Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,
Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose Dilated or condens'd, bright or obscure,
Can execute their airy purposes,
And works of love or enmity fulfil.
For those the race of Israel oft forsook
Their living strength, and unfrequented left His righteous altar, bowing lowly down To bestial Gods; for which their heads as low Bow'd down in battle, sunk before the
spear Of despicable foes. With these in troop Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd Astarte, queen of Heav'n, with crescent horns; To whose bright image nightly by the moon Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs, In Sion also not unsung, where stood Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whose heart though large, Beguil'd by fair idolatresses, fell
To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd
The Syrian damsels to lament his fate
In amorous ditties all a summer's day, While smooth Adonis from his native rock Ran purple to the sea, suppos'd with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Ezekiel saw, when by the vision led 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 lopt off In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, Where he fell flat, and sham'd his worshippers: Dagon his name, sea monster, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon,
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. Him follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful seat Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. He also' against the house of God was bold: A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king, Ahaz his sottish 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 these appear'd A crew who under names of old renown, Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train,
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to seek
Their wand'ring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape
Th' infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his Maker to the grazed ox,
Jehoval, who in or From Egypt marc'te Both her first-s
al'd with one stroke all her bleating Gods. hom a Spirit more lewd 490
a ten, or more gross to love
Of riot ascends hove their loftiest towers, And injury an..rge: and when night 500 Darkens the strests, then wander forth the sons Of Felial, town with insolence and wine. Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night In Gibeah, when the hospitable door Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape. These were the prime in order and in might; The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, Th' Ionian Gods, of javan's issue held Gods, yet confess'd later than Heaven and Earth, Their boasted parents: Titan Heav'n's first-born, With his enormous brood, and birth-right seiz❜d 511 By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove His own and Rhea's son like measure found; So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the snowy 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' Hesperion fields, And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Down-cast 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 In loss 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 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;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd Th' imperial ensign, which full high advanc'd Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich emblaz`d, Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: At which the universal host up sent
A shout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. All in a moment through the gloom were seen Ten thousand banners rise into the air
With orient colours waving: with them rose
A forest huge of spears, and thronging helms Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array Of depth immeasurable: anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais'd To height of noblest 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 swage With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow' and pain From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they Breathing united force with fixed thought Mov'd on in silence to soft pipes, that charm'd Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil; and now Advanc'd in view they stand, a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of warriors old with order'd spear 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 visages and statures as of Gods, Their number last he sums. And now his heart Distends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength Glories: for never since created man,
Met such embodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that small infantry
Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood
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