Page:Milton - Milton's Paradise Lost, tra il 1882 e il 1891.djvu/29

456–389.] His eye surveyed the dark idolatries Of alienated Judah. Next came one Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark Maimed his brute image, heads and hands lopped off In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, Where he fell flat, and shamed his worshippers. Dagon his name, sea-monster, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. He also 'gainst the house of God was bold: A leper once he lost, and gained a king; Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew God's altar to disparage and displace, For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn His odious offerings, and adore the gods Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared A crew, who, under names of old renown, Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train, With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Fanatic Egypt, and her priests, to seek Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape The infection, when their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his Maker to the grazed ox, Jehovah, who, in one night, when He passed From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke Both her first-born and all her bleating gods.