Side 228 af 239

The clouded ark of God, till then in tents Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. Such follow him as shall be registered Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; Whose foul idolatries, and other faults, Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense God, as to leave them, and expose their land, Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest Left in confusion—Babylon thence called. There in captivity he lets them dwell The space of seventy years; then brings them back, Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn To David, 'stablished as the days of heaven. Returned from Babylon by leave of kings, Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God They first re-edify, and for a while In mean estate live moderate, till, grown In wealth and multitude, factious they grow, But first among the priests dissension springs;1 Men who attend the altar, and should most Endeavour peace. Their strife pollution brings Upon the temple itself. At last they seize The sceptre, and regard not David's sons; Then lose it to a stranger, that the true Anointed king, Messiah, might be born Barred of his right. Yet at his birth a star, Uuseen before in heaven, proclaims him come, And guides the eastern sages, who inquire His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold: His place of birth a solemn angel tells To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; They gladly thither haste, and by a quire

PARADISE LOST.

Among the priests dissension springs.—This is a reference to the struggle for the high priesthood between Jason Menelous. Aristolytes united and Menelaus, in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes; and later between Aristobulus and Hyrcanus. Aristobulus united the kingly and priestly office in his person.

They beseech

That Moses might report to them his will And terror cease.

Book XII., lines 236--238.