We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built 260 265 In this unhappy mansion, or once more Thus answer'd. Leader of those armies bright, 270 275 280 No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious height." He scarce had ceas'd when the superior Fiend Was moving toward the shore! his pond'rous shield, Etherial temper, massy, large, and round, 285 Bebind him cast; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views 290 295 Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire: Of that inflamed sea he stood, and call'd 300 High over-arch'd imbow'r; or scatter'd sedge Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm'd 305 Hath vex'd the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, While with perfidious hatred they pursued The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld From the safe shore their floating carcases 310 And broken chariot-wheels: so thick bestrown, Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Of Hell resounded. "Princes, Potentates, 315 Warriors, the flow'r of Heaven, once yours, now lost, If such astonishment as this can seize Eternal Spi'rits; or have ye chos'n this place After the toil of battle to repose Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 320 To slumber here, as in the vales of Heav'n? Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down, Thus drooping; or with linked thunder-bolts Awake, arise, or be forever fall'n!" 330 They heard, and were abash'd, and up they sprung Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. 335 In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Yet to their general's voice they soon obey'd Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 341 345 350 355 Forthwith from every squadron and each band The heads and leaders thither haste where stood Their great commander: Godlike shapes and forms And Pow'rs that erst in Heaven sat on thrones ; 360 Though of their names in Heav'nly records now By their rebellion from the books of life. Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 364 Got them new names, till, wand'ring o'er the earth, Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, Of mankind they corrupted to forsake 370 Oft to the image of a brute, adorn'd With gay religions, full of pomp and gold, And Devils to adore for deities: Then were they known to men by various names, And various idols through the Heathen world. 375 Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last, Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery couch, 380 385 390 Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd thro' fire 396 Worship'd in Rabba and her wat❜ry plain, 400 405 Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sone, To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarg'd 415 Ev'n to that hill of scandal, by the grove Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate; Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. With these came they, who, from the bord'ring flood Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts 420 Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names These feminine. For Spirits when they please And uncompounded is their essence pure, 425 Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose, Can execute their airy purposes, 430 And works of love or enmity fulfil. For those the race of Israel oft forsook Their living strength, and unfrequented left His righteous altar, bowing lowly down To bestial Gods; for which their heads as low 435 Bow'd down in battle, sunk before the spear 440 In Sion also not unsung, where stood Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built By that uxorious king, whose heart though large, 445 To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd The Syrian damsels to lament his fate 450 |