Or as a gueft with Daniel at his pulfe.

Thus wore out night, and now the herald lark

Left his ground neft, high tow'ring to defcry
The morn's approach, and greet her with his fong:

280

As lightly from his graffy couch up rofe
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream,
Fafting he went to fleep, and fafting wak'd.

Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd,

From whofe high top to ken the profpect round,
If cottage were in view, fheep-cote or herd;
Only' in a bottom saw a pleasant grove,

285

With chaunt of tuneful birds refounding loud;
Thither he bent his way; determin'd there
To reft at noon, and enter'd foon the fhade

290

High rooft, and walks beneath, and alleys brown,
That open'd in the midst a woody scene;

Nature's own work it feem'd (nature taught art)

295

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,

Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad,

As one in city', or court, or palace bred,

300

And with fair fpeech thefe words to him addrefs'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,

305

Not without hunger. Others of some note,

As ftory tells, have trod this wilderness;
The fugitive bond-woman with her fon

308. The fugitive bond-woman, &c.] Hagar, who fled from the face of her mistress, Gen. XVI. 6. and is therefore called a fugitive.

Out-caft Nebaioth, yet found here relief

By a providing Angel; all the race

310

Of Ifrael here had famish'd, had not God

Rain'd from Heav'n Manna; and that Prophet bold
Native of Thebez wand'ring here was fed
Twice by a voice inviting him to eat :

Of these thy forty days none hath regard,

315

Forty and more deferted here indeed.

To whom thus Jefus. What conclud'ft thou hence ?

They all had need, as I thou seeft 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

320

The giver, anfwer'd Jefus. Why should that
Cause thy refusal? said the subtle Fiend.
Haft thou not right to all created things?
Owe not all creatures by juft right to thee
Duty and fervice, not to ftay till bid,

325

But tender all their pow'r ? nor mention I
Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first

To treat thee as befeems, and as her Lord

335

With honor, 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 shade

A table richly fpread in regal mode,

349

With dishes pil'd, and meats of nobleft fort

And favor, beafts of chafe, or fowl of
game
In paftry built, or from the fpit, or boil'd,
Gris-amber fteam'd; all fish from fea or fhore,
Frefhet, or purling brook, of fhell or fin,
And exquifitel name, for which was drain'd
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Africk coaft.
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 food
Tall ftripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue
Than Ganymed or Hylas; diftant more
Under the trees now tripp'd, now folemn flood
Nymph's of Diana's train, and Naiades
With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn,
And ladies of th' Hefperides, that feem'd
Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled fince
Of fairy damfels met in forefts wide

By knights of Logres, or of Lyones,
Lancelot, or Peileas, 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

345

350

355

360

From their foft wings, and Flora's earlieft fmells. 365 Such was the fplendor, and the Tempter now

His invitation earneftly renew'd.

What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat? Thefe are not fruits forbidden; no interdict.

353. Than Ganymed or Hylas,] Thefe were two beautiful youths and belov'd, the one by Jupiter, the other by Hercules. Ganymed was cup-bearer to Jupiter, and Hylas drew water for Hercules, and therefore are properly mention'd on this occafion.

Defends the touching of thefe viands pure:
Their tafte no knowledge works at least of evil,
But life preferves, deftroys life's enemy,
Hunger, with fweet restorative delight.

All these are Spirits of air, and woods, and fprings,
Thy gentle minifters, who come to pay

Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord;
What doubt'it thou Son of God? fit down and eat.

To whom thus Jefus temp'rately rely'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 I my own,

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 swift flights of Angels miniftrant
Array'd in glory on my cup t' attend:

37

375

380

385

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 also pow'r to give thou seeft;

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 should'st thou not accept it? but I fee

What I can do or offer is fufpect;

Of these things others guickly will difpofe,

400

Whose pains have earn'd the far fet fpoil. With that

Both table and provifion vanifh'd quite

With found of harpies wings, and talons heard;
Only th' importune Tempter ftill remain'd,`
And with thefe words his temptation purfu'd.

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,

405

And all thy heart is set on high designs,

410

High actions; but wherewith to be achiev'd?
Great acts require great means of enterprise ;
Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,
A carpenter thy father known, thyfelf,
Bred up in poverty and straits at home,
Loft in a defert here and hunger-bit :

415

Which way or from what hope doft thou aspire
To greatnefs? whence authority deriv❜st ?
What followers, what retinue canst thou gain,
Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude,

Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost ?
Money brings honor, friends, conqueft, and realms :
What rais'd Antipater the Edomite,

420

424

And his fon Herod plac'd on Judah's throne,
(Thy throne) but gold that got him puiffant friends?
Therefore, if at great things thou would'ft 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 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

430