Chapter 21 twenty one

Nor was his name unheard or unadord In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land Men calld him Mulciber; and how he fell [ 740 ] From Heavn, they fabld, thrown by angry Jove Sheer ore the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve, A Summers day; and with the setting Sun Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star, [ 745 ] On Lemnos th Ægean Ile: thus they relate, Erring; for he with this rebellious rout Fell long before; nor aught avail him now To have built in Heavn high Towrs; nor did he scape By all his Engins, but was headlong sent [ 750 ] With his industrious crew to build in hell.

Mean while the winged Haralds by command Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim A solemn Council forthwith to be held [ 755 ] At Pandamonium, the high capital Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons calld From every Band and squared Regiment By place or choice the worthiest; they anon With hunderds and with thousands trooping came [ 760 ] Attended: all access was thronged, the Gates And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall (Though like a covered field, where Champions bold Wont ride in armd, and at the Soldans chair Defid the best of Paynim chivalry [ 765 ]

To mortal combat or carrier with Lance) Thick swarmd, both on the ground and in the air, Brusht with the hiss of russling wings. As Bees In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides, Pour forth thir populous youth about the Hive [ 770 ] In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank, The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel, New rubd with Baum, expatiate and confer Thir State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd [ 775 ] Swarmd and were straitnd; till the Signal givn.