Without means us'd, what it predicts revokes. Between two such inclosing enemies 360 Roman and Parthian? therefore one of these her kings 365 Thou must make fure thy own, the Parthian first 369 Choose which thou wilt by conqueft or by league. thians indeed led Hyrcanus away captive to Seleucia, after his eyes were put out, and when he was paft 70 years of age, fo that he might well be called old Hyrcanus: but instead of leading away Antigonus captive, they conftituted him king of the Jews, and he was afterwards depriv'd of his kingdom In by the Romans. See Jofephus Antiq. Lib. 14. cap. 13. De Bell. Jud. Lib. 1. cap. 13. But it should be confidered that Milton himself was old and blind, and compofing from memory he might fall into fuch a mistake, which may be pardon'd among fo excellences, many 376. In In David's royal feat, his true fucceffor, 375 380 Shalt reign, and Rome or Cæfar not need fear. 385 To whom our Saviour answer'd thus unmov'd. Much oftentation vain of fleshly arm, And fragil arms, much inftrument of war 376. In Habor, and among the Medes difpers'd;] Thefe were the ten tribes, whom Shalmanefer king of Affyria, carried captive unto Affyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 2 Kings XVIII. 11. which cities were now under the dominion of the Parthians. 384. From Egypt to Euphrates] Long That is the kingdom of Ifrael in its utmoft extent; for thus the land was promis'd to Abraham, Gen. XV. 18. Unto thy feed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt, unto the great river, the river Euphrates: and the extent of Solomon's kingdom is thus defcrib'd, 1 Kings IV. 21. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of Long in preparing, foon to nothing brought, Before mine eyes thou' haft fet; and in my ear 399 Vented much policy, and projects deep 395 Of enemies, of aids, battels and leagues, 400 David's true heir, and his full fcepter fway But whence to thee this zeal, where was it then 405 410 415 Of Egypt, Baal next and Afhtaroth, And all th' idolatries of Heathen round, Befides their other worfe than heath'nifh crimes; Humbled themselves, or penitent befought The God of their forefathers; but fo dy'd thel and in Dan, and which the poet calls the deities of Egypt, for it is probable (as fome learned men have conjectured) that Jeroboam having converfed with the Egyptians fet up thefe two calves in imitation of the two which the Egyptians worshipped, the one called Apis at Memphis the metropolis of the upper Egypt, and the other called Mnevis at Hierapolis the metropolis of the lower Egypt. Baal next and Afhtaroth. Ahab built an altar and a temple for Baal, 1 Kings XVI. 32. and at the fame time probably was introduced the worship of Afhtaroth, the Goddess of the Zidonians, 1 Kings XI. 5. For Jezebel, 420 425 Unhumbled, Ahab's wife, who prompted him to all evil, was the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, 1 Kings XVI. 31. And by the prophets of the groves I Kings XVIII. 19. Mr. Selden underftands the prophets of Afhtaroth or Aftarte: and the groves under every green tree 2 Kings XVII. 10. fhould be tranflated Afhtaroth under every green tree. See Selden de Diis Syris Syntag. II. cap. 2. But for the wickednefs and idolatry of the Ifraelites, and their rejection thereupon, and ftill continuing impenitent in their captivity, fee 2 Kings XVII. and the prophets in feveral places. 430. Head |