Fanatic Egypt, and her priests, to feek
Their wand'ring gods difguis'd in brutish forms, Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael '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, Likening his Maker, to the grazed ox, Jehovah; who, in one night, when he pafs'd From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke Both her firft-born and all her bleating gods. Belial came last, than whom a spi'rit more lewd 490 Fell not from heaven, or more grofs to love Vice for itself: to him no temple stood Or altar fmok'd; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns atheist, as did Eli's fons, who fill'd With luft and violence the houfe of God? In courts and palaces he also reigns, And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of ri'ot afcends above their loftiest towers, And injury and outrage: and when night Darkens the streets, 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.
Thefe were the prime in order and in might; The reft were long to tell, though far renown'd, Th' Ionian gods, of Javan's iffue held Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth, Their boasted parents: Titan, Heav'n's firft-born, 510 With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'd By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove, His own and Rhea's fon, like measure found; So Jove ufurping reign'd: Thefe firft 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 through all the bounds Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to th' Hefperian fields, And o'er the Celtic 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 itfelf; 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 standard: that proud honour claim'd Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering ftaff 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 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 through the gloom were feen Ten thousand 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 unmeafurable: 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 battle; and instead 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 forr'ow, 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 foil and now Advanc'd in view, they ftand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guife Of warriors old with order'd spear and shield, 565. Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impofe. He through 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 embodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that small infrantry Warr'd on by cranes; though 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 Begirt with Britifh and Armoric knights; And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel, Joufted in Afpramont, or Montalban, Damafco, Marocco, or Trebifond;
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric shore, When Charlemagne with all his peerage fell By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowefs, yet obferv'd Their dread commander: he, above the reft In fhape and gefture proudly eminent, Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft All her original brightnefs, nor appear'd Lefs than archangel ruin'd, and th' excefs Of glory' obfcur'd: as when the fun new rifen Looks through the horizontal mifty air Shorn of his beams; or from behind the moon, In dim eclipfe, difaftrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone Above them all th' archangel: but his face Deep fears of thunder had entrench'd, and care Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast Signs of remorfe and paflion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather,
(Far other once beheld in blifs), condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain; Millions of fpirits for his fault amerc'd Of heav'n, and from eternal fplendours flung For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood, Their glory wither'd: as when heaven's fire Hath feath'd the foreft-oaks, or mountain-pines, With finged top their stately growth, tho' bare Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd 615 To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend From wing to wing, and half inclose him round With all his peers: attention held them mute. Thrice he effay'd, and thrice, in spite of scorn, Tears, fuch as angels weep, burft forth: At laft
Words interwove with fighs found out their way. O myriads of immortal fpi'rits, O powers Matchlefs, but with th' Almighty; and that strife Was not inglorious, tho' th' event was dire, As this place teftifies,, and this dire change, Hateful to utter: but what power of mind, Forefeeing or prefaging, from the depth Of knowledge past or prefent, could have fear'd, How fuch united force of gods, how fuch
As food like these, could ever know repulfe? For who can yet believe, though after lofs, That all these puiffant legions, whofe exile Hath emptied heav'n, fhall fail to reafcend, Self-rais'd, and repoffefs their native feat? For me be witnefs all the hoft of heaven, If counfels different, or danger fhunn'd By me, have loft our hopes. But he who reigns Monarch in heaven, till then as one fecure
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute,
Confent or custom, and his regal state
Put forth at full, but ftill his ftrength 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 a
New war, provok'd; our better part remains, 645 3 To work in clofe defign, 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 fo rife 650 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 fons of heaven: Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps Our firft eruption, thither or elsewhere:
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