Paradise Regain’d, Book 2

Meanwhile the new-baptiz'd, who yet remain'd
At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen
Him whom they heard so late expressly call'd
Jesus Messiah Son of God declar'd
And on that high Authority had believ'd, [ 5 ]
And with him talkt, and with him lodg'd, I mean
Andrew and Simon, famous after known
With others though in Holy Writ not nam'd
Now missing him thir joy so lately found
So lately found, and so abruptly gone, [ 10 ]
Began to doubt, and doubted many days
And as the days increas'd, increas'd thir doubt:
Sometimes they thought he might be only shewn
And for a time caught up to God, as once
Moses was in the Mount, and missing long; [ 15 ]
And the great Thisbite who on fiery wheels
Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come
Therefore as those young Prophets then with care
Sought lost Eliah, so in each place these
Nigh to Bethabara; in Jerico [ 20 ]
The City of Palms, Ænon, and Salem Old
Machærus and each Town or City wall'd
On this side the broad lake Genezaret
Or in Perea, but return'd in vain
Then on the bank of Jordan, by a Creek: [ 25 ]
Where winds with Reeds and Osiers whisp'ring play
Plain Fishermen, no greater men them call
Close in a Cottage low together got
Thir unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd
Alas, from what high hope to what relapse [ 30 ]
Unlook'd for are we fall'n, our eyes beheld
Messiah certainly now come, so long
Expected of our Fathers; we have heard
His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth
Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand, [ 35 ]
The Kingdom shall to Israel be restor'd:
Thus we rejoyc'd, but soon our joy is turn'd
Into perplexity and new amaze:
For whither is he gone, what accident
Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire [ 40 ]
After appearance, and again prolong
Our expectation? God of Israel
Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come;
Behold the kings of the Earth how they oppress
Thy chosen, to what highth thir pow'r unjust [ 45 ]
They have exalted, and behind them cast
All fear of thee, arise and vindicate
Thy Glory, free thy people from thir yoke
But let us wait; thus far He hath perform'd
Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him, [ 50 ]
By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown
In publick, and with him we have convers'd;
Let us be glad of this, and all our fears
Lay on his Providence; he will not fail
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, [ 55 ]
Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence
Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return
Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume
To find whom at the first they found unsought:
But to his Mother Mary, when she saw [ 60 ]
Others return'd from Baptism, not her Son
Nor left at Jordan, tydings of him none;
Within her brest, though calm; her brest though pure
Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd
Some troubl'd thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad. [ 65 ]
O what avails me now that honour high
To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute
Hale highly favour'd, among women blest;
While I to sorrows am no less advanc't
And fears as eminent, above the lot [ 70 ]
Of other women, by the birth I bore
In such a season born when scarce a Shed
Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me
From the bleak air; a Stable was our warmth
A Manger his; yet soon enforc't to flye [ 75 ]
Thence into Egypt, till the Murd'rous King
Were dead, who sought his life, and, missing fill'd
With Infant blood the streets of Bethlehem;
From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth
Hath been our dwelling many years, his life [ 80 ]
Private, unactive, calm, contemplative
Little suspicious to any King; but now
Full grown to Man, acknowledg'd, as I hear
By John the Baptist, and in publick shown
Son own'd from Heaven by his Father's voice; [ 85 ]
I look't for some great change; to Honour? no
But trouble, as old Simeon plain fore-told
That to the fall and rising he should be
Of many in Israel, and to a sign
Spoken against, that through my very Soul [ 90 ]
A sword shall pierce; this is my favour'd lot
My Exaltation to Afflictions high;
Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest;
I will not argue that, nor will repine
But where delays he now? some great intent [ 95 ]
Conceals him: when twelve years he scarce had seen
I lost him, but so found, as well I saw
He could not lose himself; but went about
His Father's business; what he meant I mus'd
Since understand; much more his absence now [ 100 ]
Thus long to some great purpose he obscures
But I to wait with patience am inur'd;
My heart hath been a store-house long of things
And sayings laid up, portending strange events
Thus Mary pondering oft, and oft to mind [ 105 ]
Recalling what remarkably had pass'd
Since first her Salutation heard, with thoughts
Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling:
The while her Son tracing the Desert wild
Sole but with holiest Meditations fed, [ 110 ]
Into himself descended, and at once
All his great work to come before him set;
How to begin, how to accomplish best
His end of being on Earth, and mission high:
For Satan with slye preface to return [ 115 ]
Had left him vacant, and with speed was gon
Up to the middle Region of thick Air
Where all his Potentates in Council sate;
There without sign of boast, or sign of joy
Sollicitous and blank he thus began. [ 120 ]
Princes, Heavens antient Sons, Æthereal Thrones
Demonian Spirits now, from the Element
Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd
Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath
So may we hold our place and these mild seats [ 125 ]
