And works of love or enmity fulfill. For those the race of Ifrael oft forfook Their living strength, and unfrequented left His righteous altar, bowing lowly down To beftial gods; for which their heads as low Bow'd down in battle, funk before the spear Of despicable foes. With these in troop Came Aftoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd Aftarte, queen of heav'n, with crefcent horns; To whose bright image nightly by the moon Sidonian virgins paid their vows and fongs, In Sion also not unfung, where stood
Her temple on th'offenfive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whose heart though large, Beguil'd by fair idolatresses, fell
To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd
The Syrian damfels to lament his fate In amorous ditties all a summers day, While smooth 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, Whose wanton passions in the sacred 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 grunsel edge,
Where he fell flat, and sham'd his worshippers.
Dagon his name, fea monfter, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coaft 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 fertile banks Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid ftreams. He also against the houfe of God was bold: A leper once he lost and gain'd a king, Ahaz his fottish conquerour, whom he drew God's altar to difparage and difplace
For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn His odious offerings, and adore the gods Whom he had vanquisht. After thefe appear'd A crew who under names of old renown, Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their train
With monftrous shapes and forceries abus'd Fanatic Ægypt and her priefts, to seek Their wandring gods difguis'd in brutifh forms Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael fcape The infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd The calf in Oreb: and the rebel king Doubl'd that fin in Bethel and in Dan, Lik'ning his Maker to the grazed ox, Jehovah, who in one night when he pafs'd From Ægypt marching, equal'd with one stroke Both her first born and all her bleating gods. Belial came laft, than whom a fpirit more lewd Fell not from heaven, or more grofs to love Vice for itfelf: to him no temple stood
Or altar smoak'd; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars,, when the priest Turns atheist, as did Ely'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 riot afcends above their loftiest towers, And injury and outrage and when night Darkens the freets, 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 rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, Th'Ionian gods, of Javan's iffue held
Gods, yet confeft later than heav'n and earth Their boasted parents; Titan heav'ns first-born With his enormous brood, and birth-right seiz'd By younger Saturn, he from mightier Jove His own and Rhea's fon like measure found; So Jove ufurping reign'd: these first in Creet 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 ifles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Down caft and damp, yet fuch wherein appear'd
Obfcure fome glimps of joy, to have found their chie
Not in despair, to have found themfelves not loft 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 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 up-rear'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't Shone like a meteor ftreaming to the wind With gems and golden luftre rich imblaz'd, Seraphick arms and trophies: all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds : At which the universal hoft upfent
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 thoufand banners rife into the air
With orient colours waving with them rofe A forreft huge of fpears 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 highth of nobleft temper hero's old Arming to battle, and inftead of rage Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat,
Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage With folemn touches, troubl'd 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't in view, they stand, a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazling arms, in guife 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 experienc't eye, and foon traverse The whole battalion views, their order due, Their visages and stature as of gods,
Their number last he summs. And now his heart Diftends with pride, and hardning in his strength Glories: for never fince created man,
Met fuch embodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that small 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 Mixt 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 Afpramount or Montalban, Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore
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