Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; In Sion, also, not unsung, where stood Her temple on the offensive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large, Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell
To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured The Syrian damsels to lament his fate In amorous ditties all a summer's day; While smooth Adonis from his native rock Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale Infected Sion's daughters with like heat; Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, His eye survey'd the dark idolatries Of alienated Judah. Next came one
Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopp'd off In his own temple, on the grunsel edge,
Where he fell flat, and shamed his worshippers: Dagon his name, sea-monster, upward man And downward fish; yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon,
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. He, also, 'gainst the house of God was bold: A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king;
Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew God's altar to disparage and displace
For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn His odious offerings, and adore the gods Whom he had vanquish'd. After these appear'd A crew who, under names of old renown, Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train,
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to seek
Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape The infection, when their borrow'd gold composed The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his Maker to the grazed ox- Jehovah, who, in one night, when he pass'd From Egypt marching, equall'd, with one stroke, Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. Belial came last, than whom a spirit more lewd Fell not from heaven, or more gross to love Vice for itself; to him no temple stood, Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who fill'd With lust and violence the house of God? In courts and palaces he also reigns, And in luxurious cities, where the noise Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, And injury and outrage: and when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.
Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night In Gibeah, when the hospitable door
Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape.
These were the prime in order and in might; The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, The Ionian gods, of Javan's issue, held
Gods, yet confess'd later than heaven and earth, Their boasted parents: Titan, heaven's first-born, With his enormous brood, and birthright seized By younger Saturn; he, from mightier Jove, His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the snowy top Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to the Hesperian fields, And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appear'd Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their chief
Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost In loss itself: which on his countenance cast Like doubtful hue: but he, his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions, be uprear'd
His mighty standard: that proud honour claim'd Azazel as his right, a cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, Shone like a meteor, streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: At which the universal host up-sent
A shout, that tore hell's concave, and beyond Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. All in a moment, through the gloom, were seen Ten thousand banners rise into the air, With orient colours waving: with them rose A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array Of depth immeasurable: anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorders: such as raised To height of noblest temper heroes old Arming to battle; and, instead of rage, Deliberate valour breathed, firm and unmoved With dread of death to flight or foul retreat: Nor wanting power to mitigate and 'suage, With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase Anguish, and doubt, and fear, and sorrow, and pain, From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, Breathing united force, with fixed thought, Moved on in silence, to soft pipes that charm'd Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil: and now Advanced in view they stand; a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of warriors old, with order'd spear and shield! Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose he through the armed files Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse The whole battalion views, their order due, Their visages and stature as of gods; Their number last he sums.
Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, Glories for never since created man
Met such embodied force as, named with these, Could merit more than that small infantry Warr'd on by cranes: though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with the heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mix'd with auxiliar gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's son, Begirt with British and Armoric knights; And all who since, baptized or infidel, Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, Damasco, or Morocco, or Trebisond, Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore, When Charlemain, with all his peerage, fell By Fontarabia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed Their dread commander; he, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower; his form had yet not lost All its original brightness: nor appear'd Less than archangel ruin'd, and the excess Of glory obscured: as when the sun, new risen,
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