Side 132 af 239

PARADISE LOST.

153

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,

Instant, without disturb,¹ they took alarm,²

And onward moved embattled: when, behold!

Not distant far, with heavy pace, the foe

Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube,

Training his devilish enginery, impaled

On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,

To hide the fraud. At interview both stood

Awhile; but suddenly at head appeared

Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud:

Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold,

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 discharge

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:

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,

Disturb.—Disturbance.

2 They took alarm .- Took the warning.

· Portending hollow truce. At each, behind, A seraph stood, and in his hand a reed Stood waving, tipt with fire; while we, suspense,1 Collected stood, within our thoughts amused,2 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 thunderbolts and hail 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 rolled, 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 Repeated, and indecent overthrow Doubled, would render them yet more despised, 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 victors proud?

Erewhile they fierce were coming; and when we,

To entertain them fair with open front

¹ Suspense.—In suspense.

Within our thoughts amused,-Musing, wondering.