網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版
[ocr errors]

Made it my whole delight, and in it grew
To fuch perfection, that ere yet my age

Had meafur'd twice fix Years, at our great Feaft
I went into the Temple, there to hear
The Teachers of our Law, and to propofe

What might improve my knowledge or their own;
And was admir'd by all; yet this not all
To which my Spirit afpir'd, victorious deeds
Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while
To refcue Ifrael from the Roman Yoke,
Then to fubdue and quell o'er all the earth
Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r,
Till truth were freed, and equity restor❜d :
Yet held it more humane, more heav'nly, first
By winning words to conquer willing hearts,
And make perfuafion do the work of fear;
At least to try, and teach the erring Soul
Not wilfully mif-doing, but unaware
Mif-led; the ftubborn only to destroy.

Thefe growing thoughts my Mother foon perceiving
By words at times caft forth, inly rejoic'd,
And faid to me apart, High are thy thoughts
O Son, but nourish them, and let them foar
To what heighth facred virtue and true worth
Can raise them, though above Example high;
By matchless Deeds express thy matchless Sire.
For know thou art no Son of mortal man,
Though men efteem thee low of Parentage,
Thy Father is th' Eternal King, who rules
All Heav'n and Earth, Angels and Sons of men;
A meffenger from God foretold thy Birth

210

215

220

225

230

235

Conceiv'd in me a Virgin, he foretold

Thou fhould't be great and fit on David's Throne,

And of thy Kingdom there shall be no end.

241

At thy Nativity a glorious Quire

Of Angels in the fields of Bethlehem sung

To Shepherds watching at their folds by night,
And told them the Meffiah now was born,

245

Where they might fee him, and to thee they came,
Directed to the Manger where thou lay'st ;

For

For in the Inn was left no better room:

A Star not feen before in Heav'n appearing
Guided the Wife Men thither from the Eaft,
To honour thee with Incenfe, Myrrh and Gold,
By whofe bright courfe led on they found the place,
Affirming it thy Star new grav'n in Heav'n,

250

By which they knew the King of Ifrael born.
Just Simeon and Prophetick Anna warn'd

By Vifion found thee in the Temple, and fpake
Before the Altar and the vested Priest,
Like things of thee to all that prefent flood.
This having heard, ftraight I again revolv'd
The Law and Prophets, fearching what was writ
Concerning the Meffiah, to our Scribes

Known partly, and foon found of whom they spake
I am; this chiefly, that my way must lie
Through many a hard affiy even to the death,
Ere I the promis'd Kingdom can attain,
Or work Redemption for mankind, whofe firs
Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head.
Yet neither thus difhearten'd or difmay'd,
The time prefix'd I waited, when behold!
The Baptift (of whose birth I oft had heard,

255

260

265

270

Not knew by fight) now come, who was to come
Before Meffiah and his way prepare.

Which I believ'd was from above; but he

I as all others to his Baptifm came,

Straight knew me, and with loudest voice proclaim'd

Me him (for it was hewn him fo from Heav'n)

276

Me him whofe Harbinger he was; and first
Refus'd on me his Baptifm to confer,

As much his greater, and was hardly won:
But as I rofe out of the laving ftream,
Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence
The Spirit defcended on me like a Dove;
And last, the fum of all, my Father's voice,
Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his,
Me his beloved Son, in whom alone

280

285

He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the time
Now full, that I no more should live obscure,

But

But openly begin, as beft becomes

The Authority which I deriv'd from Heav'n.
And now by some strong motion I am led
Into this Wilderness, to what intent
I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know;
For what concerns my knowledge God reveals.

