For fo much good, so much beneficence. But why fhould man feek glory? who of his own So fpake the Son of God and here again Satan had not to answer, but ftood ftruck With guilt of his own fin; for he himself Infatiable of glory had loft all: Yet of another Plea bethought him foon. Of glory, as thou wilt, faid he, fo deem, 135 140 145 150 155 Obeys Tiberius; nor is always rul'd With temp'rate fway; oft have they violated 160 The Temple, oft the Law with foul affronts, Retir'd unto the Defart, but with arms; Tho' Priefts, the Crown, and David's Throne ufurp'd, 165 With Modin and her fuburbs once content. If Kingdom move thee not, let move thee Zeal 170 175 The Prophets old, who fung thy endless reign, Reign then; what canft thou better do the while? 180 To whom our Saviour answer thus return'd. Be try'd in humble state, and things adverse, 185 By tribulations, injuries, infults, 190 Contempts, and fcorns, and fnares, and violence, Suffering, abftaining, quietly expecting, Without diftruft or doubt, that he may know What I can fuffer, how obey? Who best Can fuffer, beft can do; beft reign, who first To whom the Tempter inly rack'd reply'd : 195 200 205 If there be worse, the expectation more 210 215 220 If I then to the worst that can be hafte, Why move thy feet fo flow to what is beft, Happiest both to thyself and all the world, Perhaps thou lingreft, in deep thoughts detain'd That thou who worthieft art fhould't be their King ? Of th' enterprize fo hazardous and high: 225 230 Thy life hath yet been private, most part spent And once a-year Jerufalem, few days 234 Short fojourn; and what thence could'ft thou observe? The world thou haft not seen, much less her glory, Empires, and Monarchs, and their radiant Courts, Beft fchool of beft experience, quickest in fight But I will bring thee where thou foon fhalt quit 2 D 240 Thofe Those rudiments, and fee before thine eyes 245 The Monarchies of th' Earth, their pomp and ftate, Thee, of thyfelf fo apt, in regal Arts, And regal Mysteries, that thou may'st know How beft their oppofition to withstand. 250 With that (fuch pow'r was giv'n him then) he took The Son of God up to a Mountain high. It was a Mountain, at whofe verdant feet A fpacious plain, out-ftretch'd in circuit wide, Lay pleasant; from his fide two rivers flow'd, 255 Th' one winding, th' other ftraight, and left between Fair Champain with lefs rivers intervein'd, Then meeting join'd their Tribute to the Sea; Fertil of corn the glebe, of oil and wine, 259 With herds the pastures throng'd, with flocks the hills; Huge Cities and high tower'd, that well might feem The Profpect was, that here and there was room To this high mountain's top the Tempter brought 265 Well have we speeded, and o'er hill and dale, There Babylon the wonder of all tongues, 270 275 280 As As ancient, but rebuilt by him who twice His City, there thou feeft, and Batra there; All these the Parthian, now fome Ages paft, 285 290 Turning with eafie eye thou mayft behold. By great Arfaces led, who founded first 295 From the luxurious Kings of Antioch won. And just in time thou com'ft to have a view Of his great Pow'r; for now the Parthian King In Ctesiphon hath gather'd all his Hoft 300 Against the Scythian, whofe Incurfions wild Have wafted Sogdiana; to her aid He marches now in hafte; fee, though from far, His thousands, in what Martial-equipage They iffue forth! fteel bows, and shafts their arms, 305 Of equal dread in flight, or in pursuit ; All Horsemen, in which fight they most excel : In rhombs and wedges, and half-moons and wings! He lookt and faw what numbers numberless The City-gates out-pour'd, light armed Troops 310 In coats of Mail and Military pride; In Mail their horfes clad, yet fleet and strong, Prauncing their riders bore, the flow'r and choice Of many Provinces from bound to bound; 315 From Arachofia, from Gandaor East, And Margiana to the Hircanian cliffs |