Caft wanton eyes on the daughters of men, ་་ Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa, Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more 180 185 "Too long, then layd'ft thy fcapes on names ador'd, Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan, " Satyr, or fawn, or filvan? but these haunts How many have with a smile made small account es A youth, how all the beauties of the east In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid. et Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond CHigher design than to enjoy his state; find, But he whom we attempt is wiser far 190 195 200 205 210 215 Discount'nance her defpis'd, and put to rout Led captive; cease t' admire, and all her plumes ‹‹ Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy, At every fudden flighting quite abasht: Therefore with manlier objects we must try His conftancy, with fuch as have more shew "Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise, Rocks whereon greatest men have often wreck'd; << Or that which only feems to fatisfy Lawful defires of nature, not beyond.. 220 225 230 And now I know he hungers where no food Is to be found, in the wild wilderness; The rest commit to me, I fhall let pafs (No advantage, and his ftrength as oft affay. He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud acclaim; Then forthwith to him takes a chofen band 236 Of fpirits likeft to himself in guile To be at hand, and at his beck appear, If caufe were to unfold some active scene Now hungring firft, and to himself thus faid: 240 246 Where will this end? four times ten days I've pafs'd << To virtue I impute not, or count part < Though needing, what praife is it to endure? << Can fatisfy that need fome other way, Tho' hunger ftill remain: fo it remain 250 255 Without this body's wafting, I content me, It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Of trees thick interwoven; there he flept 260 Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment sweet: 265 270 Tho rav'nous, taught t'abstain from what they brought: 275 The strength whereof fuffic'd him forty days; Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse. Thus wore out night, and now the herald lark Left his ground-neft, high tow'ring to defcry 280 The morn's approach, and greet her with his fong: As lightly from his graffy couch up rofe 285 Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream; 290 That open'd in the midst a woody scene; Nature's own work it seem'd (nature taught art) 295 And to a fuperftitious eye the haunt Of wood-gods and wood-nymphs; he view'd it round, As one in city, or court, or palace-bred) ''But much more wonder that the Son of God Of Ifrael here had famifh'd, had not God Twice by a voice inviting him to eat; 300 305 310 315 320 To whom thus Jefus what conclud'st thou hence? 'They all had need, I as thou feeft have none. How haft thou hunger then? Satan reply'd;"' Tell me if food were now before thee fet, **Would'st thou not eat? thereafter as I like The giver, answer'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 fervice, not to stay till bid, But tender all their pow'r? nor mention I Meats by the law unclean, nor offer'd first To idols, thofe young Daniel could refuse e; Nor proffer'd by an enemy, though who Would fcruple that, with want oppreft? behold 325 330 " Nature asham'd, or, better to express, ८ From all the elements her choiceft ftore To treat thee as befeems, and as her lord, He spake no dream; for as his words had end, 335 340 345 350 355 With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn, And ladies of th' Hefperides, that feem'd Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabl'd fince" Of fairy damfels met in foreft wide By knights of Logres, or of Lyones, 360 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 foft wings, and Flora's earliest fmells. 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 |