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��PARADISE LOST
��Sad resolution and secure. Let each His adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, Borne even or high; for this day will pour
down,
If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, But rattling storm of arrows barbed with
fire.' " So warned he them, aware themselves,
and soon
In order, quit of all impediment. 548
Instant, without disturb, they took alarm, And onward move embattled : when, behold, Not distant far, with heavy pace the Foe Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube Training his devilish enginry, impaled On every side with shadowing squadrons
deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both
stood
A while; but suddenly at head appeared Satan, and thus was heard commanding
loud: " ' Vanguard, to right and left the front
unfold, 558
That all may see who hate us how we seek Peace and composure, and with open breast Stand ready to receive them, if they like Our overture, and turn not back perverse: But that I doubt. However, witness
Heaven !
Heaven, witness thou anon ! while we dis- charge
Freely our part. Ye, who appointed stand, Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch What we propound, and loud that all may
hear.' " So scoffing in ambiguous words, he
scarce Had ended, when to right and left the
front
Divided, and to either flank retired; 570 Which to our eyes discovered, new and
strange,
A triple mounted row of pillars laid On wheels (for like to pillars most they
seemed,
Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, With branches lopt, in wood or mountain
felled), Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their
mouths
With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, Portending hollow truce. At each, behind, A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed
��Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, sus- pense, 580 Collected stood within our thoughts amused. Not long ! for sudden all at once their reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven
appeared, From those deep-throated engines belched,
whose roar
Embowelled with outrageous noise the air, And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul Their devilish glut, chained thanderbolts and hail 589
Of iron globes; which, on the Victor Host Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote, That whom they hit none on their feet
might stand, Though standing else as rocks, but down
they fell
By thousands, Angel on Archangel rowled, The sooner for their arms. Unarmed, they
might
Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift By quick contraction or remove; but now Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout; Nor served it to relax their serried files. What should they do ? If on they rushed, repulse 600
Repeated, and indecent overthrow Doubled, would render them yet more de- spised,
And to their foes a laughter for in view Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, In posture to displode their second tire Of thunder; back defeated to return They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their
plight,
And to his mates thus in derision called: " ' O friends, why come not on these vic- tors proud ?
Erewhile they fierce were coming; and, when we, 6ic
To entertain them fair with open front And breast (what could we more ?), pro- pounded terms Of composition, straight they changed their
minds,
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, As they would dance. Yet for a dance
they seemed
Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps For joy of offered peace. But I suppose, If our proposals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick result.'
�� �
