Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, Where he fell flat, and shamed his worshippers: Dagon his name, sea-monster, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. Him followed 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 gained a king; Ahaz his sottish conquerour, 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 vanquished. After these appeared A crew, who, under names of old renown, Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train,
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Fanatick Egypt, and her priests, to seek
Their wandering Gods disguised in brutish forms. Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape The infection, when their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his Maker to the grazed ox; Jehovah, who in one night, when he passed From Egypt marching, equalled 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 gross to love Vice for itself: to him no temple stood Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest. Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled With lust and violence the house of God? In courts and palaces he also reigns, And in luxurious cities, where the noise Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, And injury, and outrage: and when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hospitable door Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. These were the prime in order and in might; The rest were long to tell, though far renowned, The Ionian Gods, of Javan's issue; held Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, Their boasted parents: Titan, Heaven's first-born,
With his enormous brood, and birthright seized By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove, His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; So Jove usurping reigned: these first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the snowy top Of cold Olympus, ruled the middle air, Their highest Heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds Of Dorick land; or who with Saturn old
Fled over Adria to the Hesperian fields,
And o'er the Celtick roamed the utmost isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Down-cast and damp; yet such wherein appeared 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 countenance cast Like doubtful hue: but he, his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. Then straight commands, that at the warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions be upreared His mighty standard: that proud honour claimed Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced,
Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich imblazed, Seraphick 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 Appeared, 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 raised To highth of noblest temper heroes old Arming to battle; and instead of rage
Deliberate valour breathed, firm and unmoved With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; Nor wanting power 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, Moved on in silence to soft pipes, that charmed
Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil: and now
Advanced in view they stand; a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of warriours old with ordered spear and shield; Awaiting what command their mighty Chief Had to impose: he through the armed files Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse The whole battalion views; their order due; Their visages and stature as of Gods;
Their number last he sums. And now his heart Distends with pride, and hardening in his strength Glories for never, since created man, Met such imbodied force, as named with these Could merit more than that small infantry Warred on by cranes; though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with the heroick race were joined That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mixed with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's son Begirt with British and Armorick knights; And all who since, baptized or infidel, Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, Or whom Biserta sent from Africk shore, When Charlemain with all his peerage fell By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed
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