Page images
PDF
EPUB

470

He also against the house of God was bold:
A leper once he loft, and gain'd a king;
Ahaz, 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,

475

With monftrous shapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt, and her priests, to seek

480

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;

485

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 grofs to love
Vice for itself: to him no temple stood,

Or altar smok'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,

495

And

And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of riot 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.
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, though far renown'd,
Th'Ionian Gods, of Javan's issue held

500

505

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 seis'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 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.

515

520

All these,and more, came, flocking; but with looks Down caft and damp, yet such wherein appear'd Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their chief Not in despair, to have found themselves not loft

525

app

He also against the house of God was bold
A leper once he loft, and gain'd a king;
Ahaz, 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
A crew, who, under names of old renown.
Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their train,
With monftrous shapes and forceries ab
Fanatic Egypt, and her priefts, to seek
Their wand'ring Gods difguis'd in bruti
Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael 'fcat
Th'infection, when their borrow'd gold
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 p
From Egypt marching, equal'd, with c
Both her first-born and all her bleatin
Belial came laft, than whom a Spirit r
Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs
Vice for itself: to him no temple stoc
Or altar fmok'd; yet who more oft t
In temples and at altars, when the
Turns atheift, as did Eli's fons, whc
With luft and violence the house o
In courts and palaces he also reign

LOST.

21

urious cities, where the noise tands above their loftieft towers,

and outrage: And when night freets, then wander forth the fons down with infolence and wine.

freets of Sodom, and that night when the hospitable door

tron to avoid worse rape.

he prime in order and in might; long to tell, though far renown'd, , of Javan's issue held

500

595

S'd later than Heav'n and Earth, parents; Titan, Heav'n's firft-born, 510 ous brood, and birthright feis'd m; he,from mightier Jove, a's fon, like measure found; reign d: these first in Crete

dence on the fnowy top

515

nd the middle air,

n: or on the Delphian cliff,

dthrough all the bounds

who,with Saturn old,

Hefperian felds;

ram'd the utmot iles.

520

e came, foding but with looks set fuch wherein appear'd joy, to have found their chief bund telelves not loft 2, D

575

Dod

de

is,

580

And

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. 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
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 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 seen
Ten thousand banners rise 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 immeasurable: anon they move,
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and foft recorders; fuch as rais'd
To highth of noblest temper heroes old
Arming to battel; and, instead of rage,

535

540

545

550

Deliberate

« PreviousContinue »