So fpake our Morning Star, then in his rife,
And looking round on every fide beheld
A pathlefs Defart, dufk with horrid fhades ;
The way he came not having mark'd, return
Was difficult, by humane fteps untrod:
And he ftill on was led, but with such thoughts
Accompanied of things paft and to come,
Lodg'd in his breaft, as well might recommend
Such Solitude before choiceft Society.
Full forty days he pafs'd, whether on hill,
Sometimes anon in fhady vale, each night
Under the covert of fome antient Oak
Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew,
Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd;

290

295

300

305

Nor tafted humane food, nor hunger felt

Till thofe days ended, hunger'd then at last

Among wild Beafts: They at his fight grew mild,

310

Nor fleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk

The fiery Serpent fled, and noxious Worm,
The Lion and fierce Tiger glar'd aloof.
But now an aged man in rural weeds,

Following, as feem'd, the queft of fome firay Ewe, 315
Or wither'd sticks to gather, which might serve
Against a Winter's day when winds blow keen,
To warm him wet return'd from Field at Eve,
He faw approach, who firft with curious eye
Perus'd him, then with words thus utter'd spake.

Sir, what ill chance has brought thee to this place
So far from path or road of men, who pass
In Troop or Caravan, for fingle none
Durst ever, who return'd, and dropt not here
His Carcafe, pin'd with hunger and with drought.

320

325

I ask the rather, and the more admire,

For that to me thou feem'ft the Man, whom late
Our new baptizing Prophet at the Ford

Of Jordan honour'd fo, and call'd the Son
Of God: Ifaw and heard, for we fometimes

330

Who dwell this wilde, constrain'd by want, come forth
To Town or Village nigh (nigheft is far)

Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,
What happ'ns new; Fame alfo finds us out.

334

To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hither Will bring me hence, no other Guide I feek.

But if thou be the Son of God, command

By Miracle he may, reply'd the Swain,
What other way I fee not; for we here
Live on tough roots and ftubs, to thirst inur'd
More than the Camel, and to drink go far,
Men to much mifery and hardship born ;

1

340

That out of these hard ftones be made thee Bread;
So fhalt thou fave thyself, and us relieve

With Food, whereof we wretched feldom taste.

345.

He ended, and the Son of God reply'd.
Think'ft thou fuch force in Bread; is it not written
(For I difcern thee other than thou feem'ft)
Man lives not by bread only but each Word
Proceeding from the mouth of God? who fed
Our Fathers here with Manna; in the Mount
Mofes was forty days, nor eat nor drank,
And forty days Elijah without focd
Wandred this barren waste, the fame I now :
Why doft thou then fuggeft to me diftruft,

350

355

Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art ?

Whom thus anfwer'd th' Arch-Fiend now undisguis'd. 'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate,

Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revolt,
Kept not my happy Station, but was driven

360

With them from blifs to the bottomlefs deep,

Yet

Yet to that hideous place not fo confin'd

By rigour unconniving, but that oft

Leaving my dolorous Prifon I enjoy

Large Liberty to round this Globe of Earth,

365

Or range in th' Air; nor from the Heav'n of Heav'ns

Hath he excluded my resort sometimes.

I came among the Sons of God, when he

Gave up into my

hands Uzzaan Job

To prove him, and illuftrate his high worth;
And when to all his Angels he propos'd

370

To draw the proud King Ahab into fraud,

That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring,
I undertook that Office; and the tongues

Of all his flattering Prophets glibb'd with lyes
To his deftruction, as I had in charge,

375

For what he bids I do; though I have loft
Much luftre of my native brightness, loft
To be belov'd of God, I have not loft
To love, at least contemplate and admire
What I fee excellent in good, or fair,
"Or virtuous, I should fo have loft all fenfe.

386

What can be then lefs in me than defire

To fee thee, and approach thee, whom I know

Declar'd the Son of God, to hear attent

385

Thy Wisdom, and behold thy God-like deeds?

Men generally think me much a foe

To all mankind: why fhould I? they to me

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

1

390

I gain'd what I have gain'd, and with them 'dwell

Copartner in these Regions of the World,

If not difpofer; lend them oft my aid,

Oft my advice by prefages and figns,
And answers, oracles, portents, and dreams,
Whereby they may direct their future life.
Envy they say excites me, thus to gain
Companions of my mifery and wo.

At first it may be; but long fince with wo
Nearer acquainted, now I feel by proof,!

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »