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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