How dreadful the dominion of the impure! Why should the Song be tardy to proclaim That less than power unbounded[91] could not tame That soul of Evil--which, from hell let loose, 95 Had filled the astonished world with such abuse As boundless patience only could endure? --Wide-wasted regions--cities wrapt in flame-- Who sees,[92] may lift a streaming eye To Heaven;--who never saw, may heave a sigh; But the foundation of our nature shakes, 101 And with an infinite pain the spirit aches, When desolated countries, towns on fire, Are but the avowed attire Of warfare waged with desperate mind 105 Against the life of virtue in mankind;[AU] Assaulting without ruth The citadels of truth; While the fair gardens of civility, By ignorance defaced, 110 By violence laid waste, Perish without reprieve for flower or tree![93] VI A crouching purpose--a distracted will-- Opposed to hopes that battened upon scorn, And to desires whose ever-waxing horn 115 Not all the light of earthly power could fill; Opposed to dark, deep plots of patient skill, And to[94] celerities of lawless force; Which, spurning God, had flung away remorse-- What could they gain but shadows of redress? 120 --So bad proceeded propagating worse; And discipline was passion's dire excess.[AV] Widens the fatal web, its lines extend, And deadlier poisons in the chalice blend. When will your trials teach you to be wise? 125 --O prostrate Lands, consult your agonies! VII No more--the guilt is banish'd, And, with the guilt, the shame is fled; And, with the guilt and shame, the Woe hath vanish'd, Shaking the dust and ashes from her head! 130 --No more--these lingerings of distress Sully the limpid stream of thankfulness. What robe can Gratitude employ So seemly as the radiant vest of Joy? What steps so suitable as those that move 135 In prompt obedience to spontaneous measures Of glory, and felicity, and love, Surrendering the whole heart to sacred pleasures? VIII