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.
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
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,
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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