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
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 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
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