The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems by John Milton, Burton Raffel Page B

stood
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Or altar smoked, yet who more oft than he
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In temples and at altars, when the priest
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Turns atheist, as did Eli’s sons, who filled
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With lust and violence the house of God? 1686
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In courts and palaces he also reigns
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And in luxurious 1687 cities, where the noise
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Of riot 1688 ascends above their loftiest tow’rs,
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And injury 1689 and outrage. 1690 And when night
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Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
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Of Belial, 1691 flown 1692 with insolence and wine
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Witness the streets of Sodom, 1693 and that night
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In Gibeah, 1694 when the hospitable door
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Exposed 1695 a matron, 1696 to avoid worse rape. 1697
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    These were the prime 1698 in order and in might.
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The rest were long to tell, though far 1699 renowned, 1700
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Th’ Ionian gods—of Javan’s issue 1701 held
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Gods, yet confessed 1702 later than Heav’n and Earth,
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Their boasted parents; Titan, 1703 Heav’n’s first-born,
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With his enormous brood, and birthright seized
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By younger Saturn. He 1704 from mightier Jove,
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His own and Rhea’s 1705 son, like measure 1706 found:
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So Jove usurping reigned. These first in Crete
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And Ida 1707 known, thence on the snowy top
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Of cold Olympus 1708 ruled the middle air, 1709
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Their highest heav’n, or 1710 on the Delphian cliff, 1711
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Or in Dodona, 1712 and through all the bounds 1713
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Of Doric land, 1714 or who with Saturn old
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Fled over Adria 1715 to th’ Hesperian 1716 fields
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And o’er the Celtic roamed the utmost isles. 1717
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All these and more came flocking, but with looks
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Downcast and damp, 1718 yet such wherein appeared
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Obscure 1719 some glimpse of joy to have found their chief 1720
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Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost
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In loss itself, which on his countenance cast
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Like 1721 doubtful 1722 hue. 1723 But he, his wonted 1724 pride
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Soon recollecting, with high words that bore
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Semblance 1725 of worth, not substance, gently raised
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Their fainting courage and dispelled their fears
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Then straight 1726 commands that, at the warlike sound
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Of trumpets loud, and clarions, 1727 be upreared 1728
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His mighty standard. 1729 That proud honor claimed
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Azazel 1730 as his right, a Cherub tall
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Who forthwith from the glittering staff 1731 unfurled
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Th’ imperial ensign, which, full high advanced, 1732
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Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind
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With gems and golden luster rich emblazed
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Seraphic arms and trophies, all the while
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Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds
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At which the universal host up-sent
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A shout that tore Hell’s concave, 1733 and beyond
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Frighted the reign 1734 of Chaos and old Night
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All in a moment through the gloom were seen
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Ten thousand banners rise into the air
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With orient 1735 colors waving. With them rose
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A forest huge of spears, and thronging helms 1736
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Appeared, and serried 1737 shields in thick array
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Of depth immeasurable. Anon 1738 they move
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In perfect phalanx 1739 to the Dorian mood 1740
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Of flutes and soft recorders 1741 —such as raised
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To height of noblest temper 1742 heroes old
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Arming to battle, and instead