Book II, 8: On Dagon and the Arke

What newes with Dagon? Is thy Shrine so hot,
Thou canst not keepe it? Or has Dagon got
The falling sicknes, that his Godship's found
On such a posture, prostrate on the Grond?
Poore helplesse God! But stay! Is Dagon growne
So weake ith'hamms: Nor stand, nor rise, alone?
A God, and cannot rise? Tis very odde!
He must have help, or lye: A proper God!
Well, Dagon must requier helpe of hands;
Vp Dagon gos the second time, and stands
As confident as though his place had bin
His owne, in Fee: Downe Dagon falls agin:
But Dagon's shrewdly martyr'd with the jumpe,
Lost hands and Head; and nothing left but stumpe:
Sure, all's not well with Dagon, now a late;
Hee's either sicke, or much forgot the State,
Belonging to so great a God: Has none
Offer'd some stinking Sacrifice, or blowne
Some nauseous fume into his Sacred Nose,
And made his God-ship dizzy? Or who knowes,
Perchance h'as taken Pett, and will resigne
His sullen place, and quitt his empty Shrine:
No wonder, a false God should stoope, and lye
Vpon the floore when as a true God's by:
It was unlikely Dagon should forbeare
Respite of Homage, when the Arke was there:
If I would worship a false God at all,
It should be one that would not scorne to fall
Before his Betters: whose indiff'rent arme,
If it could doe no good, could doe no harme;
I'd rather choose to bend my idle knee,
Of all false gods, to such a God as Hee,
Whose spirit's not too quick: The fabulous Frogg
Found greater danger in the stork, then Logge:
And to conclude, I'd choose him, Dagon-like,
Not having Head, to plot; nor Hand, to strike.