For whither is he gone, what accident

Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling: Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire The while her son, tracing the desert wild, After appearance, and again prolong

Sole, but with holiest meditations fed, Our expectation? God of Israel,

Into himself descended, and at once
Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come ;

All his great work to come before him set ;
Behold the kings of the Earth, how they oppress How to begin, how to accomplish best
Thy chosen ; to what height their power unjust His end of being on Earth, and mission high :
They have exalted, and behind them cast

For Satan, with sly preface to return,
All fear of thee; arise, and vindicate

Had left him vacant, and with speed was gone
Thy glory; free thy people from their yoke. Up to the middle region of thick air,
But let us wait ; thus far he hath perform’d, Where all his potentates in council sat;
Sent his anointed, and to us reveal'd him,

There, without sign of boast, or sign of joy,
By his great prophet, pointed at and shown Solicitous and blank, he thus began. [thrones;
In public, and with him we have convers’d;

“ Princes, Heaven's ancient sons, ethereal Let us be glad of this, and all our fears

Demonian spirits now, from the element
Lay on his providence; he will not fail,

Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'a
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, Powers of fire, air, water, and earth beneath,
Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence; (So may we hold our place and these mild seats
Soon we shall see our hope, our joy, return." Without new trouble,) such an enemy

Thus they, out of their plaints, new hope resume Is risen to invade us, who no less
To find whom at the first they found unsought : Threatens than our expulsion down to Hell;
But, to his mother Mary, when she saw

I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Others return'd from baptism, not her son,

Consenting in full frequence was impower'd, Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none, (pure, Have found him, view'd him, tasted him ; but find Within her breast though calm, her breast though Far other labour to be undergone Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd Than when I dealt with Adam, first of men, Some troubled thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad. Though Adam by his wife's allurement feli,

“ 0, what avails me now that honour high However to this man inferiour far; To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute,

If he be man by mother's side, at least • Hail highly favour'd among women blest!' With more than human gifts from Heaven adorn'd, While I to sorrows am no less advanc'd,

Perfections absolute, graces divine, And fears as eminent, above the lot

And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds. Of other women, by the birth I bore ;

Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence In such a season born, when scarce a shed

Of my success with Eve in Paradise
Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me

Deceive ye to persuasion over-sure
From the bleak air ; a stable was our warmth, Of like succeeding here : I summon all
A manger his; yet soon enforc'd to fly,

Rather to be in readiness, with hand
Thence into Egypt, till the murderous king Or counsel to assist ; lest I, who erst
Were dead, who sought his life, and missing fill'd Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd.”
With infant blood the streets of Bethlehem;

So spake the old serpent, doubting ; and from all From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth

With clamour was assured their utmost aid Hath been our dwelling many years ; his life

At his command: when from amidst them rose Private, unactive, calm, contemplative,

Belial, the dissolutest spirit that fell, Little suspicious to any king; but now

The sensuallest, and, after Asmodai,
Full grown to man, acknowledg’d, as I hear, The fleshliest incubus; and thus advis'd.
By John the Baptist, and in public shown,

“ Set women in his eye, and in his walk,
Son own'd from Heaven by his Father's voice, Among daughters of men the fairest found:
I look'd for some great change; to honour ? no, Many are in each region passing fair
But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold,

As the noon sky: more like to goddesses
That to the fall and rising he should be

Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet,
Of many in Israel, and to a sign

Expert in amorous arts, enchanting tongues
Spoken against, that through my very soul Persuasive, virgin majesty with mild
A sword shall pierce : this is my favour'd lot, And sweet allay'd, yet terrible to approach,
My exaltation to afflictions high;

Skill'd to retire, and, in retiring, draw
Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest;

Hearts after them, tangled in amorous nets. I will not argue that, nor will repine.

