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 Amranms 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 Pharaoh 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,
