Silence crept stilly through the ranks.--The breeze Spake most distinctly. As the sailor stands, When all the midnight gasping from the seas Break boding sobs, and to his sight expands High on the shrouds the spirit that commands The ocean-farer's life; so stiff--so sear Stood each dark power;--while through their numerous bands Beat not one heart, and mingling hope and fear Now told them all was lost, now bade revenge appear. XXVII. One there was there, whose loud defying tongue Nor hope nor fear had silenced, but the swell Of over-boiling malice. Utterance long His passion mock'd, and long he strove to tell His labouring ire; still syllable none fell From his pale quivering lip, but died away For very fury; from each hollow cell Half sprang his eyes, that cast a flamy ray, And.... * * * * * XXVIII. "This comes," at length burst from the furious chief, "This comes of distant counsels! Here behold The fruits of wily cunning! the relief Which coward policy would fain unfold, To soothe the powers that warr'd with Heaven of old! O wise! O potent! O sagacious snare! And lo! our prince--the mighty and the bold, There stands he, spell-struck, gaping at the air, While Heaven subverts his reign, and plants her standard there." XXIX. Here, as recovered, Satan fix'd his eye Full on the speaker; dark it was and stern; He wrapp'd his black vest round him gloomily, And stood like one whom weightiest thoughts concern. Him Moloch mark'd, and strove again to turn His soul to rage. "Behold, behold," he cried, "The lord of Hell, who made these legions spurn Almighty rule--behold he lays aside The spear of just revenge, and shrinks, by man defied." XXX. Thus ended Moloch, and his burning tongue Hung quivering, as if [mad] to quench its heat In slaughter. So, his native wilds among, The famish'd tiger pants, when, near his seat, Press'd on the sands, he marks the traveller's feet. Instant low murmurs rose, and many a sword Had from its scabbard sprung; but toward the seat Of the arch-fiend all turn'd with one accord, As loud he thus harangued the sanguinary horde. * * * * *