O saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell
On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight,
No motion of swift thought, less could his shield,
Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge
He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee
His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth
Winds under ground, or waters, forcing way,
Sidelong had pushed a mountain from its seat,
Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized
The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to see
Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout,
Presage of victory, and fierce desire
Of battle: whereat Michaël bid sound
The archangel trumpet; through the vast of heaven
It sounded, and the faithful armies sung
Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze
The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined
The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose,
And clamour, such as heard in heaven till now
Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed
Horrible discord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise
Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss
Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew,
And flying vaulted either host with fire.
So under fiery cope together rushed
Both battles main, with ruinous assault
And inextinguishable rage. All heaven
Resounded; and had earth been then, all earth
Had to her centre shook.
Βὰν δ' ἔμεναι πολεμόνδε θεοί.
IXIT, et assurgens plagam molitur opimam, Nec dubiam pendentem: ea tanto turbine cristis Mobilibus Satanae superincidit, ut neque velox Vis animi aut oculorum acies, nedum obvius umbo, Fulmineam queat excipiens prohibere ruinam. Reccidit ille gradus vastos bis qvinqve retrorsum: In decimo attinuit duplicato poplite nixum Ingens hasta; velut montem cum sede revulsum Subterranea vis ventorum aut actus aqvaï Cum trabibus piceis omnem in latus inclinavit Semirutum. Stupor incessit Titanas et ira; Saevior ira, palam passo praetore repulsam. Exsultare animis nostri; palmamqve freqventes Praecipiunt, mediisqve furunt miscerier armis. Michael jubet inde cani sacro aere: canorem Dat tuba per vacuum, caelestiaqve agmina magna Voce vocare Deum. Nec in uno exercitus alter Defixus stetit obtutu: concurritur ultro Vi paribusqve minis. Nunc irae gliscere caelo; Nunc perterricrepi fremitus clarescere, numqvam Auditi prius. Arma armis allisa dedere Horrificum flietu clangorem, aerisqve rotarumqve Omne solum saevire sonoribus: impete tanto Agmina confremuere. Supra caput igneus imber Missilibus tractim flammis stridetqve volatqve, Vulcanoqve volans acies lato integit ambas. Ergo fulmineus superimminet arcus euntes Comminus in certamen inexpletumqve furentes. Omne fragore tonat caelum: et, si terra fuisset, Terra qvoqve omnis humo penitus tremefacta labasset.
Then comes in the Sweet of the Year.
HE soote season, that bud and blome forth brings,
With grene hath clad the hill and eke the vale;
The nightingale with fethers new she sings;
The turtle to her make hath told her tale :
Somer is come, for every spray now springs;
The hart hath hong his old hed on the pale;
The buck in brake his winter coate he flings;
The fishes flete with new repaired scale;
The adder all her slough away she flings;
The swift swalow pursueth the flies smale;
The busy bee her hony now she mings;
Winter is worne, that was the flowers' bale:
And thus I se among these pleasant things
Eche care decays; and yet my sorow springs.
ND now, to issue from the glen,
No pathway meets the wanderer's ken,
Unless he climb, with footing nice,
A far-projecting precipice.
The broom's tough roots his ladder made,
The hazel saplings lent their aid;
And thus an airy point he won,
Where, gleaming with the setting sun,
One burnished sheet of living gold,
Loch Katrine lay beneath him rolled,
In all her length far winding lay,
With promontory, creek, and bay,
And islands that, empurpled bright,
Floated amid the livelier light,
And mountains, that like giants stand,
To sentinel enchanted land.
Nunc formosissimus Annus.
ELLEA pars anni, florum frondisqve creatrix,
Iam viridi valles et iuga veste tegit;
Colloqvium vocalis init cum compare turtur,
Laeta novis plumis Attica cantat avis.
Ver rediit ruri: iam qvaeqve repullulat herba,
Iam micat in vitreo sqvama refecta lacu.
Cornua mutatus suspendit in arbore cervus ;
Pelle novus posita currere gestit oryx.
Per liqvidum muscas tenues cita captat hirundo ;
Proiicit hibernam vipera picta cutim;
Sedula miscet apis fragrantem mellis acervum,
Pestis enim florum noxia fugit hiemps.
Cetera laetantur: deponunt cetera curas:
Sed mihi tristitiae flebile crescit onus.
AMQVE viatori sublucet semita nusqvam,
Vallis inaccessos explicitura sinus,
Ni qveat, arte regens vestigia lubrica, pronum
Et procul impendens exsuperare iugum.
Praebet opem scalasqve tenax radice genista ;
Fertqve suum corylus lenta ministerium.
Mox apicem aerium nactus de vertice summo
Prospexit rutilum sole cadente lacum,
Qva Katrina palus, velut aurea bractea, late
Lucida purpureis porrigeretur aqvis;
Qvam longa et scopulos et procurrentia in undas
Litora curvaret dividuosqve sinus;
Qvaeqve reniderent terrae, mediisqve micantes
Narent, splendidius qva iubar esset, aqvis;
Qviqve loco starent montes, ceu turma gigantum,
Custodes magicae praesidiumqve plagae.
APTAIN, or colonel, or knight in arms,
Whose chance on these defenceless doors may
seize,
If deed of honour did thee ever please,
Guard them, and him within protect from harms.
He can requite thee: for he knows the charms
That call fame on such gentle acts as these;
And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas,
Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms.
Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower:
The great Emathian conqueror bid spare
The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower
Went to the ground: and the repeated air
Of sad Electra's poet had the power
To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare.
JAKE this ring, the simple token
Of a true and loving heart;
Could the spell of fate be broken,
Never, never would we part.
Soon we lose whate'er is sweetest;
Soon we ring enjoyment's knell;
Fondest hopes are ever fleetest;
Therefore, dear one, fare thee well.
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