Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50)

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Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50) Page 89

by Homer


  Thir course, in even ballance down they light

  On the firm brimstone, and fill all the Plain; 350

  A multitude, like which the populous North

  Pour’d never from her frozen loyns, to pass

  Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous Sons

  Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread

  Beneath Gibralter to the Lybian sands. 355

  Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band

  The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood

  Thir great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms

  Excelling human, Princely Dignities,

  And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones; 360

  Though of thir Names in heav’nly Records now

  Be no memorial blotted out and ras’d

  By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life.

  Nor had they yet among the Sons of Eve

  Got them new Names, till wandring ore the Earth, 365

  Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man,

  By falsities and lyes the greatest part

  Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake

  God thir Creator, and th’ invisible

  Glory of him that made them, to transform 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, thir Names then known, who first, who last,

  Rous’d from the slumber, on that fiery Couch,

  At thir great Emperors call, as next in worth

  Came singly where he stood on the bare strand,

  While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof? 380

  The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell

  Roaming to seek thir prey on earth, durst fix

  Thir Seats long after next the Seat of God,

  Thir Altars by his Altar, Gods ador’d

  Among the Nations round, and durst abide 385

  Jehovah thundring out of Sion, thron’d

  Between the Cherubim; yea, often plac’d

  Within his Sanctuary it self thir Shrines,

  Abominations; and with cursed things

  His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profan’d, 390

  And with thir darkness durst affront his light.

  First Moloch, horrid King besmear’d with blood

  Of human sacrifice, and parents tears,

  Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud

  Thir childrens cries unheard, that past through fire 395

  To his grim Idol. Him the Ammonite

  Worshipt in Rabba and her watry Plain,

  In Argob and in Basan, to the stream

  Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such

  Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 400

  Of Solomon he led by fraud to build

  His Temple right against the Temple of God

  On that opprobrious Hill, and made his Grove

  The pleasant Vally of Hinnom, Tophet thence

  And black Gehenna call’d, the Type of Hell. 405

  Next Chemos, th’ obscene dread of Moabs Sons,

  From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild

  Of Southmost Abarim; in Hesebon

  And Horonaim, Seons Realm, beyond

  The flowry Dale of Sibma clad with Vines, 410

  And Eleale to th’ Asphaltick Pool.

  Peor his other Name, when he entic’d

  Israel in Sittim on thir march from Nile

  To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.

  Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg’d 415

  Even 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 bordring flood

  Of old Euphrates to the Brook that parts 420

  Egypt from Syrian ground, had general Names

  Of Baalim and Ashtaroth, those male,

  These Feminine. For Spirits when they please

  Can either Sex assume, or both; so soft

  And uncompounded is thir Essence pure, 425

  Not ti’d or manacl’d with joynt or limb,

  Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,

  Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose

  Dilated or condens’t, bright or obscure,

  Can execute thir aerie purposes, 430

  And works of love or enmity fulfill.

  For those the Race of Israel oft forsook

  Thir living strength, and unfrequented left

  His righteous Altar, bowing lowly down

  To bestial Gods; for which thir heads as low 435

  Bow’d down in Battel, sunk before the Spear

  Of despicable foes. With these in troop

  Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians call’d

  Astarte, Queen of Heav’n, with crescent Horns;

  To whose bright Image nightly by the Moon 440

  Sidonian Virgins paid thir Vows and Songs,

  In Sion also not unsung, where stood

  Her Temple on th’ offensive Mountain, built

  By that uxorious King, whose heart though large,

  Beguil’d by fair Idolatresses, fell 445

  To Idols foul. Thammuz came next behind,

  Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur’d

  The Syrian Damsels to lament his fate

  In amorous dittyes all a Summers day,

  While smooth Adonis from his native Rock 450

  Ran purple to the Sea, suppos’d with blood

  Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the Love-tale

  Infected Sions daughters with like heat,

  Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch

  Ezekiel saw, when by the Vision led 455

  His eye survay’d the dark Idolatries

  Of alienated Judah. Next came one

  Who mourn’d in earnest, when the Captive Ark

  Maim’d his brute Image, head and hands lopt off

  In his own Temple, on the grunsel edge, 460

  Where he fell flat, and sham’d his Worshipers:

  Dagon his Name, Sea Monster, upward Man

  And downward Fish: yet had his Temple high

  Rear’d in Azotus, dreaded through the Coast

  Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon 465

  And Accaron and Gaza’s frontier bounds.

  Him follow’d Rimmon, whose delightful Seat

  Was fair Damascus, on the fertil Banks

  Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams.

  He also against the house of God was bold: 470

  A Leper once he lost and gain’d a King,

  Ahaz his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew

  Gods Altar to disparage and displace

  For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn

  His odious off’rings, and adore the Gods 475

  Whom he had vanquisht. After these appear’d

  A crew who under Names of old Renown,

  Osiris, Isis, Orus and their Train

  With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus’d

  Fanatic Egypt and her Priests, to seek 480

  Thir wandring Gods disguis’d in brutish forms

  Rather then human. Nor did Israel scape

  Th’ infection when thir borrow’d Gold compos’d

  The Calf in Oreb: and the Rebel King

  Doubl’d that sin in Bethel and in Dan, 485

  Lik’ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox,

  Jehovah, who in one Night when he pass’d

  From Egypt marching, equal’d with one stroke

  Both her first born and all her bleating Gods.

  Belial came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd 490

  Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love

  Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood

  Or Altar smoa
k’d; yet who more oft then hee

  In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest

  Turns Atheist, as did Ely’s Sons, who fill’d 495

  With lust and violence the house of God.

