Paradiſe loſt.
Book 1.
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
At Pandæmonium, the high Capital
Of Satan and his Peers: thir ſummons call'd
From every and Band ſquared Regiment
By place or choice the worthieſt; they anon
With hundreds and with thouſands trooping came 760
Attended: all acceſs was throng'd, the Gates
And Porches wide, but chief the ſpacious Hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where Champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair
Defi'd the beſt of Panim chivalry
To mortal combat or carreer with Lance)
Thick ſwarm'd, 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,
Poure 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 rub'd with Baume, expatiate, and confer
Their State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd
Swarm'd and were ſtraitn'd; till the Signal giv'n,
Behold a wonder! they but now who ſeemed
In bigneſs to ſurpaſs Earths Giant Sons
Now leſs than ſmalleſt Dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberleſs, like that Pigmean Race 780
Beyond the Indian Mount, or Faerie Elves,
Whoſe midnight Revels, by a Forreſt ſide
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
At Pandæmonium, the high Capital
Of Satan and his Peers: thir ſummons call'd
From every and Band ſquared Regiment
By place or choice the worthieſt; they anon
With hundreds and with thouſands trooping came 760
Attended: all acceſs was throng'd, the Gates
And Porches wide, but chief the ſpacious Hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where Champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair
Defi'd the beſt of Panim chivalry
To mortal combat or carreer with Lance)
Thick ſwarm'd, 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,
Poure 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 rub'd with Baume, expatiate, and confer
Their State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd
Swarm'd and were ſtraitn'd; till the Signal giv'n,
Behold a wonder! they but now who ſeemed
In bigneſs to ſurpaſs Earths Giant Sons
Now leſs than ſmalleſt Dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberleſs, like that Pigmean Race 780
Beyond the Indian Mount, or Faerie Elves,
Whoſe midnight Revels, by a Forreſt ſide
Or