Such object hath the power to soften and tame But where delays he now ? some great intent Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow Conceals him : when twelve years he scarce had Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve, seen,

Draw out with credulous desire, and lead I lost him, but so found, as well I saw

At will the manliest, resolutest breast,
He could not lose himself, but went about

As the magnetic hardest iron draws.
His Father's business; what he meant I musid, Women, when nothing else, beguil'd the heart
Since understand ; much more his absence now Of wisest Solomon, and made him build,
Thus long to some great purpose he obscures. And made him bow, to the gods of bis wives.”
But I to wait with patience am inur'd;

To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd.
My heart hath been a store-house long of things “ Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st
And sayings laid up, portending strange events." All others by thyself; because of old

Thus Mary, pondering oft, and oft to mind Thou thyself doat'dst on womankind, admiring Recalling what remarkably had pass'd

Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace, Since first her salutation heard, with thoughts None are, thou think'st, but taken with such lovs.

Before the flood thou with thy lusty crew,

Nor tasted, nor had appetite; that fast
Salse titled sons of God, roaming the Earth, To virtue I impute not, or count part
Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men, Of what I suffer here ; if nature need not,
And coupled with them, and begot a race.

Or God support nature without repast
Have we not seen, or by relation heard,

Though needing, what praise is it to endure ? In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk'st, But now I feel I hunger, which declares In wood or grove, by mossy fountain side, Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God In valley or green meadow, to way-lay

Can satisfy that need some other way, Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene,

Though hunger still remain : so it remain Dephine, or Semele, Antiopa,

Without this body's wasting, I content me, Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more

And from the sting of famine fear no harm; Too long, then lay'st thy seapes on names ador'd, Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts, that feed Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan,

Me hungering more to do my Father's will.” Satyr, or Faun, or Sylvan? But these haunts It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Delight not all; among the sons of men,

Commun'd in silent walk, then laid him down How many have with a smile made small account Under the hospitable covert nigh Of Beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd

Of trees thick interwoven ; there he slept, . All her assaults, on worthier things intent!

And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream, Remember that Pellean conqueror,

Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment sweet : A youth, how all the beauties of the East

Him thought, he by the brook of Cherith stood, He slightly view'd, and slightly overpass'd; And saw the ravens with their horny beaks How tie, surnam'd of Africa, dismiss'd,

Food to Elijah bringing, even and morn, [brought: In his prime youth, the fair Iberian maid. Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they For Solomon, he liv'd at ease, and full

He saw the prophet also, how he fled Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond Into the desert, and how there he slept Higber design than to enjoy his state;

Under a juniper ; then how awak'd Thence to the bait of women lay expos’d:

He found his supper on the coals prepar'd, But he, whom we attempt, is wiser far

And by the angel was bid rise and eat, Than Solomon, of more exalted mind,

And eat the second time after repose, Made and set wholly on the accomplishment The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days: Of greatest things. What woman will you find, Sometimes that with Elijah he partook, Though of this age the wonder and the fame, Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse. On wbom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye

Thus wore out night; and now the herald lark Of fond desire? Or should she, confident,

Left his ground-nest, high towering to descry As sitring queen ador'd on Beauty's throne, The Morn's approach, and greet her with his song : Descend with all her winning charms begirt As lightly from his grassy couch up rose To enamour, as the zone of Venus once

Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream ; Wrought that effect on Jove, so fables tell ; Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak’d. How would one look from his majestic brow, Up to a hill anon lus steps he rear’d, Seated as on the top of Virtue's hill,

From whose high top to ken the prospect round, Discountenance her despis’d, and put to rout If cottage were in view, sheep-cote, or herd; All ber array ; her female pride deject,

But cottage, herd, or sheep-cote, none he saw ; Or turn to reverent awe! for Beauty stands Only in a bottom saw a pleasant grove, In the admiration only of weak minds

With chant of tuneful birds resounding loud : Iad captive ; cease to admire, and all her plumes Thither he bent his way, determin'd there Fall fat, and shrink into a trivial toy,

To rest at noon, and enter'd soon the shade As every sudden slighting quite abash'd.