  In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns

  And in luxurious Cities, where the noyse

  Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs,

  And injury and outrage: And when Night 500

  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

  Expos’d a Matron to avoid worse rape. 505

  These were the prime in order and in might;

  The rest were long to tell, though far renown’d,

  Th’ Ionian Gods, of Javans Issue held

  Gods, yet confest later then Heav’n and Earth

  Thir boasted Parents; Titan Heav’ns first born 510

  With his enormous brood, and birthright seis’d

  By younger Saturn, he from mightier Jove

  His own and Rhea’s Son like measure found;

  So Jove usurping reign’d: these first in Creet

  And Ida known, thence on the Snowy top 515

  Of cold Olympus rul’d the middle Air

  Thir 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’ Hesperian Fields, 520

  And ore the Celtic roam’d the utmost Isles.

  All these and more came flocking; but with looks

  Down cast and damp, yet such wherein appear’d

  Obscure some glimps of joy, to have found thir chief

  Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 525

  In loss it self; which on his count’nance cast

  Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride

  Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore

  Semblance of worth, not substance, gently rais’d

  Thir fainting courage, and dispel’d thir fears. 530

  Then strait commands that at the warlike sound

  Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard

  His mighty Standard; that proud honour claim’d

  Azazel as his right, a Cherube tall:

  Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld 535

  Th’ Imperial Ensign, which full high advanc’t

  Shon like a Meteor streaming to the Wind

  With Gemms and Golden lustre rich imblaz’d,

  Seraphic arms and Trophies: all the while

  Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds: 540

  At which the universal Host upsent

  A shout that tore Hells 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 545

  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 550

  Of Flutes and soft Recorders; such as rais’d

  To hight of noblest temper Hero’s old

  Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage

  Deliberate valour breath’d, firm and unmov’d

  With dread of death to flight or foul retreat, 555

  Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage

  With solemn touches, troubl’d 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 560

  Mov’d on in silence to soft Pipes that charm’d

  Thir painful steps o’re the burnt soyle; and now

  Advanc’t in view, they stand, a horrid Front

  Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise

  Of Warriers old with order’d Spear and Shield, 565

  Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief

  Had to impose: He through the armed Files

  Darts his experienc’t eye, and soon traverse

  The whole Battalion views, thir order due,

  Thir visages and stature as of Gods, 570

  Thir number last he summs. And now his heart

  Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength

  Glories: For never since created man,

  Met such imbodied force, as nam’d with these

  Could merit more then that small infantry 575

  Warr’d on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood

  Of Phlegra with th’ Heroic Race were joyn’d

  That fought at Theb’s and Ilium, on each side

  Mixt with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds

  In Fable or Romance of Uthers Son 580

  Begirt with British and Armoric Knights;

  And all who since, Baptiz’d or Infidel

  Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban,

  Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond,

  Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore 585

  When Charlemain with all his Peerage fell

  By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond

  Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ’d

  Thir dread commander: he above the rest

  In shape and gesture proudly eminent 590

  Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not lost

  All her Original brightness, nor appear’d

  Less then Arch Angel ruind, and th’ excess

  Of Glory obscur’d: As when the Sun new ris’n

  Looks through the Horizontal misty Air 595

  Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon

  In dim Eclips disastrous twilight sheds

  On half the Nations, and with fear of change

  Perplexes Monarchs. Dark’n’d so, yet shon

  Above them all th’ Arch Angel: but his face 600

  Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care

  Sat on his faded cheek, but under Browes

  Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride

  Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast

  Signs of remorse and passion to behold 605

  The fellows of his crime, the followers rather

  (Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn’d

  For ever now to have thir lot in pain,

  Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc’t

  Of Heav’n, and from Eternal Splendors flung 610

  For his revolt, yet faithfull how they stood,

  Thir Glory witherd. As when Heavens Fire

  Hath scath’d the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines,

  With singed top thir stately growth though bare

  Stands on the blasted Heath. He now prepar’d 615

  To speak; whereat thir doubl’d Ranks they bend

  From wing to wing, and half enclose him round

  With all his Peers: attention held them mute.

  Thrice he assayd, and thrice in spight of scorn,

  Tears such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last 620

  Words interwove with sighs found out thir way.

  O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers

  Matchless, but with th’ Almighty, and that strife

  Was not inglorious, though th’ event was dire,

  As this place testifies, and this dire change 625

  Hateful to utter: but what power of mind

  Foreseeing 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? 630

  For who can yet beleeve, though after loss,

  That all these puissant Legions, whose exile

  Hath emptied Heav’n, shall fail to re-ascend

 
Self-rais’d, and repossess thir native seat?

  For mee be witness all the Host of Heav’n, 635

  If counsels different, or danger shun’d

  By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns

  Monarch in Heav’n, till then as one secure

  Sat on his Throne, upheld by old repute,

  Consent or custome, and his Regal State 640

  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 warr, provok’t; our better part remains 645

  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 650

  There went a fame in Heav’n 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: 655

  For this Infernal Pit shall never hold

  Cælestial Spirits in Bondage, nor th’ Abyss

  Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts

  Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird, 660

  For who can think Submission? Warr then, Warr

  Open or understood must be resolv’d.

  He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew

  Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs

  Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze 665

  Far round illumin’d hell: highly they rag’d

  Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms

  Clash’d on thir sounding Shields the din of war,

  Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav’n.

  There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top 670

  Belch’d fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire

  Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign

  That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,

  The work of Sulphur. Thither wing’d with speed

  A numerous Brigad hasten’d. As when Bands 675

  Of Pioners with Spade and Pickax arm’d

  Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,

  Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on,

  Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell

  From heav’n, for ev’n in heav’n his looks and thoughts 680

  Were always downward bent, admiring more

  The riches of Heav’ns pavement, trod’n Gold,

  Then aught divine or holy else enjoy’d

  In vision beatific: by him first

  Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 685

 

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