“ ‘Arm, warriors, arm for fight! The foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit This day; fear not his flight; so thick a cloud He comes, and settled in his face I see 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; 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, 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