Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/26

20 Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, Where he fell flat and shamed his worshipers. 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 Abana and Pharphar, lucid streams. He also against 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,