Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it
When fuddenly a man before him stood,
(Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad,
As one in City, Court, or Palace bred)
And with fair fpeech these words to him address'd.
With granted leave officious I return,
But much more wonder that the Son of God
In this wild folitude so long should bide,
Of all things deftitute, and, well I know,
Not without hunger. Others of fome note,
As ftery tells, have trod this Wilderness;
The fugitive Bond-woman with her Son
Out-caft Nebaioth, yet found here relief
By a providing Angel; all the race
Of Ifrael here had famish'd, had not God
Rain'd from Heav'n Manna, and that Prophet bold
Native of Thebez wandring here was fed
Twice by a voice inviting him to eat;
Of thee these forty days none hath regard,
Forty and more deserted here indeed.
To whom thus Jefus: What conclud'ft thou hence?
They all had need, I as thou seest have none.
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, answer'd Jefus. Why should that
Cause 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 stay till bid,
But tender all their pow'r ? nor mention I
Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd firft
To Idols, thofe young Daniel could refuse;
Nor proffer'd by an enemy, though who
Would fcruple that, with want oppreft? Behold
Nature asham'd, or, better to express,
Troubled that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd
From all the Elements her choiceft ftore
To treat thee as befeems, and as her Lord,
With honour, only deign to fit and eat.
He fpake no dream; for as his words had end, Our Saviour lifting up his eyes, beheld
In ample space under the broadest shade
A Table richly spread, in Regal mode,
With dishes pil'd, and meats of nobleft fort
And favour, Beasts of chase, or Fowl of game,
In Paftry-built, or from the fpit, or boil'd,
Gris-amber-fteam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore,
Freshet, or purling Brook, of shell 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 fmell diffus'd, in order stood
Tall stripling 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' Hefperides, that seem'd
Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled fince
Of Fairy 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 chyming strings, or charming pipes; and winds
Of gentleft gale Arabian odours fann'd
From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. 365
Such was the fplendor; and the Tempter now
His invitation earnestly renew'd.
What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat?
These are not fruits forbidden, no interdict
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.
All these are Spirits of Air, and Woods, and Springs, Thy gentle Minifters, who come to pay
Thee homage, and acknowledg thee their Lord: What doubt'ft thou Son of God? fit down and eat.
To whom thus Jefus temp'rately reply'd:
Saidft thou not, that to all things I had right?
And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? 380
Shall I receive by gift, what of my own,
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 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 pompous Delicacies I contemn,
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 feeft;
If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary
What I might have beftow'd on whom I pleas'd, 395
And rather opportunely in this place
Chofe to impart to thy apparent need;
Why shouldft thou not accept it? but I fee
What I can do or offer is fufpect;
Of these things others quickly will difpofe,
Whose pains have earn'd the far fetcht spoil. With that
Both Table and Provifion vanish'd quite
With found of Harpies wings, and Talons heard ;
Only th' importune Tempter still remain'd,
And with thefe 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, thyself
Bred up in poverty and streights at home,
Loft in a Defart here, and hunger-bit :
Which way, or from what hope doft thou aspire
To greatnefs? whence Authority deriv'ft?
What Followers, what Retinue canft thou gain,
Or at thy heels the dizzy Multitude,
Longer than thou canst feed them on thy coft?
Mony brings Honour, Friends, Conqueft and Realms.
What rais'd Antipater the Edomite,
And his Son Herod plac'd on Judah's Throne,
(ThyThrone,) but Gold that got him puiffant Friends?
Therefore, if at great things thou would'st arrive, 426
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, 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 antient Empires of the Earth,
In height of all their flowing wealths diffolv'd:
But men endu'd with thefe, have oft attain'd
In lowest poverty to highest deeds;
Gideon and Jephtha, and the Shepherd Lad,
Whofe Offspring on the Throne of Judah fat
So many Ages, and shall yet regain
That Seat, and reign in Ifrael without end.
Among the Heathen, (for throughout the World
To me is not unknown what hath been done
Worthy Memorial) canft thou not remember
Quintus, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?
For I esteem thofe names of men fo poor,
Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
Riches, though offer'd from the hand of Kings.
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