The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (80 page)

531

      

Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,

532

      

In motion or in halt. Him soon they met

533

      

Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow

534

      

But firm battalion. Back with speediest sail

535

      

Zophiel,
³⁹⁶³
of Cherubim the swiftest wing,

536

      

Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried:

537

      

   
“‘Arm, warriors, arm for fight! The foe at hand,

538

      

Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit

539

      

This day. Fear not his flight: so thick a cloud

540

      

He comes, and settled in his face I see

541

      

Sad
³⁹⁶⁴
resolution, and secure.
³⁹⁶⁵
Let each

542

      

His adamantine coat gird
³⁹⁶⁶
well, and each

543

      

Fit well his helm, grip fast his orbèd shield,

544

      

Borne ev’n
³⁹⁶⁷
or high, for this day will pour down,

545

      

If I conjecture
³⁹⁶⁸
aught, no drizzling shower,

546

      

But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.

547

      

   
“So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon

548

      

In order, quit of all impediment,

549

      

Instant without disturb they took alarm,
³⁹⁶⁹

550

      

And onward moved embattled.
³⁹⁷⁰
When behold!

551

      

Not distant far with heavy
³⁹⁷¹
pace the foe

552

      

Approaching, gross
³⁹⁷²
and huge,
³⁹⁷³
in hollow cube

553

      

Training
³⁹⁷⁴
his devilish enginery, impaled
³⁹⁷⁵

554

      

On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,

555

      

To hide the fraud. At interview
³⁹⁷⁶
both stood

556

      

A while, but suddenly at head appeared

557

      

Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud:

558

      

   
“‘Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold,
³⁹⁷⁷

559

      

That all may see, who hate us, how we seek

560

      

Peace and composure,
³⁹⁷⁸
and with open breast

561

      

Stand ready to receive them, if they like

562

      

Our overture,
³⁹⁷⁹
and turn not back perverse.
³⁹⁸⁰

563

      

But that I doubt. However, witness, Heav’n!

564

      

Heav’n, witness thou anon!
³⁹⁸¹
while we discharge

565

      

Freely our part. Ye who appointed stand

566

      

Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch

567

      

What we propound,
³⁹⁸²
and loud that all may hear!

568

      

   
“So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce

569

      

Had ended, when to right and left the front

570

      

Divided, and to either flank retired,

571

      

Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange,

572

      

A triple mounted row of pillars laid

573

      

On wheels ( for like to pillars most they seemed,

574

      

Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir,

575

      

With branches lopped, in wood or mountain felled)

576

      

Brass, iron, stony mould,
³⁹⁸³
had not their mouths

577

      

With hideous orifice
³⁹⁸⁴
gaped on us wide,

578

      

Portending hollow truce. At each, behind,

579

      

A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed

580

      

Stood waving, tipped with fire, while we, suspense,
³⁹⁸⁵

581

      

Collected stood, within our thoughts amused.
³⁹⁸⁶

582

      

Not long, for sudden all at once their reeds

583

      

Put forth, and to a narrow vent
³⁹⁸⁷
applied

584

      

With nicest
³⁹⁸⁸
touch. Immediate in a flame,

585

      

But soon obscured with smoke all Heav’n appeared,

586

      

From those deep-throated engines belched,
³⁹⁸⁹
whose roar

587

      

Emboweled
³⁹⁹⁰
with outrageous
³⁹⁹¹
noise the air

588

      

And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul

589

      

Their devilish glut,
³⁹⁹²
chained thunderbolts and hail

590

      

Of iron globes which, on the victor host

591

      

Levelled, with such impetuous
³⁹⁹³
fury smote

592

      

That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,

593

      

Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell

c

      

595

      

The sooner for
³⁹⁹⁴
their arms.
³⁹⁹⁵
Unarmed, they might

596

      

Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift

597

      

By quick contraction or remove, but now

598

      

Foul dissipation
³⁹⁹⁶
followed, and forced rout,

599

      

Nor served it to relax
³⁹⁹⁷
their serried
³⁹⁹⁸
files.
³⁹⁹⁹

600

      

What should they do? If on they rushed, repulse

601

      

Repeated, and indecent
⁴⁰⁰⁰
overthrow

602

      

Doubled, would render them yet more despised,

603

      

And to their foes a laughter, for in view

604

      

Stood ranked of Seraphim another row,

605

      

In posture to displode
⁴⁰⁰¹
their second tire
⁴⁰⁰²

606

      

Of thunder. Back defeated to return

607

      

They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight,

608

      

And to his mates thus in derision called:

609

      

   
“‘O friends! Why come not on, these victors proud?

610

      

Erewhile they fierce were coming, and when we,

611

      

To entertain them fair, with open front

612

      

And breast (what could we more?), propounded terms

613

      

Of composition, straight they changed their minds,

614

      

Flew off, and into strange vagaries
⁴⁰⁰³
fell,

615

      

As they would dance. Yet for a dance they seemed

616

      

Somewhat extravagant and wild—perhaps

617

      

For joy of offered peace. But I suppose,

618

      

If our proposals once again were heard,

619

      

We should compel them to a quick result.