What we propound, and loud that all may hear.

Our overture, and turn not back perverse;

Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front

But soon obscurd with smoak, all Heavn appeerd, [ 585 ]

With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,

On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep,

In order, quit of all impediment;

Stand readie to receive them, if they like

A while, but suddenly at head appeerd

Ireａd.９９csw•cｏmnstant without disturb they took Allarm,

The sooner for thir Arms, unarmd they might [ 595 ]

Freely our part; yee who appointed stand [ 565 ]

Foule dissipation followd and forct rout;

That all may see who hate us, how we seek

Put forth, and to a narrow vent applid

Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell

A triple mounted row of Pillars laid

With hideous orifice rｅａd.9９ｃsｗ•ｃｏｍgapt on us wide,

And onward move Embattelld; when behold [ 550 ]

By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowld;

Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube

A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed

By quick contraction or remove; but now

Thir devilish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail

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

Portending hollow truce; at each behind

Satan: And thus waread.99csw.coms heard Commanding loud.

Emboweld with outragious noise the Air,

Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange,

On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seemd

Heavn witness thou anon, while we discharge

So scoffing in ambiguous words he scarce

Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes

Have easily as Spirits evaded swift

Leveld, with such impetuous furie smote,

Of Iron Globes, which on九九藏書 the Victor Host [ 590 ]

With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain felld) [ 575 ]

Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, [ 580 ]

Or hollowd bodies made of Oak or Firr

From those deep throated Engins belcht, whose roar

Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch

But that I doubt, however witness Heaven,

Vanguard, to Right and Left the Front unfould;

Nor servd it to relax thir serried files. [九-九-藏-書 600 ]

Peace and composure, and with open brest [ 560 ]

So warnd he them aware themselves, and soon

Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe

To hide the fraud. At interview both stood [ 555 ]

Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds

Collected stood within our thoughts amusd,

Training his devilish Enginrie, impald

And all her entrails tore, disgorging foule

Divided, and to either Flank retird. [ 570 ]