And fends his Spi'rit of truth henceforth to dwell In pious hearts, an inward oracle To all truth requifite for men to know.
So fpake our Saviour; but the fubtle Fiend, Though inly ftung with anger and difdain, Diffembled, and this anfwer smooth return'd. Sharply thou haft infifted on rebuke, And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will But mifery hath wrefted from me Eafily canft thou find one miferable, And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth; If it may ftand him more in ftead to lie, Say and unfay, feign, flatter, or abjure? But thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord; 475 From thee I can and muft fubmifs indure Check or reproof, and glad to 'fcape fo quit. Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk, Smooth on the tongue difcours'd, pleafing to th'
Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire Virtue, who follow not her lore; permit me To hear thee when I come (fince no man comes) And talk at least, though I despair to' attain. 485 Thy Father, who is holy, wife, and pure, Suffers the hypocrite or atheous prieft To tread his facred courts, and minifter About his altar, handling holy things, Praying or vowing, and vouchfaf'd his voice 490 To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet Infpir'd; difdain not fuch access to me.
To whom our Saviour with unalter'd brow. Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope, 495 I bid not or forbid; do as thou find'st Permiffion from above; thou canst not more. He added not; and Satan bowing low His gray diffimulation, difappear'd Into thin air diffus'd: for now began Night with her fullen wings to double-shade 500 The defert; fowls in their clay nefts were couch'd; And now wild beafts came forth the woods to
THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
Alas, from what high hope to what relapfe 30 Unlook'd for are we fall'n! our eyes beheld Meffiah certainly now come, fo long Expected of our fathers; we have heard
His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth; Now, now, for fure, deliverance is at hand, The kingdom shall to Ifrael be restor'd;
Thus we rejoic'd, but foon our joy is turn'd Into perplexity and new amaze :
For whither is he gone, what accident
Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire After appearance, and again prolong Our expectation? God of Ifraël,
Send thy Meffiah forth, the time is come; Behold the kings of th' earth how they opprefs Thy chofen, to what highth their pow'r unjust 45 They have exalted, and behind them cast All fear of thee; arife and vindicate Thy glory, free thy people from their yoke. But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd, Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him, By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown In public, and with him we have convers'd; Let us be glad of this, and all our fears Lay on his providence; he will not fail,
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, 55 Mock us with his bleft fight, then snatch him hence;
Soon we shall fee cur hope, our joy return.
Thus they out of their plaints new hope refume
To find whom at the first they found unfought : But to his mother Mary, when the faw Others return'd from baptifm, not her son, Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none, Within her breast though calm, her breast though
Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd Some troubled thoughts, which she in fighs thus clad.
O what avails me now that honor high To have conceiv'd of God, or that falute Hail highly favor'd, among women blest! While I to forrows am no less advanc'd, And fears as eminent, above the lot Of other women, by the birth I bore, In fuch a feason born when fearce a fhed Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me From the bleak air; a stable was our warmth, A manger his; yet foon enforc'd to fly Thence into Egypt, till the murd'rous king Were dead, who fought his life, and mifling fill'd With infant blood the streets of Bethlehem; From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth Hath been our dwelling many years; his life Private, unactive, calm, contemplative, Little fufpicious to any king; but now Full grown to man, acknowledg'd, as I hear, By John the Baptist, and in public shown, Son own'd from Heaven by his Father's voice; 85 I look'd for fome great change; to honor? no, But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold, That to the fall and rifing he should be Of many in Ifraël, and to a fign
Spoken against, that through my very foul
A,fword fhall pierce; this is my favor'd lot, My exaltation to afflictions high;
Afflicted I may be, it seems, and bleft;
I will not argue that, nor will repine.
But where delays he now? fome great intent 95 Conceals him: when twelve years he scarce had feen,
I loft him, but fo found, as well I faw
He could not lofe himself; but went about His Father's bufinefs; what he meant I nius'd, Since understand; much more his abfence now 100 Thus long to fome great purpose he obfcures. But I to wait with patience am inur'd; My heart hath been a store-house long of things And fay'ings laid up, portending ftrange events.
Thus Mary pond'ring oft, and oft to mind 105 Recalling what remarkably had pafs'd Since first her falutation heard, with thoughts Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling: The while her fon tracing the defert wild, Sole but with holiest meditations fed, Into himself defcended, and at once All his great work to come before him fet; How to begin, how to accomplish best His end of being on earth, and mission high: For Satan with fly preface to return 115 Had left him vacant, and with speed was gone Up to the middle region of thick air, Where all his potentates in council fat; There without fign of boast, or fign of joy, Solicitous and blank he thus began.
Princes, Heav'n's ancient Sons, ethereal Thrones, Demonian Spirits now, from th' element Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd Pow'rs of fire, air, water, and earth beneath, So may we hold our place and thefe mild feats 125 Without new trouble; fuch an enemy
Is rifen to invade us, who no less Threatens than our expulfion down to Hell;
I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Confenting in full frequence was impower'd, 130 Have found him, view'd him, tafted him, but
If he be man by mother's fide at least,
With more than human gifts from Heav'n adorn'd, Perfections abfolute, graces divine, And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds. Therefore I am return'd, left confidence Of my fuccefs with Eve in Paradise Deceive you to persuasion over-fure Of like fucceeding here; I fummon all Rather to be in readiness, with hand Or counsel to affift; left I, who erst Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd. So fpake th' old Serpent doubting, and from all With clamor was affur'd their utmoft aid At his command; when from amidst them rofe Belial, the diffolutest Spi'rit that fell, The fenfualleft, and after Afmodai The fleshlieft Incubus, and thus advis'd. Set women in his eye, and in his walk,
Among daughters of men the fairest found; Many are in each region paffing fair As the noon fky; more like to Goddeffes Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet, Expert in amorous arts, inchanting tongues Perfuafive, virgin majefty with mild
And sweet allay'd, yet terrible t' approach, 160 Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw Hearts after them tangled in amorous nets. Such object hath the pow'r to soft'n and tame Severeft temper, smooth the rugged'ft brow, Enerve, and with voluptuous hope diffolve, 165 Draw out with credulous defire, and lead At will the manlieft, resoluteft breast, As the magnetic hardest iron draws. Women, when nothing elfe, beguil'd the heart Of wifeft Solomon, and made him build, And made him bow to the Gods of his wives. To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd. Belial, in much uneven scale thon weigh'st All others by thyfcif; because of old Thou thyself doat'dft on womankind, admiring Their fhape, their color, and attractive grace, None are, thou think', but taken with fuch toys. Before the flood thou with thy lufty crew, Falfe titled fons of God, roaming the earth Caft wanton eyes on the daughters of men, And coupled with them, and begot a race. Have we not feen, or by relation heard, In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk't, in wood or grove by moffy fountain fide, In valley or green meadow, to way-lay Some beauty rare, Califto, Clymene, Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,
Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more
All her array; her female pride deject, Or turn to reverent awe? for beauty ftands 220 In th' admiration only of weak minds Led captive; cease to' admire, and all her plumes Fall flat and fhrink into a trivial toy,
At every fudden flighting quite abafh'd: Therefore with manlier objects we must try 225 His conftancy, with fuch as have more how Of worth, of honor, glory', and popular praife; Rocks whereon greateft men have ofteft wreck'd; Or that which only feems to fatisfy Lawful defires of nature, not beyond; And now I know he hungers where no food Is to be found, in the wide wilderness; The reft commit to me, I fhall let pafs No' advantage, and his strength as oft affay. He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud at clame;
Then forthwith to him takes a chofen band Of Spirits likeft to himself in guile To be at hand, and at his beck appear, If caufe were to unfold fome active scene Of various perfons, each to know his part; Then to the defert takes with thefe his flight; Where still from shade to fhade the Son of God After forty days fafting had remain'd, Now hungring firft, and to himself thus said. Where will this end? four times ten days I've
pafs'd Wand'ring this woody maze, and human food Nor tafted, nor had appetite; that fast 185 To virtue I impute not, or count part
Of honor, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond Higher defign than to enjoy his fiate; Thence to the bait of women lay expos'd: But he whom we attempt is wifer far Than Solomon, of more exalted mind, Made and fet wholly on th' accomplishment Of greatest things; what woman will you find, Though of this age the wonder and the fame, On whom his leifure will vouchsafe an eye Of fond defire? or should the confident, As fitting queen ador'd on beauty's throne, Defcend with all her winning charms begirt T'enamour, as the zone of Venus once Wrought that effect on Jove, fo fables tell; How would one look from his majestic brow Seated as on the top of virtue's hill, Difcount'nance her defpis'd, and put to rout
Of what I fuffer here; if nature need not, Or God fupport nature without repast Though needing, what praise is it to indure? But now I feel I hunger, which declares Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God Can fatisfy that need fome other way, Though hunger ftill remain: fo it remain Without this body's wafting, content me, And from the fting of famin fear no harm. Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed Me hungring more to do my Father's will.
It was the hour of night, when thus the Son 260 Commun'd in filent walk, then laid him down Under the hofpitable covert nigh
Of trees thick interwoven; there he slept, And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream, 264 Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment sweet; Him thought, he by the brook of Cherith flood, And faw the ravens with their horny beaks Food to Elijah bringing ev'n and morn, Though ravenous, taught t'abstain from what they
The morn's approach, and greet her with his fong:
As lightly from his graffy couch up rose Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream, Fafting he went to fleep, and fasting wak'd. Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd, From whofe high top to ken the prospect round, If cottage were in view, fheep-cote, or herd; But cottage, herd, or fheep-cote, none he saw, Only' in a bottom faw a pleasant grove, With chaunt of tuneful birds refounding loud; Thither he bent his way, determin'd there To reft at noon, and enter'd foon the shade High rooft, and walks beneath, and alleys brown, That open'd in the midft a woody fcene; Nature's own work it feem'd (nature taught art) And to a fuperftitious eye the haunt
Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it round,
When fuddenly a man before him stood,
In ample space under the broadeft fhade A table richly fpread, in regal mode, With difhes pil'd, and meats of nobieft fort. And favor, beafts of chafe, or fowl of game, In pastry built, or from the fpit, or boil'd, Gris-amber-fteam'd; all fish from fea or shore, Frefhet, or purling brook, of fhell or fin, And exquifitest name, for which was drain'd Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coaft. Alas how fimple, to thefe cates compar'd, Was that crude apple that diverted Eve! And at a stately fide-board by the wine That fragrant fiell diffus'd, in order flood Tall ftripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue Than Ganymed or Hylas; diftant more Under the trees now tripp'd, now folemn ftood Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn, And ladies of th' Helperides, that feen'd Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled fince Of faery damfels met in foreft wide By knights of Logres, or of Lyones, Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore: And all the while harmonious airs were heard Of chiming ftrings, or charming pipes, and winds Of gentleft gale Arabian odors fann'd From their foft wings, and Flora's earliest fmells.
365 Such was the fplendor, and the Tempter now His invitation carneilly renew'd.
What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat? These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict Defends the touching of thefe viands pure; Their tafte no knowledge works at least of evil, But life preferves, dettroys life's enemy, Hunger, with fwect reftorative delight.
All these are Spi'rits of air, and woods, and fprings,
Thy gentle minifters, who come to pay Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord: What doubt't thou Son of God? fit down and
To whom thus Jesus temp'rately reply'd. Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? Shall I receive by gift what of my own,
How haft thou hunger then? Satan reply'd. Tell me if food were now before thee fet, Would't thou not eat? Thereafter as I like The giver, anfwer'd Jefus. Why should that Caufe thy refufal? faid the fubtle Fiend. Haft thou not right to all created things? Owe not all creatures by just right to thee Duty and service, not to ftay till bid, But tender all their pow'r? nor mention I Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first To idols, thofe young Daniel could refuse; Nor proffer'd by an enemy, though who Would fcruple that, with want opprefs'd? Behold
Nature afham'd, or better to exprefs,
When and where likes me beft, I can command? I can at will, doubt not, as foon as thou, Command a table in this wilderness, And call fwift flights of Angels miniftrant Array'd in glory on my cup to' attend: Why shouldst thou then obtrude this diligence, In vain, where no acceptance it can find? And with my hunger what haft thou to do? Thy pompous delicacies I contemn, 390 And count thy fpecious gifts no gifts, but guiles. To whom thus anfwer'd Satan malecontent. That I have alfo pow'r to give, thou feest; If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary
Whose pains have earn'd the far fet fpoil. With To me is not unknown what hath been done
Both table and provifion vanish'd quite With found of harpies wings, and talons heard; Only th' impórtune Tempter still remain'd, And with these words his temptation pursu’d. 405 By hunger, that each other creature tames, Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd; Thy temperance invincible befides, For no allurement yields to appetite, And all thy heart is fet on high designs, High actions; but wherewith to be atchiev'd? Great acts require great means of enterprise; Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth, A carpenter thy father known, thyself Bred up in poverty and straits at home, Loft in a defert here and hunger-bit:
Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap, Not difficult, if thou hearken to me; Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand; They whom I favor thrive in wealth amain, While virtue, valor, wisdom, fit in want. To whom thus Jefus patiently reply'd. Yet wealth without these three is impotent To gain dominion, or to keep it gain'd. Witness thofe ancient empires of the earth, In highth of all their flowing wealth dissolv'd: But men endued with these have oft attain'd In lowest poverty to higheft deeds; Gideon, and Jephtha, and the fhepherd lad, Whofe offspring on the throne of Judah fat So many ages, and fhall yet regain That feat, and reign in Ifrael without end. Among the Heathen, (for throughout the world
Worthy' of memorial) canft thou not remember Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus? For I esteem those names of men fo poor Who could do mighty things, and could contemn Riches though offer'd from the hand of kings. And what in me seems wanting, but that I 450 May alfo in this poverty as foon
Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more? Extol not riches then, the toil of fools, The wife man's cumbrance if not foare, more apt To flacken virtue, and abate her edge, Than prompt her to do ought may merit praife. What if with like averfion I reje& Riches and realms; yet not for that a crown, Golden in fhow, is but a wreath of thorns, Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and fleepless nights,
To him who wears the regal diadem, When on his fhoulders each man's burden lies; For therein stands the office of a king, His honor, virtue, merit, and chief praise, That for the public all this weight he bears. 465 Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules Paffions, defires, and fears, is more a king; Which every wife and virtuous man attains: And who attains not, ill afpires to rule Cities of men, or headstrong multitudes, Subject himfelf to anarchy within, Or lawless paffions in him which he ferves. But to guide nations in the way of truth By faving doctrin, and from error lead To know, and knowing worship God aright, 475 Is yet more kingly; this attracts the foul, Governs the inner man, the nobler part; That other o'er the body only reigns, And oft by force, which to a generous mind So reigning can be no fincere delight. Befides to give a kingdom hath been thought Greater and nobler done, and to lay down Far more magnanimous, than to affume. Riches are needless then, both for themselves, And for thy reason why they should be fought, To gain a fccpter, oftest better miss'd.
THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
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