In Vallombrosa, where the Etrurian shades High over-arch'd imbow'r; or scatter'd sedge Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm'd 305 Hath vex'd the Red Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, While with perfidious hatred they pursued The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld From the safe shore their floating carcases 310 And broken chariot wheels: so thick bestrown, Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change. He call'd so loud, that all the hollow deep Of Hell resounded. Princes, Potentates, 315 Warriors, the flow'r of heav'n, once yours, now lost, If such astonishment as this can seize Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place After the toil of battle to repose find Your wearied virtue, for the ease you 320 325 They heard, and were abash'd, and up they sprung Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, Nor did they not perceive the evil plight 335 In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Waved round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 340 345 350 355 Their great commander; Godlike shapes and forms And Pow'rs that erst in Heaven sat on thrones; 360 Though of their names in heav'nly records now Be no memorial, blotted out and rased By their rebellion from the books of life. Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve Got them new names, till wand'ring o'ver the earth, 365 Thro' God's high suff'rance for the trial of man, By falsities and lies the greatest part Of mankind they corrupted, to forsake With gay religions full of pomp And Devils to adore for Deities: and gold, 370 Then were they known to men by various names, And various idols through the Heathen world. 375 Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last Roused from the slumber, on that fiery couch, 380 385 390 First Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears, Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd thro' fire To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite 396 Worshipp'd in Rabba and her wat’ry plain, In Argob and in Basan, to the stream Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon And Horonaim, Seon's realm, beyond The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, And Eleälé to th' Asphaltic pool. Peor his other name, when he enticed Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, 400 *405 410 To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 415 E'en to that hill of scandal, by the grove 180 Of Moloch homicide; lust hard by hate; Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. With these came they, who, from the bord'ring flood 420 Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names 185 Of Baälim and Ashtaroth; those male, These feminine: for spirits, when they please, And uncompounded is their essence pure 425 Not tied nor manacled with joint or limb; 190 Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, Can execute their aëry purposes, 430 And works of love or enmity fulfil. For those the race of Israel oft forsook 196 Their living Strength, and unfrequented left 05 To bestial gods; for which their heads as low Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large, 435 440 Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, 0 Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured The Syrian damsels to lament his fate 445 450 Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood 455 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 Where he fell flat, and shamed his worshippers: 465 470 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, Th' infection, when their borrow'd gold composed Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, 485 Likening his Maker to the grazed ox; Jehovah, who in one night when he pass'd |