What if with like averfion I reject Riches and realms; yet not for that a crown, Golden in fhow, is but a wreath of thorns, Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and flepless nights bears. 460 To him who wears the regal diadem, Or lawless paffions in him which he serves. know, and knowing worship God aright, 475 Is yet more kingly; this attracts the foul, Far more magnanimous, than to assume. Riches are needless then, both for themfelves, And for thy reafon, why they, fhould be fought, To gain a scepter, ofteft better mifs'd. The End of the Second Book. 485 BOOK III. So fpake the son of God, and Satan stood A while as mute confounded what to fay, accofts. 5 I fee thou know'ft, what is of use to know, What best to say canft say, to do canft do; Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart 10 Contains of good, wife, juft, the perfect fhape. Should kings and nations from thy mouth confult, Thy counsel would be as the oracle Urim and Thummim, thofe oraculous gems On Aaron's breaft; or tongue of feers old · 15 Infallible or wert thou fought to deeds That might require th' array of war, thy fkill Of conduct would be fuch, that all the world hide, 25 Affecting private life, or more obfcure. Won Afia, and the throne of Cyrus held The Pontic king and in triumph had rode. Yet years, and to ripe years judgmend mature, Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment. Great Julius, whom now all the world admires, The more he grew in years, the more inflam'd 40 With glory, wept that he had liv'd so long 45 To whom our Saviour calmly thus reply'd. Thou neither doft perfuade me to seek wealth For empire's fake, nor empire to effect For glory's fake by all thy argument. For what is glory but the blaze of fame, The peoples praise, if always praise unmix'd? 50 And what the people but a herd confus'd, worth the praise? They praise, and they admire they know not what, And know not whom, but as one leads the And what delight to be by fuch extoll'd, To live upon their tongues and be their Of whom to be difprais'd were no small praise ? His lot who dares be fingularly good. |