Of old Euphrates to the Brook that parts
Egypt from Syrian ground, had general Names
Of Baalim and Ashtaroth, those Male,
Thefe Feminine. For Spirits when they please
Can either Sex affume, or both; fo foft
And uncompounded is their Effence pure,
Not ty'd or manacl'd with joint or limb,
Nor founded on the brittle ftrength of bones,
Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they chufe
Dilated or condens'd, bright or obfcure,
Can execute their airy purposes,
And works of love or enmity fulfil.
For thofe the Race of Ifrael oft forfook
Their living Strength, and unfrequented left
His righteous Altar, bowing lowly down
To beftial Gods; for which their heads as low 435
Bow'd down in Battel, funk before the Spear
Of despicable foes. With thefe in troop
Came Aftoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd
Aftarte, Queen of Heav'n, with crefcent Horns;
To whofe bright Image nightly by the Moon
Sidonian Virgins paid their Vows and Songs,
In Sion alfo not unfung, where ftood
Her Temple on th' offenfive Mountain, built
By that uxorious King, whofe heart tho' large,
Beguil'd by fair Idolatresses, fell
To Idols foul. Thammuz came next behind,
Whose annual Wound in Lebanon allur'd
The Syrian Damfels to lament his fate
In am'rous ditties all a Summer's day,
While fmooth 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,
Whofe wanton Paffions in the facred Porch
Ezekiel faw, when by the Vifion led
His eye furvey'd the dark Idolatries
Of alienated fudah. Next came one
Who mourn'd in earneft, when the Captive Ark
Maim'd his brute Image, head and hands lopt off
In his own Temple, on the grunfel edge,
Where he fell flat, and fham'd his Worshipers:
Dagon his Name, Sea-Monster, upward Man
And downward Fifh yet had his Temple high
Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the Coaft
Of Palestine, in Gath and Afcalon,
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds.
Him follow'd Rimmen, whofe delightful Seat
Was fair Damafcus, on the fertil banks
Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams.
He also against the House of God was bold: 470
A Leper once he loft and gain'd a King,
Ahaz, his fottish Conquerour, whom he drew
God's Altar to disparage and displace
For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn
His odious off'rings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquifit. After these appear'd
A crew who under Names of old Renown,
Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their Train,
With monstrous fhapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatick Ægypt and her Priests, to seek
Their wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael 'scape
Th' infection, when their borrow'd Gold compos'd The Calf in Oreb; and the Rebel King
Doubl'd that Sin in Bethel and in Dan,
Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox,
Jehovah, who in one Night when he pass'd
From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke
Both her firft-born and all her bleating Gods,
Belial came laft, than whom a Spirit more lewd 490
Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs to love
Vice for it felf: To him no Temple flood,
Or Altar fmoak'd; yet who more oft than he
In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest
Turns Atheist, as did Ely's Sons, who fill'd
With luft and violence the house of God?
In Courts and Palaces he alfo Reigns,
And in luxurious Cities, where the noise
Of riot afcends above their loftieft Towrs,
And injury and outrage: And when Night
Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons
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 worfe rape.
These were the prime in order and in might;
The reft were long to tell, tho' far renown'd,
Th' Ionian Gods, of Javan's Iffue held
Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth
Their boafted Parents; Titan Heav'n's first-born,
With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'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 fnowy.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 Hefperian Fields,
And o'er the Celtick roam'd the utmost Ifles.
All these and more came flocking but with looks
Down caft and damp, yet fuch wherein appear'd
Obfcure fome glimpse 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 dispell'd their fears.
Then ftrait commands that at the warlike found
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 535
Th' Imperial Enfign, 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 Sounds :
At which the universal Host up sent
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 thousand Banners rife into the Air
With orient Colours waving
A Foreft huge of Spears; and thronging Helms
Appear'd, and ferried Shields in thick array,
Of depth immeasurable: Anon they move
In perfect Phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of Flutes and foft Recorders; such as rais'd
To height of nobleft temper Hero's old
Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage
Deliberate valour 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 chafe
Anguish 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 fteps o'er the burnt foyl; and now
Advanc'd in view, they ftand, a horrid Front
Of dreadful length and dazzling Arms, in guife
Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield, sos
Awaiting what command their mighty Chief
Had to impofe: He thro' the armed Files
Darts his experienc't'eye, and foon traverse
The whole Battalion views, their order due,
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