High-roof'd, and walks beneath, and alleys brown, Therefore with manlier objects we must try

That opened in the midst a woody scene; His constancy; with such as have more show Nature's own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise, And, to a superstitious eye, the haunt (round, kocks, whereon greatest men have oftest wreck’d; of wood-gods and wood-nymphs: he view'd it Or that which only seems to satisfy

When suddenly a man before him stood; Lawful desires of nature, not beyond;

Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad, And now I know he hungers, where no food As one in city, or court, or palace bred, Is to be found, in the wide wilderness :

And with fair speech these words to him address'd. The rest commit to me; I shall let pass

“With granted leave officious I return, No advantage, and his strength as oft assay." But much more wonder that the Son of God

He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud acclaim; In this wild solitude so long should bide, Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band

Of all things destitute ; and, well I know Of spirits, likest to himself in guile,

Not without hunger. Others of some note, To be at hand, and at his beck appear,

As story tells, have trod this wilderness; If cause were to unfold some active scene

The fugitive bond-woman, with her son
Of various persons, each to know his part:

Out-cast Nebaioth, yet found here relief
Then to the desert takes with these his fight; By a providing angel ; all the race
Where, still from shade to shade, the Son of God Of Israel here had famish’d, had not God
After forty days fasting had remain'd,

Rain’d from Heaven manna ; and that prophet bold, Now bungering first, and to himself thus said. Native of Thebez, wandering here was fed · Where will this end? four times ten days I've Twice by a voice inviting him to eat : pass d

Of thee these forty days none hath regard, Wandering this woody maze, and human food Forty and more deserted here indeed.”

To whom thus Jesus. « What conclud'st thou Array'd in glory on my cup to attend : hence?

Why should'st thou then obtrude this diligence, They all had need ; I, as thou seest, have none." In vain, where no acceptance it can find ?

“How hast thou hunger then?” Satan replied. And with my hunger what hast thou to do? • Tell me, if food were now before thee set, Thy pompous delicacies I contemn, Would'st thou not eat?” “ Thereafter as I like And count thy specious gifts no gifts, but guiles." The giver,” answer'd Jesus. “ Why should that To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent. Cause thy refusal ?" said the subtle fiend.

“ That I have also power to give, thou seest; “ Hast thou not right to all created things? If of that power I bring thee voluntary Owe not all creatures by just right to thee

What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd, Duty and service, nor to stay till bid,

And rather opportunely in this place
But tender all their power? Nor mention I Chose to impart to thy apparent need,
Meats by the law unclean, or otter'd first

Why should'st thou not accept it? but I see
To idols, those young Daniel could refuse; What I can do or offer is suspect :
Nor proffer'd by an enemy, though who

Of these things others quickly will dispose,
Would scruple that, with want oppressid ? Behold, Whose pains have earn' the far-fet spoil." With
Nature asham'd, or, better to express,

Both table and provision vanishd quite Troubled, that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard: From all the elements her choicest store,

Only the importune tempter still remain'd, To treat thee, as beseems, and as her Lord, And with these words his temptation pursued. With honour : only deign to sit and eat.”

“ By hunger, that each other creature tames, He spake no dream; for, as his words had end, Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mor'd; Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld,

Thy temperance invincible besides, In ample space under the broadest shade,

For no allurement yields to appetite; A table richly spread, in regal mode,

And all thy heart is set on high designs, With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort

High actions : but wherewith to be achiev'd ?
And savour ; beasts of chase, or fowl of game, Great acts require great means of enterprise ;
In pastry built, or from the spit, or boil'd,

Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,
Gris-amber-steam'd; all fish, from sea or shore, A carpenter thy father known, thyself
Freshet or purling brook, of shell or fin,

Bred up in poverty and straits at home,
And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd Lost in a desert here and hunger-bit :
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast.

Which way, or from what hope, dost thou aspire (Alas, how simply, to these cates compar'd, To greatness? whence authority deriv'st ? Was that crude apple that diverted Eve!)

What followers, what retinue canst thou gain, And at a stately side-board, by the wine

Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude, That fragrant smell diffus’d, in order stood

Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost? Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue Money brings honour, friends, conquest, and realms: Than Ganymed or Hylas; distant more

What rais'd Antipater the Edomite, Under the trees now tripp'd, now solemn stood, And his son Herod plac'd on Judal's throne, Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades

Thy throne, but gold that got him puissant friends? With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn, Therefore, if at great things thou would'st arrive, And ladies of the Hesperides, that seem'd

Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap, Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled since

Not difficult, if thou hearken to me : Of faery damsels, met in forest wide

Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand; By knights of Logres, or of Lyones,

They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain, Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore.

