power

105

And with my help thou may'ft; to me the
Is giv'n, and by that right I give it thee.
Aim therefore at no less than all the world,
Aim at the high'eft, without the high'est attain'd
Will be for thee no fitting, or not long,
On David's throne, be prophecy'd what will.
To whom the Son of God unmov'd reply'd.
Nor doth this grandeur and majestic show
Of luxury, though call'd magnificence,
More than of arms before, allure mine eye,
Much less my mind; though thou should'ft add to tell
Their fumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feasts
On citron tables or Atlantic stone,

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115

(For I have also heard, perhaps have read)
Their wines of Setia, Cales, and Falerne,
Chios, and Crete, and how they quaff in gold,
Crystal and myrrhine cups imbofs'd with gems
And ftuds of pearl, to me should'ft tell who thirft 120
And hunger ftill: then embassies thou show'st
From nations far and nigh; what honor that,
But tedious waste of time to fit and hear
So many hollow compliments and lies,
Outlandish flatteries? then proceed'ft to talk 125
Of th' emperor, how easily subdued,

How gloriously; I fhall, thou fay'st, expel

A brutish monster: what if I withal

Expel a Devil who first made him fuch?

Let his tormenter confcience find him out;

130

For

For him I was not fent, nor yet to free
That people victor once, now vile and base,
Deservedly made vaffal, who once juft,

135

Frugal, and mild, and temp'rate, conquer'd well,
But govern ill the nations under yoke,
Peeling their provinces, exhausted all
By luft and rapin; first ambitious grown
Of triumph, that infulting vanity;

Then cruel, by their sports to blood inur'd
Of fighting beafts, and men to beafts expos'd, 140
Luxurious by their wealth, and greedier still,
And from the daily scene effeminate.

What wife and valiant man would seek to free
These thus degenerate, by themselves inslav'd,
Or could of inward flaves make outward free? 145
Know therefore when my season comes to fit
On David's throne, it fhall be like a tree
Spreading and overshadowing all the earth,
Or as a stone that shall to pieces dash

All monarchies befides throughout the world, 150
And of my kingdom there fhall be no end:
Means there fhall be to this, but what the means,
Is not for thee to know, nor me to tell.

To whom the Tempter impudent reply'd.
I fee all offers made by me how flight
Thou valuest, because offer'd, and reject'st:
Nothing will please the difficult and nice,
Or nothing more than ftill to contradict:

155

On

160

On th' other fide know alfo thou, that I
On what I offer fet as high esteem,
Nor what I part with mean to give for nought;
All these which in a moment thou behold'ft,
The kingdoms of the world to thee I give;
For giv'n to me, I give to whom I please,
No trifle; yet with this reserve, not else,
On this condition, if thou wilt fall down,
And worship me as thy fuperior lord,
Easily done, and hold them all of me;
For what can less so great a gift deserve?

165

Whom thus our Saviouranfwer'd with difdain. 170

I never lik'd thy talk, thy offers less,

175

Now both abhor, since thou haft dar'd to utter
Th' abominable terms, impious condition;
But I indure the time, till which expir'd,
Thou haft permission on me. It is written
The first of all commandments, Thou shalt worship
The Lord thy God, and only him fhalt ferve;
And dar'ft thou to the Son of God propound
To worship thee accurs'd, now more accurs'd
For this attempt bolder than that on Eve,
And more blafphemous? which expect to rue.
The kingdoms of the world to thee were given,
Permitted rather, and by thee ufurp'd;
Other donation none thou canst produce:

180

If giv'n, by whom but by the King of kings, 185 God over all fupreme? if giv'n to thee,

By thee how fairly is the giver now

Repaid? But gratitude in thee is loft

Long fince.

Wert thou fo void of fear or fhame,

As offer them to me the Son of God,

To me my own, on such abhorred pact,
That I fall down and worship thee as God?
Get thee behind me; plain thou now appear'st
That evil one, Satan for ever damn'd.

190

Towhom the Fiend with fear abash'd reply'd. 195 Be not fo fore offended, Son of God,

Though fons of God both Angels are and Men, If I to try whether in higher fort

200

205

Than these thou bear'ft that title, have propos'd
What both from Men and Angels I receive,
Tetrarchs of fire, air, flood, and on the earth
Nations befides from all the quarter'd winds,
God of this world invok'd and world beneath;
Who then thou art,, whose coming is foretold
To me fo fatal, me it most concerns.
The trial hath indamag'd thee no way,
Rather more honor left and more efteem;
Me nought advantag'd, missing what I aim'd.
Therefore let pass, as they are transitory,
The kingdoms of this world; I shall no more
Advise thee; gain them as thou canft, or not.
And thou thyself seem'ft otherwise inclin'd
Than to a worldly crown, addicted more
To contemplation and profound dispute,

210

As

215

As by that early action may be judg'd,
When flipping from thy mother's eye thou went'st
Alone into the temple; there wast found
Among the gravest Rabbies disputant

On points and questions fitting Mofes chair,
Teaching not taught; the childhood shows the man,
As morning shows the day. Be famous then 220
By wisdom; as thy empire must extend,

So let extend thy mind o'er all the world
In knowledge, all things in it comprehend:
All knowledge is not couch'd in Mofes Law, 225
The Pentateuch, or what the Prophets wrote;
The Gentiles also know, and write, and teach
To admiration, led by nature's light;
And with the Gentiles much thou must converse,
Ruling them by persuasion as thou mean'st;
Without their learning how wilt thou with them,
Or they with thee hold conversation meet?
How wilt thou reason with them, how refute
Their idolisms, traditions, paradoxes?

Error by his own arms is best evinc'd.

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235

Look once more ere we leave this specular mount
Weftward, much nearer by fouthwest, behold
Where on the AEgean shore a city stands
Built nobly, pure the air, and light the foil,
Athens the eye of Greece, mother of arts
And eloquence, native to famous wits
Or hospitable, in her sweet recess,
K 2

240

City'