13

Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime

Upon the wing, or in swift Race contend,

As at th Olympian Games or Pythian fields; [ 530 ]

Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal

With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form.

As when to warn proud Cities warr appears

Wagd in the troubld Skie, and Armies rush

To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van [ 535 ]

Prick forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir Spears

Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms

From either end of Heavn the welkin burns.

Others with vast Typhœan rage more fell

Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air [ 540 ]

In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar.

As when Alcides from Oechalia Crownd

With conquest, felt th envenomd robe, and tore

Through pain up by the roots Thessalian Pines,

And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw [ 545 ]

Into th Euboic Sea. Others more milde,

Retreated in a silent valley, sing

With notes Angelical to many a Harp

Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall

By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate [ 550 ]

Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance.

Thir Song was partial, but the harmony

(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?)

Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment

The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet [ 555 ]

(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,)

Others apart sat on a Hill retird,

In thoughts more elevate, and reasond high

Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will and Fate,

Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledg absolute, [ 560 ]

And found no end, in wandring mazes lost.

Of good and evil much they argud then,

Of happiness and final misery,

Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame,

Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie: [ 565 ]

Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm

Pain for a while or anguish, and excite

Fallacious hope, or arm th obdured brest

With stubborn patience as with triple steel.