While virtue, valour, wisdom, sit in want.' And all the while harinonious airs were heard

To whom thus Jesus patiently replied. Of chiming strings, or charming pipes; and winds “ Yet wealth, without these three, is impotent Of gentlest gale Arabian odours fann'd

To gain dominion, or to keep it gain’d.
From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. Witness those ancient empires of the Earth,
Such was the splendour ; and the tempter now In height of all their flowing wealth dissolr'd:
His invitation earnestly renew'd.

But men endued with these have oft attain'd
« What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat? In lowest poverty to highest deeds ;
These are not fruits forbidd'n; no interdict Gideon, and Jephtha, and the shepherd lad,
Defends the touching of these viands pure ; Whose offspring on the throne of Judah sat
Their taste no knowledge works, at least of evil, So many ages, and shall yet regain
But life preserves, destroys life's enemy,

That seat, and reign in Israel without end.
Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.

Among the Heathen, (for throughout the world All these are spirits of air, and woods, and springs, To me is not unknown what hath been done Thy gentle ministers, who come to pay

Worthy of memorial,) canst thou not remember Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord : Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus ? What doubt'st thou, Son of God? Sit down and eat. For I esteem those names of men so poor,

To whom thus Jesus temperately replied. Who could do mighty things, and could contemn “ Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? Riches, though offer'd from the hand of kings. And who withholds my power that right to use ? And what in me seems wanting, but that I Shall I receive by gift what of my own,

May also in this poverty as soon When and where likes me best, I can command ? Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more? I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,

Extol not riches then, the toil of fools, Command a table in this wilderness,

The wise man's cumbrance, if not snare ; more ap And call swift flights of angels ministrant

To slacken Virtue, and abate her edge,

accom

Than prompt her to do aught may merit praise.

Satan still pursues his former incitements; and, What if with like aversion I reject

supposing that the seeming reluctance of Jesus to Riches and realms 3 yet not for that a crown, be thus advanced might arise from his being unGolden in show, is but a wreath of thorns,

acquainted with the world and its glories, conveys Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights, him to the summit of a high mountain, and from To him who wears the regal diadem,

thence shows him most of the kingdoms of Asia, When on his shoulders each man's burden lies; particularly pointing out to his notice some extraFor therein stands the office of a king,

ordinary military preparations of the Parthians to His honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise,

resist the incursions of the Scythians. He then That for the public all this weight he bears.

informs our Lord, that he showed him this purl'et he, who reigns within himself, and rules

posely that he might see how necessary military Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king ;

exertions are to retain the possession of kingdoms, Which every wise and virtuous man attains;

as well as to subdue them at first, and advises him And who attains not, ill aspires to rule

to consider how impossible it was to maintain Cities of men, or headstrong multitudes,

Judea against two such powerful neighbours as Subject himself to anarchy within,

the Romans and Parthians, and how necessary it Or lawless passions in him, which he serves.

would be to form an alliance with one or other of But to guide nations in the way of truth

them. At the same time he recommends, and By saving doctrine, and from errour lead

engages to secure to him, that of the Parthians; To know, and knowing worship God aright,

and tells him that by this means his power will be Is yet more kingly; this attracts the soul,

defended from any thing that Rome or Cæsar Governs the inner man, the robler part;

might attempt against it, and that he will be able That other o'er the body only reigns,

to extend his glory wide, and especially And oft by force, which, to a generous mind, plish, what was particularly necessary to make the So reigning, can be no sincere delight.

throne of Judea really the throne of David, the Besides, to give a kingdom hath been thought deliverance and restoration of the ten tribes, still Greater and nobler done, and to lay down

in a state of captivity. Jesus, having briefly Far more magnanimous, than to assume.

noticed the vanity of military efforts and the Riches are needless then, both for themselves,

weakness of the arm of flesh, says, that when the And for thy reason why they should be sought, time comes for his ascending his allotted throne To gain a sceptre, oftest better miss'd.”

