Paradise Lost

In ARGOB and in BASAN, to the stream 
Of utmost ARNON.  Nor content with such 
Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 
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. 
Next CHEMOS, th' obscene dread of MOABS Sons, 
From AROER to NEBO, and the wild 
Of Southmost ABARIM; in HESEBON 
And HERONAIM, SEONS Realm, beyond 
The flowry Dale of SIBMA clad with Vines, 
And ELEALE to th' ASPHALTICK Pool. 
PEOR his other Name, when he entic'd 
ISRAEL in SITTIM on their march from NILE 
To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 
Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd 
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 
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 their Essence pure, 
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 their aerie purposes, 
And works of love or enmity fulfill. 
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 
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 
SIDONIAN Virgins paid their 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 
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 
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 
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, 
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, 
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: 
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 offrings, and adore the Gods 
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 
Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms 
Rather then human.  Nor did ISRAEL scape 
Th' infection when their borrow'd Gold compos'd 
The Calf in OREB: and the Rebel King 
Doubl'd that sin in BETHEL and in DAN, 
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 
Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love 
Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood 
Or Altar smoak'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 
With lust and violence the house of God. 
In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns