate
Strikes through their wounded hearts the sudden dread;
But their hearts wounded, like the wounded air,
Soon close; where pass'd the shaft, no trace is found
As from the wing no scar the sky retains;
The parted wave no furrow from the keel;
So dies in human hearts the thought of death:
Even with the tender tear which Nature sheds
O'er those we love, we drop it in their grave.
Can I forget Philander? That were strange!
O my full heart-

! But should I give it vent,

The longest night, though longer far, would fail,
And the lark listen to my midnight song.

30

The sprightly lark's shrill matin wakes the morn;
Grief's sharpest thorn hard pressing on my breast,
I strive, with wakeful melody, to cheer

The sullen gloom, sweet Philomel! like thee,
And call the stars to listen: every star

Is deaf to mine, enamour'd of thy lay.

Yet be not vain; there are who thine excel,

And charm through distant ages: wrapt in shade,
Prisoner of darkness! to the silent hours
How often I repeat their rage divine,

10

To lull my griefs, and steal my heart from woe:
I roll their raptures, but not catch their fire.
Dark, though not blind, like thee, Mæonides!
Or, Milton! thee; ah! could I reach your strain!
Or his, who made Mæonides our own.
Man too he sung: immortal man I sing;
Oft bursts my song beyond the bounds of life;
What now, but immortality, can please?
Oh had he press'd his theme, pursued the track
Which opens out of darkness into day!
Oh had he, mounted on his wing of fire,
Soar'd where I sink, and sung immortal man!
How had it bless'd mankind, and rescued me!

15

20

CHAPTER XV.

THE DEFEAT AND OVERTHROW OF THE APOSTATE

ANGELS. [MILTON.]

NOTE. It is earnestly enjoined upon the learner to study this extract from Milton, not only in reference to grammatical construcion, and the striking figurative express ons with which it abounds.

but also in reference to the unsurpassed grandeur and sublimity oʻ

the style and thoughts.

"Now when fair morn orient in heaven appear'd, Up rose the victor angels, and to arms

The matin trumpet sung: in arms they stood

Of golden panoply, refulgent host,

Soon banded; others from the dawning hills

Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-arm'd scour
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe,
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in halt: him soon they met
Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow
But firm battalion; back with speediest sail
Zophiel, of cherubim the swiftest wing,
Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried:

""Arm warriors, arm for fight; the foe at hand,
Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit
This day; fear not his flight; so thick a cloud
He comes, and settled in his face I see

Sad resolution and secure; let each
His adamantine coat gird well, and each

5

10

15

Fit well his helin, gripe fast his orbed shield,

20

Borne even or high; for this day will pour down,

If I conjecture ought, no drizzling shower,

But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire.'

"So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon

In order, quit of all impediment;

25

Instant without disturb they took alarm,

And onward move embattled: when behold
Not distant far with heavy pace the foe

Approaching, gross and huge, in hollow cube
Training his devilish enginery, impal'd

30

On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood
Awhile; but suddenly at head appear'd
Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud:

"Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold,
That all may see who hate us, how we seek
Peace and composure, and with open breast
Stand ready to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse :
But that I doubt; however, witness heaven,
Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge
Freely our part, ye who appointed stand,
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch

5

10

What we propound, and loud that all may hear.'

"So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce

15

Had ended, when to right and left the front

Divided, and to either flank retir'd;

Which to our eyes discover'd, new and strange,

A triple mounted row of pillars laid

On wheels (for like to pillars most they seem'd

20

Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,

With branches lopt, in wood or nountain fell'd)

Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths
With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide,

Portending hollow truce; at each behind
A seraph stood, and in his hand a reed

25

Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense

Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd;

Not long, for sudden all at once their reeds

Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied

30

With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,

But soon obscur'd with smoke, all heaven appear'd,

From those deep-throated engines belch'd, whose roar
Embowel'd with outrageous noise the air,
And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul
Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail
Of iron globes; which on the victor host
Levell'd, with such impetuous fury smote,

That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,
Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, angel on archangel roll'd;

The sooner for their arins; unarm'd they might
Have easily as spirits evaded swift

10

By quick contraction or remove; but now

Foul dissipation follow'd and forc'd rout;

Nor serv'd it to relax their serried files.

What should they do? if on they rush'd, repulse
Repeated, and indecent overthrow

15

Doubled, would render them yet more despis'd,

And to their foes a laughter; for in view
Stood rank'd of seraphim another row,
In posture to displode their second tire

20

Of thunder: back defeated to return

They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their plight,

And to his mates thus in derision call'd:

""O friends! why come not on these victors proud?

Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we

25

To entertain them fair with open front

And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms

Of composition, straight they chang'd their minds,

Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,

As they would dance; yet for a dance they seem'd 3C Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps

For joy of offer'd peace: but I suppose.