In temples, and at altars, when the priest
Turns atheist, as did Ely's fons, who fill'd
With luft and violence the houfe of God?
In courts and palaces he alfo reigns,
And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of riot afcends above their loftiest tow'rs,
And injury and outrage; and when night
Darkens the ftreets, 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, 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 feiz'd
By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove,

(His own and Rhea's fon,) 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 th' Hefperian fields,
And o'er the Celtick roam'd the utmost ifles.

All thefe and more came flocking, but with
looks

Down-caft and damp; yet such wherein appear'd
Obfcure fome glimpse of joy, to have found their
Chief

Not in defpair, to have found themselves not loft
In lofs itself; which on his count'nance caft
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recolle&ing, with high words, that bore
Semblance of worth, not fubftance, gently rais'd
Their fainting courage, and difpell'd their fears.
Then ftrait commands that at the warlike found
Of trumpets loud, and clarions, be uprcar'd
His mighty ftandard: that proud honor claim'd
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;

Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd
Th' imperial enfign; which, full high avanc'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 shout that tore hell's concave; and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaot and old Night.
All in a moment thro' the gloom were feen
Ten thousand banners rife 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,
Of depth immeafurable: anon they move
In perfect Phalanx, to the Dorian mood
Of flutes, and foft recorders; such as rais'd

E

To height of nobleft 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 pow'r 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 foil and now
Advanc'd in view, they ftand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length, and dazling arms in guife
Of warriors old with order'd fpear and shield,
Awaiting what command their mighty Chief
Had to impofe : he thro' 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 imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that fmall 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 refounds
In fable or romance of Uther's fon,
Begirt with British and Armoric Knights;

And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in Afpramont, or Montalban,
Damafco, or Morocco, or Trebijond;
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric shoar,
When Charlemain with all his Peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far thefe beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd
Their dread commander: he, above the reft
In shape and gufture proudly eminent,
Stood like a tow'r : his ferm had yet not loft
All her original brightnefs, nor appear'd
Lefs than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th' excefs
Of glory obfcur'd: as when the fun new-ris'n
Looks thro' 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 shone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel : but his face
Deep fears of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded check, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and confid'rate pride
Waiting revenge : cruel his eye, but caft
Signs of remorfe and paffion, 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 fplendors flung
For his revolt; yet faithful how they flood,

Their glory wither'd as when heaven's fire
Hath fcath'd the foreft oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their ftately growth, tho' bare,
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd
To fpeak, 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 affay'd, and thrice in fpight of fcorn,
Thears fuch as Angels weep, burst forth; at last
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O myriads of immortal fpirits! O Pow'rs
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 pow'r of mind,
Forefecing, or prefaging, from the depth
Of knowledge paft or prefent, could have fear'd,
How fuch united force of Gods, how fuch
As flood like thefe, could ever know repulfe?
For who can yet believe, tho' after lofs,
That all these puissant legions, whofe exile
Hath emptied heav'n, shall fail to re-afcend,
Self-rais'd, and re-poffefs their native feat?
For me be witnefs all the hoft of heav'n,
If counfels different, or danger shun'd
By me, have loft our hopes: but he who reigns
Monarch in heav'n, till then as one fecure
Sate on His throne, upheld by old repute,
Confent, or cuftom, and his regal state
Put forth at full, but ftill His ftrength conceal'd,