Cause thy refusal? faid the subtle fiend.
Haft thou not right to all created things?
Owe not all creatures, by juft right, to thee
Duty and service, not to stay 'till bid,
But tender all their power? nor mention I
Meats by the law unclean, or offer'd first
To idols, thofe young DANIEL could refufe;
Nor proffer'd by an enemy; though who
Would scruple that, with want opprest? behold
Nature afham'd, or better to express,
330
Troubl'd that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd From all the elements her choicest store,
To treat thee as befeems, and as her LORD 335 With honour: only deign to fit, and eat.
He spake no dream; for as his words had end, Our SAVIOUR, lifting up his eyes, beheld In ample space, under the broadeft fhade, A table richly spread, in regal mode, With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest fort And favour, beasts of chase, or fowl of game, In pastry-built, or from the spit, or boil'd, Gris-amber-fteam'd; all fish from fea or fhore,
4
Freshet,
Frefhet, or purling brook, of fhell or fin,
And exquifiteft name, for which was drain'd
PONTUS and LUCRINE bay, and AFRIC coast.
Alas how fimple, to these cates compar'd,
Was that crude apple that diverted EVE!
And, at a stately fide-board, by the wine
That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood
O Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue
Than GANYMEDE OF HYLAS; distant more
Under the trees now tripp'd, now folemn stood
Nymphs of DIANA's train, and NAIADES, 355
With fruits and flow'rs from AMALTHEA's horn,
And ladies of th' HESPERIDES, that feem'd
Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabl'd fince,
Of fairy damfels met in forest wide,
By knights of LOGRES, or of LYONES,
LANCELOT, or PELLEAS, or PELLENORE.
And all the while harmonious airs were heard
Of chiming strings, or charming pipes, and winds
Of gentleft gale ARABIAN odours fann'd
From their foft wings, and FLORA's earliest smells.
Such was the fplendor; and the Tempter now
His invitation earnestly renew'd.
370
What, doubts the Son of GOD to fit, and eat? These are not fruits forbidden, no interdi&t Defends the touching of these viands pure, Their taste no knowledge works, at least of evil, But life preferves, destroys life's enemy, Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.
375
All these are spirits of air, and woods, and springs
Thy gentle minifters, who come to pay
Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their lord:
What doubt'ft thou, Son of GOD? fit down, and eat.
To whom thus JESUS temp'rately reply'd: Saidft thou not that to all things I had right? And who with-holds my pow'r that right to use? Shall I receive by gift, what of my own, 381 When and where likes me best, I can command? I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou, Command a table in this wilderness, And call fwift flights of angels ministrant, Array'd in glory, on my cup t'attend: Why shouldst thou then obtrude this diligence In vain, where no acceptance it can find? And with my hunger what hast thou to do?
Thy
390
Thy pompous delicacies I contemn,
And count thy fpecious gifts no gifts, but guiles.
To whom thus anfwer'd SATAN malecontent:
That I have also pow'r to give, thou seeft;
If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary
What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd,
And rather opportunely in this place
396
Chose to impart to thy apparent need,
Why shouldst thou not accept it? but I fee
What I can do, or offer, is fufpect;
Of these things others quickly will dispose, 400
Whose pains have earn'd the far-fet fpoil. With
Both table and provifion vanifh'd quite,
[that
With found of harpies wings, and talons heard;
Only, th' importune Tempter ftill remain'd,
And with these words his temptation purfu'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, thy felf
Bred up in poverty and ftreights at home;
Loft in a defart here, and hunger-bit:
Which way, or from what hope, doft thou aspire
To greatness? whence authority deriv❜ft?
420
What followers, what retinue canst thou gain,
Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude,
Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost?
Mony brings honour, friends, conqueft and realms,
What rais'd ANTIPATER the Edomite,
And his fon HEROD plac'd on JUD A's throne,
(Thy throne) but gold,that got him puiffant friends?
Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive,
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 favour thrive in wealth amain, 430
While virtue, valour, wifdom fit in want.
To whom thus JESUS patiently reply'd: Yet wealth without these three is impotent
|