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His odious off'rings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquisht. After these appear'd
A crew who under names of old renown,
OSIRIS, ISIS, ORUS, and their train,
With monstrous shapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic ÆGYPT, and her priests, to seek
Their wandring 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 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 ÆGYPT marching, equal'd with one stroke
Both her firft-born and all her bleating Gods.
BELIAL came last, than whom a spirit more lewd 490
Fell not from heaven, or more gross to love
Vice for it felf: to him no temple stood,
Or altar fmoak'd; yet who more oft than he
In temples and at altars, when the priest
Turns atheist, as did ELY's fons, who fill'd
With luft 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 loftieft tow'rs,
And injury and outrage: and when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the fons
OF BELIAL, flown 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.

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These were the prime in order and in might; The rest were long to tell, tho' far renown'd, Th'IONIAN Gods, of JAVAN'S issue held Gods, yet confess'd later than heav'n and earth, Their boafted parents. TITAN, heav'ns first-born, 510

With his enormous brood, and birthright feiz'd

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By younger SATURN: he from mightier JOVE,
His own and RHEA'S son, like measure found;
So JOVE ufurping 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 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 utmost isles.

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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 525 In loss it felf; 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 fubstance, gently rais'd Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. 530 Then strait commands that at the warlike found Of trumpets loud, and clarions, be uprear'd His mighty standard: that proud honor claim'd AzAZEL as his right, a Cherub tall; Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd 535 Th' imperial enseign; which full high advanc'd, Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden luftre rich imblaz'd, Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: At which the universal host up fent A shout that tore hell's concave; and beyond Frighted the reign of CHAOS and old Night. All in a moment thro' the gloom were feen Ten thousand banners rise into the air, With orient colours waving: with them rofe A foreft huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and ferried shields in thick array,

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Of depth immeasurable: anon they move
In perfect Phalanx to the DORIAN mood
Of flutes, and soft recorders; fuch as rais'd
To height of noblest 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 power to mitigate and swage,
With folemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase
Anguith, 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 stand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length, and dazling arms, in guife
Or warriors old with order'd fpear and shield, 565
Awaiting what command their mighty Chief
Had to impose: he thro the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon 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 hardning in his strength
Glories: for never since created man
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that small 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 resounds
In fable or romance of UTHER'S fon,

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Begirt with BRITISH and ARMORIC Knights; And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,

Jousted in ASPRAMONT or MONTALBAN, DAMASCO, or MAROCCO, or TREBISOND, Or whom BISERTA sent from AFRIC shoar, 585 When CHARLEMAIN with all his Peerage fell

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