To whom thus Jesus temperately replied. Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? Shall I receive by gift what of my own,
When and where likes me best, I can command?
I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,
Command a table in this wilderness,
And call swift flights of angels ministrant,
Array'd in glory, on my cup to attend ;
Why should'st thou then obtrude this diligence,
In vain, where no acceptance it can find?
And with my hunger what hast thou to do?
Thy pompous delicacies I contemn,
And count thy specious gifts no gifts, but guiles.
To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent.
That I have also power to give thou seest.
If of that power I bring thee voluntary
These things others quickly will dispose,
Ose pains have earn'd the far-fet spoil. With that
table and provision vanish'd quite
ʼn sound of Harpies' wings and talons heard ;
y the importune tempter still remain'd,
with these words his temptation pursu'd. 405 y hunger, that each other creature tames, u art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd; invincible besides, temperance
no allurement yields to appetite,
all thy heart is set on high designs, h actions; but wherewith to be achieved? at acts require great means of enterprise ; u art unknown, unfriended, low of birth, arpenter thy father known, thy self d up in poverty and straits at home,
t in a desert here and hunger-bit :
ich way, or from what hope, dost thou aspire greatness? whence authority deriv'st?
at followers, what retinue can'st thou gain? at thy heels the dizzy multitude,
ger than thou canʼst feed them on thy cost? ney brings honour, friends, conquest, and realms. at rais'd Antipater the Edomite,
d his son Herod plac'd on Judah's throne,
far-fet] 'fet' 'far-fetched,' used by Chaucer, Spenser,
3 Harpies] Hark! how the Harpies' wings resound.' Al. Ross Mel Heliconium, p. 64.
4 importune] Spenser, F. Q. i. xii. 16.
And often blame the too importune fate.'
Thy throne, 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 favour thrive in wealth amain,
While virtue, valour, wisdom, sit in want.
To whom thus Jesus patiently reply'd.
Yet wealth without these three is impotent
To gain dominion, or to keep it gain'd.
Witness those ancient empires of the earth,
In highth of all their flowing wealth dissolv❜d.
But men endu'd with these have oft attain'd
In lowest poverty to highest deeds;
Gideon and Jephtha, and the shepherd lad,
Whose offspring on the throne of Judah sat
So many ages, and shall yet regain
That seat, and reign in Israel without end.
Among the heathen, for throughout the world
To me is not unknown what hath been done
Worthy of memorial, canst thou not remember 445
Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?
For I esteem those names of men so poor,
Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
Riches though offer'd from the hands of kings.
And what in me seems wanting, but that I
May also in this poverty as soon
Accomplish what they did, perhaps, and more?
Extol not riches then, the toil of fools,
n prompt her to do aught may merit praise.
at, if with like aversion I reject
hes and realms? yet not, for that a crown,
den in show, is but a wreath of thorns,
ngs dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights
him who wears the regal diadem,
en on his shoulders each man's burden lies;
r therein stands the office of a king,
s honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise,
at for the public all this weight he bears.
t he who reigns within himself, and rules
ssions, desires, and fears, is more a king;
hich ev'ry wise and virtuous man attains:
nd who attains not ill aspires to rule
ties of men, or head-strong multitudes,
ubject himself to anarchy within,
r lawless passions in him which he serves.
ut to guide nations in the
of truth y saving doctrine, and from error lead o know, and knowing worship God aright, s yet more kingly; this attracts the soul, Governs the inner man, the nobler part; "hat other o'er the body only reigns, And oft by force, which to a gen'rous mind, So reigning, can be no sincere delight. Besides, to give a kingdom hath been thought Greater and nobler done, and to lay down Far more magnanimous than to assume. Riches are needless then, both for themselves, And for thy reason why they should be sought, To gain a sceptre, oftest better miss'd.
So spake the Son of God, and Satan stood
A while as mute, confounded what to say,
What to reply, confuted, and convinc'd
Of his weak arguing and fallacious drift;
At length, collecting all his serpent wiles,
With soothing words renew'd, him thus accosts.
I see thou know'st what is of use to know,
What best to say canst say, to do canst do;
Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words
To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart
Contains of good, wise, just, the perfect shape.
Should kings and nations from thy mouth consult,
Thy counsel would be as the oracle
Urim and Thummim, those oraculous gems
On Aaron's breast; or tongue of seers old
Infallible or wert thou sought to deeds
That might require th' array of war, thy skill
Of conduct would be such, that all the world
Could not sustain thy prowess, or subsist
In battel, though against thy few in arms.
These god-like virtues wherefore dost thou hide,
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