Till in the boundless line his sight is lost. Not greater multitudes in arms appeared, On these extended plains, when Ammon's[8] son _350 With mighty Porus in dread battle joined, The vassal world the prize. Nor was that host More numerous of old, which the great king Poured out on Greece from all the unpeopled East; That bridged the Hellespont from shore to shore, And drank the rivers dry. Meanwhile in troops The busy hunter-train mark out the ground, A wide circumference; full many a league In compass round; woods, rivers, hills, and plains, Large provinces; enough to gratify _360 Ambition's highest aim, could reason bound Man's erring will. Now sit in close divan The mighty chiefs of this prodigious host. He from the throne high-eminent presides, Gives out his mandates proud, laws of the chase, From ancient records drawn. With reverence low, And prostrate at his feet, the chiefs receive His irreversible decrees, from which To vary is to die. Then his brave bands Each to his station leads; encamping round, _370 Till the wide circle is completely formed; Where decent order reigns, what these command, Those execute with speed, and punctual care; In all the strictest discipline of war: As if some watchful foe, with bold insult Hung lowering o'er their camp. The high resolve, That flies on wings, through all the encircling line, Each motion steers, and animates the whole. So by the sun's attractive power controlled, The planets in their spheres roll round his orb, _380 On all he shines, and rules the great machine. Ere yet the morn dispels the fleeting mists, The signal given by the loud trumpet's voice, Now high in air the imperial standard waves, Emblazoned rich with gold, and glittering gems; And like a sheet of fire, through the dun gloom Streaming meteorous. The soldiers' shouts, And all the brazen instuments of war, With mutual clamor, and united din, Fill the large concave. While from camp to camp, _390 They catch the varied sounds, floating in air, Round all the wide circumference, tigers fell Shrink at the noise; deep in his gloomy den The lion starts, and morsels yet unchewed Drop from his trembling jaws. Now all at once Onward they march embattled, to the sound Of martial harmony; fifes, cornets, drums, That rouse the sleepy soul to arms, and bold Heroic deeds. In parties here and there Detached o'er hill and dale, the hunters range _400 Inquisitive; strong dogs that match in fight The boldest brute, around their masters wait, A faithful guard. No haunt unsearched, they drive From every covert, and from every den, The lurking savages. Incessant shouts Re-echo through the woods, and kindling fires Gleam from the mountain tops; the forest seems One mingling blaze: like flocks of sheep they fly Before the flaming brand: fierce lions, pards, Boars, tigers, bears, and wolves; a dreadful crew _410