Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime
Upon the wing, or in swift Race tend,
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 roud Cities warr appears
Wagd iroubld 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 d
With quest, 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 plain that Fate [ 550 ]
Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or ce.
Thir Song artial, 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 Eloquehe 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 uish, ae
Fallacious hope, or arm th obdured brest
With stubborn patience as with triple steel.