Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad,
As one in city', or court, or palace bred,
And with fair fpeech these words to him addrefs'd.
With granted leave officious I return,
But much more wonder that the Son of God
In this wild folitude fo long fhould bide
Of all things destitute, and well I know,
Not without hunger. Others of some note,
As story tells, have trod this wilderness;
The fugitive bond-woman with her fon
Out-caft Nebaioth, yet found here relief
By a providing Angel; all the race
Of Ifrael here had famifh'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 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'ft thou not eat? Thereafter as I like
The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that
Cause thy refusal? said the subtle 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 first
To idols, thofe young Daniel could refufe;
Nor proffer'd by an enemy, though who
Would scruple that, with want opprefs'd? Behold
Nature afham'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 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 broadest shade
A table richly spread, in regal mode,
With dishes pil'd, and meats of nobleft fort
And favor, beafts of chafe, or fowl of game,,
In pastry built, or from the fpit, or boil'd,
Gris-amber-fteam'd; all fish from sea or shore,
Frefhet, or purling brook, of shell or fin,
And exquifiteft name, for which was drain'd
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric 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 smell diffus'd, in order stood
Tall ftripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue
Than Ganymed or Hylas; diftant more
Under the trees now tripp'd, now folemn stood
Nymphs
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 faery 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 chiming ftrings, or charming pipes, and winds
Of gentleft gale Arabian odors fann'd
From their foft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. 365
Such was the fplendor, and the Tempter now
His invitation earneftly 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, deftroys 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 375 Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord: What doubt'ft thou Son of God? fit down and eat.
To whom thus Jefus temp'rately reply'd. Said'ft 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 wildernefs,
And call swift flights of Angels miniftrant
Array'd in glory on my cup to' attend :
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,
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 seest;
If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary
What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd, 395
And rather opportunely in this place
Chose to impart to thy apparent need,
Why shouldft thou not accept it? but I see
What I can do or offer is fufpect;
Of these things others quickly will dispose, 400
Whose pains have earn'd the far fet spoil. With that
Both table and provision vanish'd quite
With found of harpies wings, and talons heard;
Only th' importune Tempter ftill remain'd,
And with these words his temptation pursu'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 set on high designs,
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, thyself
Bred up in poverty and ftraits at home,
Loft in a defert here and hunger-bit :
Which way or from what hope dost thou aspire
To greatnefs? whence authority deriv❜st?
What followers, what retinue canft thou gain,
Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude,
420 Longer than thou canft feed them on thy cost? Money brings honor, friends, conqueft, and realms: What rais'd Antipater the Edomite,
And his fon Herod plac'd on Juda's throne, 424
(Thythrone) but gold that got him puissant friends?
Therefore, if at great things thou would'st 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 To gain dominion, or to keep it gain'd. Witnefs those ancient empires of the earth, 435 In highth of all their flowing wealth diffolv'd: But men indued with these have oft attain'd In lowest poverty to higheft deeds;
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