God's altar to difparage 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 fhapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her priefts, 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 Spirit more lewd
Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs to love
Vice for itself: to him no temple ftood
Or altar fimok'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 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.

Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hofpitable 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 iffue held

Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth,
Their boasted 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 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 utmoft 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 despair, to' have found themselves 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 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 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 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 through the gloom were feen
Ten thousand banners rife into the air

With orient colors waving: with them rofe
A foreft huge of fpears; 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 foft 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

C 4

Advanc'd in view they fand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazing arms, in guife
Of warriors old with order'd fpear and shield,
Awaining what command their mighty chief
Had to impose: He through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their villages and itature 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 fimall 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 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 Afpramont or Montalban,
Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebifond,
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore,
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far thefe beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet obferv’d
Their dread commander: he above the reft
In shape and gesture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft
All her original brightnefs, nor appear'd

Lefs

Lefs than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th' excess
Of glory' obfcur'd; as when the fun new rifen
Looks through the horizontal misty air

Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon
In dim eclipfe difaftrous twilight sheds

On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel: but his face
Deep fears of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorfe and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc'd
Of Heav'n, and from eternal fplendors flung
For his revolt, yet faithful how they ftood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
Hath feath'd the foreft oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd
To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half inclofe him round
With all his peers: attention held them mute.
Thrice he affay'd, and thrice in spite of fcorn
Tears, fuch as Angels weep, burft forth: at last
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers

Matchlefs,