Without new trouble; such an Enemy
Is ris'n to invade us, who no less
Threat'ns then our expulsion down to Hell;
I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Consenting in full frequence was impow'r'd, [ 130 ]
Have found him, view'd him, tasted him, but find
Far other labour to be undergon
Then when I dealt with Adam first of Men
Though Adam by his Wives allurement fell
However to this Man inferior far, [ 135 ]
If he be Man by Mothers side at least
With more then humane gifts from Heav'n adorn'd
Perfections absolute, Graces divine
And amplitude of mind to greatest Deeds
Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence [ 140 ]
Of my success with Eve in Paradise
Deceive ye to perswasion over-sure
Of like succeeding here; I summon all
Rather to be in readiness with hand
Or counsel to assist; lest I, who erst [ 145 ]
Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd
So spake the old Serpent doubting, and from all
With clamour was assur'd thir utmost aid
At his command; when from amidst them rose
Belial the dissolutest Spirit that fell, [ 150 ]
The sensuallest, and after Asmodai
The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advis'd
Set women in his eye and in his walk
Among daughters of men the fairest found;
Many are in each Region passing fair [ 155 ]
As the noon Skie; more like to Goddesses
Then Mortal Creatures, graceful and discreet
Expert in amorous Arts, enchanting tongues
Perswasive, Virgin majesty with mild
And sweet allay'd, yet terrible to approach, [ 160 ]
Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw
Hearts after them tangl'd in Amorous Nets
Such object hath the power to soft'n and tame
Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow
Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve, [ 165 ]
Draw out with credulous desire, and lead
At will the manliest, resolutest brest
As the Magnetic hardest Iron draws
Women, when nothing else, beguil'd the heart
Of wisest Solomon, and made him build, [ 170 ]
And made him bow to the Gods of his Wives
To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd
Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st
All others by thy self; because of old
Thou thy self doat'st on womankind, admiring [ 175 ]
Thir shape, thir colour, and attractive grace
None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys
Before the Flood thou with thy lusty Crew
False titl'd Sons of God, roaming the Earth
Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men, [ 180 ]
And coupl'd with them, and begot a race
Have we not seen, or by relation heard
In Courts and Regal Chambers how thou lurk'st
In Wood or Grove by mossie Fountain side
In Valley or Green Meadow, to way-lay [ 185 ]
Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene
Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa
Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more
Too long, then lay'st thy scapes on names ador'd
Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan, [ 190 ]
Satyr, or Faun, or Silvan? But these haunts
Delight not all; among the Sons of Men
How many have with a smile made small account
Of beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd
All her assaults, on worthier things intent? [ 195 ]
Remember that Pellean Conquerour
A youth, how all the Beauties of the East
He slightly view'd, and slightly over-pass'd;
How hee sirnam'd of Africa dismiss'd
In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid. [ 200 ]
For Solomon he liv'd at ease, and full
Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond
Higher design then to enjoy his State;
Thence to the bait of Women lay expos'd;
But he whom we attempt is wiser far [ 205 ]
Then Solomon, of more exalted mind
Made and set wholly on the accomplishment
Of greatest things; what woman will you find
Though of this Age the wonder and the fame
On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye [ 210 ]
Of fond desire? or should she confident
As sitting Queen ador'd on Beauties Throne
Descend with all her winning charms begirt
To enamour, as the Zone of Venus once
Wrought that effect on Jove, so Fables tell; [ 215 ]
How would one look from his Majestick brow
Seated as on the top of Vertues hill
Discount'nance her despis'd, and put to rout
All her array; her female pride deject
Or turn to reverent awe? for Beauty stands [ 220 ]
In the admiration only of weak minds
Led captive; cease to admire, and all her Plumes
Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy
At every sudden slighting quite abasht:
Therefore with manlier objects we must try [ 225 ]
His constancy, with such as have more shew
Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise;
Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd;
Or that which only seems to satisfie
Lawful desires of Nature, not beyond; [ 230 ]
And now I know he hungers where no food
Is to be found, in the wide Wilderness;
The rest commit to me, I shall let pass
No advantage, and his strength as oft assay
He ceas'd, and heard thir grant in loud acclaim; [ 235 ]
Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band
Of Spirits likest to himself in guile
To be at hand, and at his beck appear
If cause were to unfold some active Scene
Of various persons, each to know his part; [ 240 ]
Then to the Desert takes with these his flight;
Where still from shade to shade the Son of God
After forty days fasting had remain'd
Now hungring first, and to himself thus said
Where will this end? four times ten days I have pass'd [ 245 ]
Wandring this woody maze, and humane food
Nor tasted, nor had appetite; that Fast
To Vertue I impute not, or count part
Of what I suffer here; if Nature need not
Or God support Nature without repast [ 250 ]
Though needing, what praise is it to endure?
