By thee are giv'n, and what confest more true
Among the nations? that hath been thy craft,
By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies.
But what have been thy answers? what but dark,
Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding, 435
Which they who ask'd have seldom understood,
And not well understood as good not known?
Who ever by consulting at thy shrine
Return'd the wiser, or the more instruct
To fly or follow what concern'd him most,
And run not sooner to his fatal snare?
For God hath justly given the nations up
To thy delusions; justly, since they fell
Idolatrous. But when his purpose is
Among them to declare his providence

440

145

To thee not known, whence hast thou then thy

truth,

But from him or his angels president

In ev'ry province? who, themselves disdaining
T'approach thy temples, give thee in command

426 won] Verb neuter, so Spens. F. Q. i. vi. 39 :

And he the stoutest knight that ever won.' Newton.

BOOK I.

at to the smallest tittle thou shalt say thy adorers; thou with trembling fear, like a fawning parasite, obey'st; en to thy self ascrib'st the truth foretold. this thy glory shall be soon retrench'd; more shalt thou by oracling abuse e Gentiles; henceforth oracles are ceas'd, thou no more with pomp and sacrifice alt be inquir'd at Delphos or elsewhere, least in vain, for they shall find thee mute. d hath now sent his living oracle

o the world to teach his final will,

450

455

460

d sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwell pious hearts, and inward oracle

all truth requisite for men to know.

So spake our Saviour; but the subtle fiend, 465
ough inly stung with anger and disdain,
ssembled, and this answer smooth return'd.
Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke,

d urg'd me hard with doings, which not will,
t misery, hath wrested from me; where
sily canst thou find one miserable,

d not enforc'd ofttimes to part from truth;

it

may stand him more in stead to lie,

y and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure?

470

it thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord; 475

om thee I can, and must, submiss endure

eck or reproof, and glad to escape so quit.

56 ceas'd] Juv. Sat. vi. 554.

VOL. II.

Delphis oracula cessant.

Dunster.

X

44