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 availd 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 Councel forthwith to be held [ 755 ]

At Pandæmonium, 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 throngd, the Gates

And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall

(Though like a coverd field, where Champions bold

Wont ride in armd, and at the Soldans chair

Defid the best of Paynim chivalry [ 765 ]

To mortal combat or carreer 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.