Hell,

Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield,

Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast. The broad circumference

Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb

Through optic glass the Tuscan artist 1 views

At ev'ning from the top of Fesolè,2
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 290
Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
His spear to equal which the tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
Of some great ammiral, were but a
wand-

Excelling human, princely dignities, And powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones;

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His holy rites and solemn feasts profan'd, And with their darkness durst affront his light.

Egypt from Syrian ground, had general

names

Of Baalim and Ashtaroth 1-those male, These feminine. For spirits, when they please,

Can either sex assume, or both; so soft And uncompounded is their essence pure, Not tied or manacled with joint or limb, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,

Ran purple to the sea, suppos'd with blood

Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the lovetale

Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch

Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led,
His eye survey'd the dark idolatries
Of alienated Judah. Next came one

Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape

With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'd

2

Earth,

Their boasted parents: Titan, Heav'n's

claim'd

Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall:
Who forthwith from the glittering staff