But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray;
With cruel tourneament the squadrons join;
Where cattle pastur'd late, now scatter'd lies
With carcases and arms th' insanguin'd field
Deserted: Others to a city strong

Lay siege, incamp'd; by battery, scale and mine,
Assaulting; others from the wall defend

With dart and javelin, stones and sulphurous fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.
In other part the scepter'd heralds call

651. which makes a bloody fray;] So it was altered for the better in the second edition; it was tacks a bloody fray in the first edition; which is not so plain and intelligible.

660. In other part the scepter'd heralds call &c.] It may be noted here once for all, that in this visionary part Milton has frequently had his eye upon his master Homer, and several of the images which are represented to Adam are copies of the descriptions on the shield of Achilles, Iliad. xviii.

His eyes he open'd, and beheld a field,

Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves

New reap'd, the other part sheepwalks and folds.

Is not this Homer's description a little contracted? ver 550, &c.

Εν δ' ετίθει τεμενος βαθυληϊον ενθα δ' κριθοι

Ημων, οξείας δρεπανας εν χερσιν έχον

τις.

Δραγματα δ' αλλα μετ' όγμον επητριμα πιπτον έραζε,

Αλλα δ' αμαλλοδέτηρες εν ελλεδανοισι

655

660

Another field rose high with waving

grain ;

With bended sickles stand the reaper

train,

Here stretch'd in ranks the levell'd swarths are found,

Sheaves heap'd on sheaves, here thicken up the ground. Pope.

And ver. 587, &c.

Εν δε νόμον ποιησε περικλυτος Αμφι

Εν καλη βήσση μεγαν οιων αργενναίων,
Σταθμους τε, κλισίας τι, κατηρεφίας

ίδε σήκους.

Next this, the eye the art of Vulcan leads

Deep thro' fair forests, and a length of meads;

And stalls, and folds, and scatter'd cotts between,

And fleecy flocks that whiten all the

scene.

The vision of marriages,

They light the nuptlal torch, and bid invoke,

Hymen, then first to marriage rites invok'd:

With feast and music all the tents resound.

Is it not a most beautiful and exact copy of Homer? ver. 491, &c.

-Εν τη μεν ρα γαμοι τ' εσαν ειλασι

και τι

Νύμφας δ' ἐκ θαλαμων, δαΐδων ὑπο λαμ

To council in the city gates: anon

Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd,

Assemble, and harangues are heard, but soon
In factious opposition, till at last

Of middle age one rising, eminent

In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong,
Of justice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgment from above: him old and young
Exploded and had seiz'd with violent hands,

Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence
Unseen amid the throng: so violence
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law

Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam was all in tears, and to his guide
Lamenting turn'd full sad; O what are these,

Death's ministers, not men,

Alternate, each th' attesting scep tre took,

And rising solemn, each his sentence spoke.

The description of the shield of Achilles is certainly one of the finest pieces of poetry in the whole Iliad, and our author has plainly shown his admiration and affection for it by borrowing so many scenes and images from it: but I think we may say, that they do not like other copies fall short of the originals, but generally exceed them, and receive this additional beauty, that they are most of them made representations of real histories and matters of fact.

661. To council in the city gates:] For there assemblies were anciently held, and the judges used to sit, Gen. xxxiv. 20. Deut. xvi. 18. xxi. 19. Zech. viii. 16.

who thus deal death

665

670

675

Enoch said to be of middle age, because he was translated when he was but three hundred and sixty-five years old; a middle age then. Gen. v. 23. Richard

son.

668. And judgment from above:] It appears from holy writ, that he was not only a good man, and walked with God, Gen. v. 24. but that he remonstrated likewise against the wickedness of mankind, and denounced the heavy judgment of God upon them, Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment upon all &c. which the poet alludes to more plainly afterwards, ver. 704.

-that God would come To judge them with his saints.

669. Exploded] From explodo, Latin, to hiss, to drive out disgracefully with some noise of

Inhumanly to men, and multiply

Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew

His brother: for of whom such massacre

Make they but of their brethren, men of men?
But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven
Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?

To whom thus Michael. These are the product Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'st;

680

Where good with bad were match'd, who of themselves Abhor to join; and by imprudence mix'd,

Produce prodigious births of body' or mind.

Such were these giants, men of high renown;
For in those days might only shall be' admir'd,
And valour and heroic virtue call'd;

To overcome in battle, and subdue

Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch
Of human glory, and for glory done

683. To whom thus Michael. These are the product] The accent upon the word product is to be varied product or product, according as you pronounce the word Michael with two or three syllables.

688. Such were these giants, men of high renown ;] Gen. vi. 4. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same became mighty men, which were of old, men of renown. Some commentators understand by the word which we translate giants, men of large bulk and stature;

686

690

Of triumph, to be styl❜d great conquerors,
Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods,
Destroyers rightlier call'd and plagues of men.
Thus fame shall be achiev'd, renown on earth,
And what most merits fame in silence hid.

695

But he the sev'nth from thee, whom thou beheld'st 700
The only righteous in a world perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore so beset
With foes for daring single to be just,

And utter odious truth, that God would come

To judge them with his saints: him the Most High 705 Wrapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds

Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God

home their spoils and here he adds, (for this I take to be his sense,) that it shall be held the highest pitch of triumph for that glory obtained, to be styled great conquerors. So that though I approve of Dr. Bentley's changing done into won, I cannot agree to his altering Of triumph

to Or triumph. Pearce.

hended from a passage in Mr. Pope's Essay on Criticism, that all auxiliary verbs are mere expletives,

While expletives their feeble aid do join.

But this I believe Mr. Pope

ton has used them in many places, where he could have avoided them if he had pleased. I will produce one,

never intended to advance. Mil

Did, as thou saw'st, receive

This is one of the most difficult passages. I am not satisfied with the conjectures of either of these learned men, and see no other way of understanding it Milton might have said but this. To overcome, to subdue, to spoil, shall be held the highest pitch of glory, and shall be done for glory of triumph, shall be achieved for that end and purpose, to be styled great conquerors &c.

700. But he the sev'nth from thee,] Jude 14. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, &c.

707. Did, as thou saw'st, receive,] It is commonly appre

Receiv'd, as thou hast seen,But he thought the auxiliary verb added strength to the expression, as indeed it does. I own where the auxiliary verb is brought close to its principal, and that a thin monosyllable, as in the line just now referred to, the verse is very rude and disagreeable. But to prove that the auxiliary verb may be employed,