Again, depicting the growth of despotism and superstition, and speculating as to—
“Who first taught souls enslaved and realms undone
The enormous faith of Many made for One?”
he traces the gradual horrors of sacrifice beginning with other, and culminating in that of the human, species:—
“She [Superstition] from the rending earth and bursting skies
Saw gods descend, and fiends infernal rise:
Here fixed the dreadful, there the blest, abodes—
Fear made her devils and weak Hope her gods—
Gods partial, changeful, passionate, unjust,
Whose attributes were rage, revenge, or lust—