Se tulit extremum Belus, quo nequior Alter Non cecidit; folo fceleris malesanus amore Qui fcelus expeteret: non Illi fana, nec aræ Fumabant: Sed quis fanis, quis notior aris, Elidum exemplo feu vis, feu dira libido Templa DEI violet? Quin vana palatia Regum Ipfe colit, luxuque urbes vitiifque folutas, Clamor ubi infanus, rixæ, indomitique tumultus, Per celfas refonant arces: terrifque tenebras Nox fimul intulerit, cæci fine more vagantur Beliades, vino inflati luxuque protervo.
Noctem illam Gibeæ Sodomæaque mœnia testor, Hospitii tutata fidem cum traderet ipfas Janua Matronas, stupra ut pejora caveret.
Viribus Hi primique loco. Percurrere longum est Cætera quæ latè clarefcunt Numina, magnofque Ioniæ numerare Deos, quos prifca colebat Japeti foboles, Cœlo & Tellure minores
Belial came laft, than whom a Spirit more lewd Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs to love Vice for it felf: To him no Temple stood, Or Altar fmoak'd; yet who more oft than He In Temples, and at Altars, when the Prieft Turns Atheist; as did Eli's Sons, 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 riot afcends above their loftiest Tow'rs,
And injury, and outrage: and when Night Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons Of Belial, flown with infolence and wine: Witness the Streets of Sodom; and that night In Gibeah, when the hospitable door Expos'd a Matron, to avoid worse rape.
These were the prime in order, and in might; The reft were long to tell, tho' far renown'd, Th' Ionian Gods, of Javan's Iffue held Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth,
Faffa palàm atque illâ jactans ab origine natos.
Primus ibi Titan vaftâ cum prole; fed Olli Junior abripuit Saturnus regna, fuoque
A Jove mox ipfe expulfus, quem Rhea rebellem Progeniem peperit: fic fceptra invafit & arces Jupiter. Idais Hæc Numina fcilicet oris Nota priùs tandem tenuere nivalia Olympi Culmina, nec mediis cœlum fublimius auris. Pars etiam juga Delphorum faltus-ve facratos Dodones coluere, aut Graie littora terræ. Quofque alios fecum Divos trans Adria longè Æquora decedens regnis Saturnus ademptis Hefperios tulit in campos & Celtica rura.
Hi turmis glomerati omnes, Aliique coibant Innumeri, mæsto dejecti lumina vultu : Vifa fubinde tamen levis inter nubila spargi Lætitia, ut fperare Ducem meliora videbant, Nec fefe tantâ penitùs periiffe ruinâ.
Their boasted Parents; Titan, (Heav'n's first born,) With his enormous brood, and birthright feiz'd By younger Saturn: He from mightier Jove, (His own and Rhea's Son) like measure 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 thro' 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 Isles.
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 despair, to have found themselves not loft In lofs it felf; which on his count'nance caft
Nec minùs ingenti dubius color ora pererrat
Ductori; faftum at folitum, mora nulla, refumens, Excelfafque crepans voces Simulator Honesti Mendaci fluit eloquio, & languentia corda Erigit, infpiratque animos, abigitque timores. Deinde jubet, fimul altifonans lituique tubæque Bellicus infremuit Clangor, Regale levari Vexillum: hos fibi procerus poscebat honores Signifer Azazal: rutile circundata virgæ Explicuit, latéque ardentem evolvere scenam Imperii figna alta dedit: velut aere fummo Stella facem ducens longo micat ignea tractu, Sic fublatum altè fpatiosâ vefte per auras Vexillum immenfum patuit, radiante Seraphum Picta trophæa finu & ftellata Infignia pandens. Jamque tuba exultat flatu; fonat ære canoro Martia Vox; tum verò altum dant Agmina juncta Clamorem, concuffa Erebi quo concava, & imæ
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, 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 honour claim'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 ftreaming 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 univerfal Hoft up fent
A fhout that tore Hell's Concave, and beyond Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night. All in a moment thro' the gloom were seen
Ipfa Chaús Noctifque antiquæ exterrita regna. Continuò decies fpectantur Mille per umbras Attolli bellorum Infignia, multiplicefque Undatim jactare faces; unà horrida Silva Haftarum exfurgit, fcutis diro ordine Scuta, Et galeæ galeis confertæ. It protinùs æquis Agminibus condensa Phalanx; dum plurima buxo Tibia multifori, & modulamine fiftula lento Molle fonans, greffufque regit fingitque canendo. Carmine non alio bellantes Dorica Mufa Impulit Heroas, quos non furor egit inamis, Sed vis firma Animi, fed Virtus ardua, lethi Indignata metum turpisque ignara repulsæ.
Nec tamen haud poterant blandâ dulcedine Cantus Triftitiam fedare, & fternere leniter atros Curarum fluctus, gelidos arcere timores,
Atque Homines Superofque modis mollire canoris. His intenta filent, & procedentia lentis
Ten thousand Banners rife into the Air, With orient Colours waving: with them rofe A Foreft huge of Spears; and thronging Helms Appear'd, and ferried Shields in thick array, Of depth immeasurable: anon they move In perfect Phalanx, to the Dorian mood
Of Flutes, and foft Recorders; fuch as rais'd To height of nobleft temper Heroes old Arming to Battle; and instead of rage
Deliberate valour 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
Paffibus ardorem unanimem fimul omnia fpirant Agmina; difficiles ambufto in littore greffus Lenibant numeri. Tum vaftâ fronte Cohortes Explicitæ medio fe, formidabile vifu! Extendunt latè campo radiantibus armis, Ceu bellis affueta Acies; clypeifque minaces Erectifque haftis magni mandata tyranni Expectant. Media Ille fagaci lumine velox Agmina pervadit; florentes ære catervas Directis rite ordinibus, celfiffima Divûm Corpora, fpirantefque videt cœlestia vultus. Ut numeros tandem recolit, Cor inde feroci Diftentum faftu tumet, immenfifque fuperbit Viribus. Humano neque enim confluxit ab ortu Bellica Vis, Huic quæ poffet collata videri Pygmæas fuperare manus gruibusque popellum Infeftum; Phlegræ quanquam immaniffima Proles Addantur populis, qui bella fub Ilio alto
Their painful steps o'er the burnt foil: and now 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 thro' the armed Files Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse The whole Battalion views, their order due, Their vifages and ftature as of Gods;
Their number laft he fums. And now his heart Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his ftrength Glories for never fince created Man Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with thefe Could merit more than that small Infantry Warr'd on by Cranes; tho' 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
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