he shall not be slack: he remarks on Satan's extraordinary zeal for the deliverance of the Israelites, to whom he had always showed himself an enemy,

and declares their servitude to be the consequence Book III.

of their idolatry; but adds, that at a future time The Argument.

it may perhaps please God to recall them, and

restore them to their liberty and native land. Satan, in a speech of much flattering commenda

tion, endeavours to awaken in Jesus a passion for So spake the Son of God; and Satan stood glory, by particularising various instances of con A while, as mute, confounded what to say quests achieved, and great actions performed, by What to reply, confuted, and convinc'd persons at an early period of life. Our Lord Of his weak arguing and fallacious drift; replies, by showing the vanity of worldly fame, | At length, collecting all his serpent wiles, and the improper means by which it is generally with soothing words renew'd, him thus accosts. attained ; and contrasts with it the true glory of “ I see thou know'st what is of use to know, religious patience and virtuous wisdom, as exem- What best to say canst say, to do canst do; plified in the character of Job. Satan justifies Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words the love of glary from the example of God him- To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart self, who requires it from all his creatures. Jesus Contains of good, wise, just, the perfect shape. detects the fallacy of this argument, by showing Should kings and nations from thy mouth consult, that, as goodness is the true ground on which | Thy counsel would be as the oracle glory is due to the great Creator of all things, Urim and Thummim, those oraculous gems sinful man can have no right whatever to it. On Aaron's breast; or tongue of seers old, Satan then urges our Lord respecting his claim Infallible : or wert thou sought to deeds to the throne of David; he tells him that the That might require the array of war, thy skill kingdom of Judea, being at that time a province of conduct would be such, that all the world of Romne, cannot be got possession of without Could not sustain thy prowess, or subsist much personal exertion on his part, and presses In battle, though against thy few in arms. bim to lose no time in beginning to reign. Jesus These God-like virtues, wherefore dost thou hide, refers him to the time allotted for this, as for all Affecting private life, or more obscure other things; and, after intimating somewhat re In savage wilderness? wherefore deprive specting his own previous sufferings, asks Satan, All Earth her wonder at thy acts, thyself why he should be so solicitous for the exaltation | The fame and glory, glory the reward of one, whose rising was destined to be his fall. That sole excites to high attempts, the flame Satan replies, that his own desperate state, by ex- Of most erected spirits, most temper'd pure cluding all hope, leaves little room for fear; and Ethereal, who all pleasures else despise, that, as his own punishment was equally doomed, All treasures and all gain esteem as dross, he is not interested in preventing the reign of And dignities and powers all but the highest ? one, from whose apparent benevolence he might Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe; the son rather hope for some interference in his favour. Of Macedonian Philip had ere these

Won Asia, and the throne of Cyrus held

The deed becomes unprais'd, the man as least,
At his dispose ; young Scipio had brought down And loses, though but verbal, his reward.
The Carthaginian pride; young Pompey quellid Shall I seek glory then, as vain men seek,
The Pontic king, and in triumph had rode.

Oft not deserv'd ? I seek not mine, but his
Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature, Who sent me; and thereby witness whence I am."
Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment.

To whom the tempter murmuring thus replied. Great Julius, whom now all the world admires, “ Think not so slight of glory; therein least The more he grew in years, the more inflam'd Resembling thy great Father : he seeks glory, With glory, wept that he had liv'd so long

And for his glory all things made, all things
Inglorious : but thou yet art not too late.”

Orders and governs; nor content in Heaven
To whom our Saviour calmly thus replied. By all his angels glorified, requires
“ Thou neither dost persuade me to seek wealth Glory from men, from all men, good or bad,
For empire's sake, nor empire to affect

Wise or unwise, no difference, no exemption;
For glory's sake, by all thy argument.

Above all sacrifice, or hallow'd gift,
For what is glory but the blaze of fame,

Glory he requires, and glory he receives,
The people's praise, if always praise unmix'd ? Promiscuous from all nations, Jew or Greek,
And what the people but a herd confus'd,

Or barbarous, nor exception hath declar'd;
A miscellaneous rabble, who extol

From us, his foes pronounc'd, glory he exacts.' Things vulgar, and well weigh’d, scarce worth the To whom our Saviour fervently replied. praise?