But now I feel I hunger, which declares
Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God
Can satisfie that need some other way
Though hunger still remain: so it remain [ 255 ]
Without this bodies wasting, I content me
And from the sting of Famine fear no harm
Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed
Mee hungring more to do my Fathers will
It was the hour of night, when thus the Son [ 260 ]
Commun'd in silent walk, then laid him down
Under the hospitable covert nigh
Of Trees thick interwoven; there he slept
And dream'd, as appetite is won't to dream
Of meats and drinks, Natures refreshment sweet; [ 265 ]
Him thought, he by the Brook of Cherith stood
And saw the Ravens with their horny beaks
Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn
Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they brought:
He saw the Prophet also how he fled [ 270 ]
Into the Desert, and how there he slept
Under a Juniper; then how awakt
He found his Supper on the coals prepar'd
And by the Angel was bid rise and eat
And eat the second time after repose, [ 275 ]
The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days;
Sometimes that with Elijah he partook
Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse
Thus wore out night, and now the Herald Lark
Left his ground-nest, high towring to descry [ 280 ]
The morns approach, and greet her with his Song:
As lightly from his grassy Couch up rose
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream
Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak'd
Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd, [ 285 ]
From whose high top to ken the prospect round
If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd;
But Cottage, Herd or Sheep-cote none he saw
Only in a bottom saw a pleasant Grove
With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud; [ 290 ]
Thither he bent his way, determin'd there
To rest at noon, and entr'd soon the shade
High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown
That open'd in the midst a woody Scene
Natures own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) [ 295 ]
And to a Superstitious eye the haunt
Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it round
When suddenly a man before him stood
Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad
As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred, [ 300 ]
And with fair speech these words to him address'd
With granted leave officious I return
But much more wonder that the Son of God
In this wild solitude so long should bide
Of all things destitute, and well I know, [ 305 ]
Not without hunger. Others of some note
As story tells, have trod this Wilderness;
The Fugitive Bond-woman with her Son
Outcast Nebaioth, yet found he relief
By a providing Angel; all the race [ 310 ]
Of Israel here had famish'd, had not God
Rain'd from Heaven Manna; and that Prophet bold
Native of Thebez wandring here was fed
Twice by a voice inviting him to eat
Of thee these forty days none hath regard, [ 315 ]
Forty and more deserted here indeed
To whom thus Jesus; What conclud'st thou hence?
They all had need, I as thou seest, have none
How hast thou hunger then? Satan reply'd
Tell me, if Food were now before thee set, [ 320 ]
Would'st thou not eat? Thereafter as I like
The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that
Cause thy refusal, said the subtle Fiend
Hast thou not right to all Created things
Owe not all Creatures by just right to thee [ 325 ]
Duty and Service, nor to stay till bid
But tender all thir power? nor mention I
Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first
To Idols, those young Daniel could refuse;
Nor proffer'd by an Enemy, though who [ 330 ]
Would scruple that, with want opprest? behold
Nature asham'd, or better to express
Troubl'd that thou shouldst hunger, hath purvey'd
From all the Elements her choicest store
To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord [ 335 ]
With honour, only deign to sit 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 spred, in regal mode, [ 340 ]
With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort
And savour, Beasts of chase, or Fowl of game
In pastry built, or from the spit, or boyl'd
Gris-amber-steam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore
Freshet, or purling Brook, of shell or fin, [ 345 ]
And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd
Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coast
Alas how simple, to these Cates compar'd
Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve!
