Her temple on th' offenfive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whofe heart though large, Beguil'd by fair idolatreffes, fell
To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whofe annual wound in Lebanon allur'd The Syrian damfels to lament his fate In amorous ditties all a fummer's day, While fmooth Adonis from his native rock Ran purple to the fea, fuppos'd with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whofe wanton paffions in the facred porch Ezekiel faw, when by the vifion led His eye furvey'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 lopt off In his own temple, on the grunfel edge,
Where he fell flat, and fham'd his worshipers: Dagon his name, fea monster, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath and Afcalon,
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. Him follow'd Rimmon, whofe 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 loft, and gain'd a king, haz his fottish conqu'ror, 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, Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their train,
With monftrous shapes and forceries abus'd Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to seek
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 last, than whom a Spi'rit more lewd Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs to love Vice for itself: to him no temple ftood Or altar fmok'd; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns atheift, as did Eli's fons, who fill'd With luft and violence the houfe of God? In courts and palaces he alfo 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 fons Of Belial, flown with infolence and wine. C 3
Witnefs the streets of Sodom, and that night In Gibeah, when the hofpitable door Expos'd a matron to avoid worfe rape.
Thefe were the prime in order and in might; The reft were long to tell, though far renown'd: Th' Ionian Gods, of Javan's iffue held
Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth, Their boafted parents: Titan Heav'n's first-born, With his enormous brood, and birthright feis'd By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove His own and Rhea's fon like mcafure found; So Jove ufurping reign'd: these 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 fuch wherein appear'd Obfcure fome glimpse of joy, to' have found their chief Not in defpair, to' have found themselves not loft
In lofs itfelf; 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. 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 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 founds: At which the universal hoft up fent
A fhout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. All in a moment through the gloom were feen Ten thousand banners rife into the air
With orient colors waving: with them rofe A foreft huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and ferried fhields in thick array Of depth immeafurable: anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorder; fuch as rais'd To highth of nobleft temper heroes old Arming to battel, and instead 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 chafe 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
Advanc'd in view they stand, a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazling arms, in guife Of warriors old with order'd fpear 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 vifages and stature as of Gods:
Their number laft he fums. And now his heart Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength Glories for never fince created man
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that finall 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 refounds 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 Trebifond, Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore, When Charlemain with all his peerage fell By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowefs, yet obferv'd Their dread commander: he above the reft In shape and gefture proudly eminent Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft All her original brightness, nor appear'd
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