15

All in a moment through the gloom were seen

Ten thousand Banners rise into the Air [ 545 ]

With Orient Colours waving: with them rose

A Forest huge of Spears: and thronging Helms

Appeard, and serried shields in thick array

Of depth immeasurable: Anon they move

In perfect Phalanx to the Dorian mood [ 550 ]

Of Flutes and soft Recorders; such as raisd

To hight of noblest temper Heros old

Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage

Deliberate valour breathd, firm and unmovd

With dread of death to flight or foul retreat, [ 555 ]

Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage

With solemn touches, troubld thoughts, and chase

Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain

From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they

Breathing united force with fixed thought [ 560 ]

Movd on in silence to soft Pipes that charmd

Thir painful steps ore the burnt soyle; and now

Advanct in view, they stand, a horrid Front

Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise

Of Warriers old with orderd Spear and Shield, [ 565 ]

Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief

Had to impose: He through the armed Files

Darts his experienct eye, and soon traverse

The whole Battalion views, thir order due,

Thir visages and stature as of Gods, [ 570 ]

Thir number last he summs. And now his heart

Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength

Glories: For never since created man,

Met such imbodied force, as namd with these

Could merit more then that small infantry [ 575 ]

Warrd on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood

Of Phlegra with th Heroic Race were joynd

That fought at Thebs and Ilium, on each side

Mixt with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds

In Fable or Romance of Uthers Son [ 580 ]

Begirt with British and Armoric Knights;