In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, Where he fell flat, and shamed his worshippers: Dagon his name, sea-monster, upward mau And downward fish: yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast. Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon,
And Accaron and Gazar's frontier bounds. Him follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful seat Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks Of Abbana and Pharpbar, lucid streams. He also against the house of God was bold; A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king; Ahaz his sottish conqueror, 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 vanquish'd. After these appear'd A crew, who, under names of old renown, Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train,
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to seek
Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape
The infection, when their borrow'd gold composed The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his master to the grazed ox; Jehovah, who in one night, when he pass'd From Egypt marching, equall'd 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 teinple stood, Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns athiest, as did Eli's sons, who fill'd With lust and violence the house of God? lu 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 renown'd The Ionian gods, of Javan's issue; held Gods, yet confess'd later than heaven and earth, Their boasted parents: Titan, heaven's first-boin With his enormous brood, and birth-right seized By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove, His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the snowy top Of cold Olympus, ruled the middle air, Their bighest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds Of Doric land or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to the Hesperian fields, And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks Downcast 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 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 dispell'd their fears. Then straight commands, that at the warlike souud 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 The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, Seraphic 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. Appear'd, 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 height of nobiest 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 'suage 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 charm'd 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 warriors old, with order'd spear and shield! Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose; he through the armed files Darts his experienced eye, and soon travérse The whole battalion views, their order due, Their visages and stature as of gods;
Their number last he sums. And now his heart Distends wtih pride, and bardening in his strength Glories: for never since created man
Met such embodied force, as named with these Could merit more than that small infantry Warr'd on by cranes: though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with the heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side- Mix'd with auxiliar gods; and what resounds. In fable or romance of Uther's son Begirt with British and Armoric, knights
And all who since, baptised or infidel, Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, Damasco, or Marocco or Trebisond, Or whom Biserta sent from Afric's shore, When Charlemain with all his peerage fell By Fontarabia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed Their dread commander: he, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower; his form yet had not lost All her original brightness; nor appear'd Less than archangel ruin'd, and the excess Of glory obscured as when the sun, new risen, Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams; or from behind the moon, In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd so, yet shone Above them all the archangel: but his face Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd; and care Sat on his faded cheek; but under brows Of dauntless courage and considerate pride Waiting revenge; cruel his eye, but cast Signs of remorse and passion, to behold The fellows of his crime, the followers rather (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemn'd For ever now to have their lot in pain : Millions of spirits for his faults amerced Of heaven, and from eternal splendours flung For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood. Their glory wither'd: as when heaven's fire Hath scathed the forest oaks, or mountain pines, With singed top their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they hend From wing to wing, and half enclose him round With all his peers: attention held them mute. Thrice be assay'd, and thrice, in spite of scorn, Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth; at last Words, interwove with sighs, found out their way. "O myriads of immortal spirits! O powers
Matchless, but with the Almighty; and that strife Was not inglorious, though the event was dire, As this place testifies, and this dire change Hateful to utter! but what power of mind, Forseeing or presaging, from the depth
Of knowledge, past or present, could have fear'd, How such united force of gods, how such As stood like these, could ever know repulse? For who can yet believe, though after loss, That all these puissant legions, whose exile Hath emptied heaven, shall fail to reascend Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? For me, be witness all the host of heaven, If counsels different, or dangers shunn'd By ine, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns Monarch in heaven, till then as one secure Sat on his throne upheld by old repute, Consent or custom; and his regal state
Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd, Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. Henceforth his might we know, and know our own; So as not either to provoke, or dread
New war, provoked; our better part remains To work in close design, by fraud or guile, What force effected not; that he no less At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. Space may produce new worlds; whereof so rife There went a fame in heaven that he ere long Intended to create, and therein plant
A generation, whom his choice regard Should favour equal to the sons of heaven: Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps Our first eruption; thither or elsewhere; For this infernal pit shall never hold Celestial spirits in bondage, nor the abyss Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts Full counsel must mature: peace is despair'd; For who can think submission? War then, war, Open or understood, must be resolved!"
He spake; and, to confirm his words, out-flew с
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