“ And reason ; since his word all things produc'd
They praise, and they admire, they know not what, Though chiefly not for glory as prime end,
And know not whom, but as one leads the other ; But to show forth his goodness, and impart
And what delight to be by such extoll'd,

His good communicable to every soul
To live upon their tongues, and be their talk, Freely ; of whoin what could he less expect
Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise ? Than glory and benediction, that is, thanks,
His lot who dares be singularly good.

The slightest, easiest, readiest recompense
The intelligent among them and the wise

From them who could return him nothing else, Are few, and glory scarce of few is rais’d.

And, not returning that, would likeliest render This is true glory and renown, when God,

Contempt instead, dishonour, obloquy ?
Looking on the Earth, with approbation marks Hard recompense, unsuitable return
The just man, and divulges him through Heaven For so much good, so much beneficence!
To all his angels, who with true applause

But why should man seek glory, who of his own Recount his praises : thus he did to Job,

Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs,
When to extend his fame through Heaven and Earth, But condemnation, ignominy, and shame?
As thou to thy reproach may'st well remember, Who for so many benefits receiv'd,
He ask'd thee, • Hast thou seen my servant Job ?' Turn'd recreant to God, ingrate and false,
Famous he was in Heaven, on Earth less known; And so of all true good himself despoil'd;
Where glory is false glory, attributed

Yet, sacrilegious, to himself would take
To things not glorious, men not worthy of fame. That which to God alone of right belongs:
They err, who count it glorious to subdue

Yet so much bounty is in God, such grace,
By conquest far and wide, to over-run

That who advance his glory, not their own,
Large countries, and in field great battles win, Them he himself to glory will advance."
Great cities by assault: what do these worthies, So spake the Son of God; and here again
But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and enslave Satan had not to answer, but stood struck
Peaceable nations, neighbouring, or reinote, With guilt of his own sin; for he himself,
Made captive, yet deserving freedom more

Insatiable of glory, had lost all ;
Than those their conquerors, who leave behind Yet of another plea bethought him soon.
Nothing but ruin wheresoe'er they rove,

“ Of glory, as thou wilt,” said he, “ so deem;
And all the flourishing works of peace destroy ; Worth or not worth the seeking, let it pass.
Then swell with pride, and must be titled Gods, But to a kingdom thou art born, ordain'd
Great Benefactors of mankind, Deliverers,

To sit upon thy father David's throne, Worshipt with temple, priest, and sacrifice ? By mother's side thy father; though thy right One is the son of Jove, of Mars the other ;

Be now in powerful hands, that will not part Till conqueror Death discover them scarce men, Easily from possession won with arms : Rolling in brutish vices, and deform’d,

Judæa now and all the Promis'd Land, Violent or shameful death their due reward. Reduc'd a province under Roman yoke, But if there be in glory aught of good,

Obeys Tiberius ; nor is always rul'd It may by means far different be attain'd,

With temperate sway; oft have they violated Without ambition, war, or violence;

The temple, oft the law, with foul affronts, By deeds of peace, by wisdom eminent,

Abominations rather, as did once By patience, temperance : I mention still

Antiochus : and think'st thou to regain Him, whom thy wrongs, with saintly patience borne, Thy right, by sitting still, or thus retiring ? Made famous in a land and times obscure;

So did not Maccabeus : he indeed Who names not now with honour patient Job ? Retir'd unto the desert, but with arms; Poor Socrates, (who next more memorable?) And o'er a mighty king so oft prevail'd, By what he taught, and suffer'd for so doing, That by strong hand his family obtain'd, (usurp'd, For truth's sake suffering death, unjust, lives now Though priests, the crown, and David's throne Equal in fame to proudest conquerors.

With Modin and her suburbs once content. Yet if for fame and glory aught be done,

If kingdom move thee not, let move thee zeal Aught suffer'd; if young African for fame And duty; and zeal and duty are not slow, His wasted country frced from Punic rage ; But on occasion's forelock watchful wait :