So warhem aware themselves, and soon
In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant without disturb they took Allarm,
And onward move Embattelld; when behold [ 550 ]
Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe
Approag gross and huge; in hollow Cube
Training his devilish Enginrie, impald
On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood [ 555 ]
A while, but suddenly at head appeerd
Satan: And thus was heard anding loud.
Vanguard, tht ahe Front unfould;
That all may see who hate us, how we seek
Pead posure, and with ope [ 560 ]
Stand readie to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse;
But that I doubt, however witness Heaven,
Heavn withou anon, while we discharge
Freely our part; yee oiand [ 565 ]
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 tht ahe Front
Divided, and to either Flaird. [ 570 ]
Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange,
A triple mounted row of Pillars laid
On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seemd
Or hollowd bodies made of Oak or Firr
With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain felld) [ 575 ]
Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes
With hideous orifice gapt 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 suspense, [ 580 ]
Collected stood within our thoughts amusd,
Not long, for sudden all at ohir Reeds
Put forth, and to a narrow vent applid
With ouch. Immediate in a flame,
But soon obscurd with smoak, all Heavn appeerd, [ 585 ]
From those deep throated Engi, whose roar
Emboweld with ious he Air,
And all her entrails tore, disg foule
Thir devilish glut, d Thunderbolts and Hail
lobes, whi the Victor Host [ 590 ]
Leveld, with such impetuous furie smote,
That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand,
Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, Angel on Argel rowld;
The sooner for thir Arms, unarmd they might [ 595 ]
Have easily as Spirits evaded swift
By quick tra or remove; but now
Foule dissipation followd and forct rout;
Nor servd it to relax thir serried files. [ 600 ]