Her temple on th' offenfive mountain, built
By that uxorious king, whose heart though large, Beguil'd by fair idolatreffes, fell
Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whose wanton paffions in the facred porch Ezekiel faw, when by the vision led
Of alienated Judah. Next came one
His eye furvey'd the dark idolatries
Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopt off In his own temple, on the grunfel edge,
Where he fell flat, and fham'd 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 follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful feat Was fair Damafcus, on the fertil banks Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. He alfo' against the house of God was bold: A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king, Ahaz his fottish conquʼror, whom he drew
God's altar to disparage and difplace
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,
Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their train,
With monftrous shapes and forceries abus'd Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to feek
Their wand'ring Gods difguis'd in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael 'scape
Th' infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king Doubled that fin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his Maker to the grazed ox, Jehovah, who in one night when he pass'd From Egypt marching, equal'd with one stroke Both her first-born and all her bleating Gods.
Belial came laft, than whom a Spi'rit more lewd 490 Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love Vice for itself: to him no temple stood Or altar fmok'd; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns atheist, as did Eli's fons, who fill'd With luft and violence the house of God? In courts and palaces he also reigns And in luxurious cities, where the noise Of ri'ot afcends above their loftieft towers, And injury and outrage: and when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with infolence and wine. C 3
Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night In Gibeah, when the hofpitable door Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape.
These were the prime in order and in might; The reft were long to tell, though far renown'd: Th' Ionian Gods, of Javan's issue held
Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth, Their boasted parents: Titan Heav'n's first-born, 510 With his enormous brood, and birthright feis'd By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove His own and Rhea's fon like measure found; So Jove ufurping reign'd: thefe first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the fnowy top Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air, Their highest Heav'n; 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 th' Hefperian fields, And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost iles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Down caft and damp, yet such wherein appear'd Obfcure fome glimpse of joy, to' have found their chief Not in despair, to' have found themselves not loft 525 In lofs itself; which on his count'nance caft Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth not fubftance, gently rais'd Their fainting courage, and difpell'd their fears. 530 Then ftrait commands that at the warlike found Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd
His mighty standard: that proud honor clam'd Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd 535 Th' imperial enfign, which full high advanc'd Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden luftre rich imblaz❜d, Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: At which the universal host up fent
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 rife into the air
With orient colors waving with them rose
A foreft huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and ferried fhields in thick array Of depth immeasurable: anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and foft recorder; such as rais'd To highth of nobleft temper heroes old Arming to battel, and inftead of rage Deliberate valor breath'd, firm and unmov'd With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and fwage With folemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase Anguish and doubt and fear and forrow' and pain From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they Breathing united force with fixed thought Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes, that charm'd Their painful steps o'er the burnt foil; and now C 4
Advanc'd in view they ftand, a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazling arms, in guise Of warriors old with order'd spear and shield, Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impofe: He through the armed files Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse The whole battalion views, their order due, Their visages and stature as of Gods: Their number last he fums.
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his ftrength Glories: for never fince created man
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that fmall infantry Warr'd-on by cranes; though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's fon Begirt with British and Armoric knights; And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel, Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban, Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, Or whom Biferta fent from Afric shore, When Charlemain with all his peerage fell By Fontarabbia. Thus far thefe beyond Compare of mortal prowefs, yet obferv'd Their dread commander: he above the reft In fhape and gefture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft
All her original brightnefs, nor appear'd
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