REDEMPTION. 69
Dele from out the vast empire of world's.
But many knew his sign, and straight betook
Them to appeasing rites, the influence
Malignant to forefend; nor long were left
In doubt: for, now the foe sejoin, and part,
Wide o'er the world dispers'd, swarm through the air,
Irnpregn the earth thick as autumnal leaves,
And likest seem'd, if any eye beheld,
To bands of locusts, which the burning wind,
Invoked by Moses, over all the coasts
Of Egypt, innumerable brought up,
Keen to devour and desolate the land.
A part, diverse, the oracles invade,
And ululate their dark prophetic lies,
Or fill the caves and groves, where witches haunt,
And wizards, their incantations t' inspire.
Some hold communion direct with men,
Besiege, obsess, possess, imbue their minds
With every vain device, and strong delude
Not to perceive, or seeing, not confess
Them to be demons 'scaped from depths of hell.
So overspread the rapping devils now
Th' apostate world; since, as mankind recede
From God, and sacred truths deride, the more
Their pow'r resumes its sway, and hell's empire,
Though held astrict, yet unsubdued, revives.
The rest, a force immane, nigh half of hell,
Battailous, in many a circuit wide
Hov'ring awhile, as birds of prey, before
They swoop upon some unprotected flock,
Drop sudden from the air, and globus swarm
Within Esdrela's vale, clog every tree,
6*
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