Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, For each seem'd either; black it stood as night, Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as hell, And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on. Satan was now at hand, and from his seat The monster moving onward, came as fast "Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, "Art thou that traitor-angel, art thou he Who first broke peace in heaven, and faith, till then Unbroken and in proud rebellious arms, : Drew after him the third part of heaven's sons Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." So spake the grisly terror, and in shape, That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds Fast by hell-gate, and kept the fatal key, Risen, and with hideous outcry rush'd between. MILTON. ALEXANDER'S FEAST. 'Twas at the royal feast, for Persia won, By Philip's warlike son, Aloft in awful state, The god-like hero sat On his imperial throne. His valiant peers were placed around, Their brows with roses and with myrtle bound: So should desert in arms be crown'd. The lovely Thais, by his side, Sat like a blooming eastern bride, In flower of youth, and beauty's pride. None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave, deserves the fair. Timotheus placed on high Amid the tuneful choir, With flying fingers touch'd the lyre; The song began from Jove, Who left his blissful seat above Such is the power of mighty love : A dragon's fiery form belied the god; When he to fair Olympia press'd, And stamp'd an image of himself, a sov'reign of the world! The listening crowd admire the lofty sound; "A present deity!" they shout around; "A present deity!" the vaulted roofs rebound - The monarch hears, Assumes the god, Affects to nod, And seem to shake the spheres. The praise of Bacchus, then, the sweet musician sung, Of Bacchus, ever fair and ever young! The jolly god in triumph comes! Sound the trumpets! beat the drums! Flush'd with a purple grace He shows his honest face, Now give the hautboys breath! he comes! he comes! Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain ; Fought all his battles o'er again : And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain! The master saw the madness rise; He His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes; Soft Pity to infuse : sang Darius great and good! By too severe a fate, Fallen fallen! fallen! fallen! Fallen from his high estate, And weltering in his blood! Deserted at his utmost need By those his former bounty fed, With not a friend to close his eyes! With downcast look the joyless victor sat, Revolving, in his alter'd soul, The various turns of fate below; The mighty master smiled to see That love was in the next degree: "Twas but a kindred sound to move; For pity melts the mind to love. Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, Never ending, still beginning, Lovely Thais sits beside thee. Take the good the gods provide thee! The many rend the skies with loud applause, Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, At length, with love and wine at once oppress'd, Now strike the golden lyre again! A louder yet, and yet a louder strain ! And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder! Hark! hark! - The horrid sound Has raised up his head, As awaked from the dead; And, amazed, he stares around! Revenge! revenge!" Timotheus cries See the furies arise! See the snakes that they rear, How they hiss in their hair, And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! Behold a ghastly band, Each a torch in his hand! These are Grecian ghosts that in battle were slain, |