Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell.

On Dagon and the Ark.

What news with Dagon? Is thy shrine so hot, Thou canst not keep it? or has Dagon got The falling sickness, that his godship's found. In such a posture, prostrate on the ground? Poor helpless god! but stay! Is Dagon grown So weak i'th, hams: nor stand, nor rise alone? A god, and cannot rise? 'Tis very odd! He must have help, or lie: A proper god! Well, Dagon must require help of hands; Up Dagon goes the second time, and stands As confident, as though his place had bin His own, in Fee: down Dagon falls again: But Dagon's shrewdly martyr'd with the jump, Lost Hands, and Head; and nothing left but stump: Sure all's not well with Dagon, now of late He's either sick, or much forgot the State Belonging to so great a God: hath none Offer'd some stinking Sacrifice, or blown Some nauseous fume into his sacred Nose. And made his Godship dizzy? or who knows, Perchance h'as taken pet, and will resign His sullen place, and quit his empty shrine. No wonder, a false God should stoop and lye Upon the flour, when as a true God's by? It was unlikely Dagon should forbear Respite of Homage when the Ark was there; If I would worship a false God at all, It should be one that would not scorn to fall Before his Betters; whose indifferent Arm, If it could do no good, could do no harm:

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I'de rather choose to bend my idle knee, Of all false Gods, to such a god as he, Whose spirit's not too quick: The Fabulous Frog Found greater danger in the Stork than Log: And to conclude, I'de choose him Dagon like; Not having Head to plot; nor Hands to strike.