Her temple on th' offenfive mountain built
By that uxorious king, whofe heart though large,
Beguil'd by fair idolatreffes, fell
To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind,
Whofe annual wound in Lebanon allur'd
The Syrian damfels to lament his fate
In amorous ditties all a fummer's day,
While fmooth 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 paffions in the facred 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 earneft, when the captive ark
Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopt off
In his own temple, on the grunfel edge,
Where he fell flat, and fham'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 streams.
He alfo' 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 thefe appear'd
A crew who under names of old renown,
Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their train,
With monstrous fhapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her priests, 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 pafs'd
From Egypt marching, equal'd with one stroke
Both her first-born and all her bleating Gods.
Belial came laft, than whom a Spirit more lewd 490
Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs to love
Vice for itself to him no temple stood
Or altar fmok'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 houfe of God?
In courts and palaces he also 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 ftreets, then wander forth the fons
Of Belial, flown with infolence and wine.
Witnefs the streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hofpitable door
Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape.
Thefe 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 confess'd later than Heaven and Earth,
Their boasted parents: Titan Heav'n's first-born, 10
With his enormous brood, and birthright feiz'd
By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove
C 3
His own and Rhea's fon like measure sound;
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 higheft 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 glimpfe of joy, to' have found their chief
Not in defpair, to' have found themselves not loft 525
In lofs itself; which on his count'nance cast
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 dispell'd their fears. 530
Then ftraight commands that at the warlike found
Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd'
His mighty ftandard: that proud honour claim'd
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd 535
Th' imperial enfign, which full high advanc'd
Shone like a me for ftreaming to the wind,
With gems and golden luftre rich emblaz`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
Frighed the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Tep thousand banners rife into the air
With orient colours waving with them'rofe
A foreft 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; such as rais'd
To height of nobleft temper heroes old
Arming to battle, and instead of rage
Deliberate valour 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 in view they ftand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guife
Of warriors old with order'd fpear and shield,
Awaiting what command their mighty chief
Had to impose: He through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverse
The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their vifages and statures as of Gods,
'Their number last he fums. And now his heart
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning 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 575
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 auxiljar Gods; and what refounds
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 these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd
Their dread commander: he above the reft
In shape and gesture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had not yet lost
All her original brightnefs, nor appear'd
Lefs than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th' excefs
Of glory' obfcur'd; as when the fun new risen
Looks through the horizontal misty air
Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon
In dim eclipse disastrous 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 stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heav'n's fire
Hath fcath'd the foreft oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd 615
To fpeak; whercat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half inclose him round
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