The heads and leaders thither haste where stood Their great Commander; Godlike shapes, and forms Excelling hunan; princely Dignities ; And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones; 360 Be no memorial; blotted out and rased Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 364 Got them new names; till, wandering o'er the earth, Glory of him that made them to transform 370 With gay religions full of pomp and gold, 375 380 Then were they known to men by various names Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, 385 390 Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd though fire, To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite His temple right against the temple of God 396 400 405 Next, Chemos, the obscene dread of Moab's sons, Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged 415 Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove Of Moloch homicide; lust hard by hate; Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. With these came they, who, from the bordering flood Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts 420 Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names Of Baalim and Ashtaroth; those male, These feminine; For Spirits, when they please, Can either sex assume, or both; so soft And uncompounded is their essence pure, 425 Not tied or manacled with joint or limb, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, Can execute their aery purposes, And works of love or enmity fulfil. For those the race of Israel oft forsook 430 Their Living Strength, and unfrequented loft spear To bestial Gods; for which their heads as low 435 440 Her temple on the offensive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large, 445 To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured The Syrian damsels to lament his fate 450 45 His eye survey'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 lopp'd off 460 Dagon his name, sea monster, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast 465 470 A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king ; For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn His odious offerings, and adore the Gods 475 • Whom he had vanquish'd. After these appear'd A crew, who, under names of old renown, With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Fanatic Egypt, and her priests to seek 480 Their wandering Gods disguised in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape The infection, when their borrow'd gold composed Doubled that sin 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 stroko Both her first-born and all her bleating Gods. 495 Belial came last, than whom a Spirit more lewd 490 500 These were the prime in order, and in might; The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, Gods, yet confess'd later than Heaven and Earth, So Jove usurping reign'd these first in Crete Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to the Hesperian fields, 515 520 All these and more came flocking; but with looks Downcast 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 lost 525 In loss itself: which on his countenance cast Like doubtful hue: but he, his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. Then straight commands, that at the warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd His mighty standard: that proud honour claim'd Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall; 530 Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd 535 The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, 540 A shout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond 545 |