Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm'd Hath vex'd the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'er
Busiris and his Memphian chivalry,
While with perfidious hatred they pursued
The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
From the safe shore their floating carcasses
And broken chariot wheels; so thick bestrown,
Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change.
He call'd so loud, that all the hollow deep
Of Hell resounded; “Princes, Potentates,
Warriors, the flower of Heaven, once yours, now
If such astonishment as this can seize
[lost,
Eternal Spirits: or have ye chosen this place,
After the toil of battle to repose
Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find
To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven?
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn
To' adore the Conqueror? who now beholds
Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood
With scattered arms and ensigns; till anon
His swift pursuers from heaven-gates discern
The' advantage, and, descending, tread us down
Thus drooping: or with linked thunderbolts
Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf.
Awake! arise! or be for ever fallen!"
They heard, and were abash'd, and up they sprung
Upon the wing; as when men wont to watch
On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread,
Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.
Nor did they not perceive the evil plight
In which they were, nor the fierce pains not feel; Yet to their General's voice they soon obey'd; Innumerable. As when the potent rod