His odious off'rings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquifht. After thefe appear'd
A crew who under names of old renown,
OSIRIS, ISIS, OR US, and their train
With monftrous fhapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic EGYPT, and her priefts, to feek
Their wandring Gods difguis'd in brutish forms,
Rather than human. Nor did ISRAEL 'fcape
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, 485
Lik'ning 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 firft-born and all her bleating Gods.
BELIAL came laft, than whom a fpirit more lewd 490
Fell not from heaven, or more grofs to love
Vice for it self: to him no temple ftood,
Or altar fmoak'd; yet who more oft than he
In temples and at altars, when the priest
Turns atheift, as did EL Y's fons, who fill'd
With luft and violence the houfe of GOD!
In courts and palaces he alfo reigns,
And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of riot afcends above their loftieft tow'rs,
And injury and outrage: and when night'
Darkens the ftreets, 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, tho' far renown'd, Th' IONIAN Gods, of JA VAN'S iffue held Gods, yet confefs'd later than heav'n and earth, Their boafted parents. TITAN, heav'ns firft-born, 510 With his enormous brood, and birthright feiz'd
By younger SATURN: he from mightier JovE,
His own and RHEA's fon, like measure found;
So Jove ufurping reign'd: thefe 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 thro' all the bounds
Of DORIC land; or who with SATURN old
Fled over ADRIA to the HESPERIAN fields, 520
And o'er the CELTIC roam'd the utmoft 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 it felf; 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. 530 Then ftrait commands that at the warlike found Of trumpets loud, and clarions, be uprear'd His mighty ftandard: that proud honor claim'd AZAZEL as his right, a Cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering ftaff unfurl'd 535
Th'imperial enfeign; 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 thro' the gloom were seen
Ten thoufand 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 immeafurable: anon they move
In perfect Phalanx to the DORIAN mood
Of flutes, and foft recorders; fuch as rais'd
To height of nobleft temper Heroes old
Arming to battel; and inftead of rage,
Deliberate valor breath'd, firm, and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Nor wanting power to mitigate and fwage,
With folemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chafe
Anguth, 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 fromt
Of dreadful length, and dazling arms, in guife
Or warriors old with order'd fpear and shield,
Awaiting what command their mighty Chief
Had to impofe: he thro' the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
The whole battalion views their order due;
Their vifages and ftature 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 these
Could merit more than that fmall infantry
Warr'd on by cranes: tho' 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 refounds
In fable or romance of UTHER'S fon,
580
Begirt with BRITISH and ARMORIC Knights;
And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in ASPRAMONT or MONTALBAN,
DAMASCO, or MAROCCO, or TREBISOND;
Or whom BISERTA fent from AFRIC fhoar, 585
When CHARLEMAIN with all his Peerage fell
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