And at a stately side-board by the wine [ 350 ]
That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood
Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew
Then Ganymed or Hylas, distant more
Under the Trees now trip'd, now solemn stood
Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades [ 355 ]
With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn
And ladies of th' Hesperides, that seem'd
Fairer then feign'd of old, or fabl'd since
Of Fairy Damsels met in Forest wide
By Knights of Logres, or of Lyones, [ 360 ]
Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore
And all the while Harmonious Airs were heard
Of chiming strings or charming pipes and winds
Of gentlest gale Arabian odors fann'd
From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. [ 365 ]
Such was the Splendour, and the Tempter now
His invitation earnestly renew'd
What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat?
These are not Fruits forbidden, no interdict
Defends the touching of these viands pure, [ 370 ]
Thir taste no knowledge works, at least of evil
But life preserves, destroys life's enemy
Hunger, with sweet restorative delight
All these are Spirits of Air, and Woods, and Springs
Thy gentle Ministers, who come to pay [ 375 ]
Thee homage, and acknowledge thee thir Lord:
What doubt'st thou Son of God? sit down and eat
To whom thus Jesus temperately reply'd:
Said'st 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 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 [ 385 ]
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 hast thou to do?
Thy pompous Delicacies I contemn, [ 390 ]
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 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 shouldst thou not accept it? but I see
What I can do or offer is suspect;
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 sound of Harpies wings, and Talons heard;
Only the importune Tempter still 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 besides
For no allurement yields to appetite
And all thy heart is set on high designs, [ 410 ]
High actions; but wherewith to be atchiev'd?
Great acts require great means of enterprise
Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth
A Carpenter thy Father known, thy self
Bred up in poverty and streights at home; [ 415 ]
Lost in a Desert here and hunger-bit:
Which way or from what hope dost thou aspire
To greatness? whence Authority deriv'st
What Followers, what Retinue canst thou gain
Or at thy heels the dizzy Multitude, [ 420 ]
Longer then thou canst feed them on thy cost?
Money brings Honour, Friends, Conquest, and Realms;
What rais'd Antipater the Edomite
And his Son Herod plac'd on Juda's Throne;
(Thy throne) but gold that got him puissant friends? [ 425 ]
Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst 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, [ 430 ]
While Virtue, Valor, 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 antient Empires of the Earth, [ 435 ]
In highth of all thir 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 off-spring on the Throne of Juda sat [ 440 ]
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 hand of Kings
And what in me seems wanting, but that I [ 450 ]
May also in this poverty as soon
Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?
Extol not Riches then, the toyl of Fools
The wise mans cumbrance if not snare, more apt
To slacken Virtue and abate her edge, [ 455 ]
Then prompt her to do aught may merit praise
What if with like aversion I reject
Riches and Realms; yet not for that a Crown
Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns
Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights [ 460 ]
To him who wears the Regal Diadem
When on his shoulders each mans burden lies;
For therein stands the office of a King
His Honour, Vertue, Merit and chief Praise
That for the Publick all this weight he bears. [ 465 ]
Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules
Passions, Desires, and Fears, is more a King;
Which every wise and vertuous man attains:
And who attains not, ill aspires to rule
Cities of men, or head-strong Multitudes, [ 470 ]
Subject himself to Anarchy within
Or lawless passions in him, which he serves
But to guide Nations in the way of truth
By saving Doctrine, and from errour lead
To know, and knowing worship God aright, [ 475 ]
Is yet more Kingly; this attracts the Soul
Governs the inner man, the nobler part
That other o're the body only reigns
And oft by force, which to a generous mind
So reigning can be no sincere delight. [ 480 ]
Besides to give a Kingdom hath been thought
Greater and nobler done, and to lay down
Far more magnanimous, then to assume
Riches are needless then, both for themselves
And for thy reason why they should be sought, [ 485 ]
To gain a Scepter, oftest better miss't

The End of the Second Book