Thouthy self doat'dst on womankind, admiring None are, thou think'st, but taken with fuch toys. Caft wanton eyes on the daughters of men, 175 And coupled with them, and begot a race. 180 Have we not seen, or by relation heard, In Courts and Regal Chambers how thou lurk'dft, In Wood or Grove by moffie Fountain side, 185 In Valley or green Meadow to way-lay Some Beauty rare, Califto, Clymene, Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa, Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more Too long, then lay'dft thy scapes on names ador'd, Satyr, or Fawn, or Silvan? But these haunts All her affaults, on worthier things intent? Remember that Pellean Conqueror, A Youth, how all the Beauties of the Eaft Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond Higher defign than to enjoy his State; Thence to the bait of Women lay expos'd; 190 195 200 But he whom we attempt is wifer far Than Solomon, of more exalted mind, Made and fet wholly on th' accomplishment Descend with all her winning Charms begirt Or turn to rev'rent awe; for Beauty stands In th' admiration only of weak minds Led captive; ceafe t' admire, and all her Plumes At ev'ry fudden flighting quite abasht: Is to be found, in the wild Wilderness, The reft commit to me, I fhall let pafs No advantage, and his ftrength as oft afsay. He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud acclaim: Then forthwith to him takes a chofen band 235 Of Spirits likeft to himself in guile To be at hand, and at his beck appear, If caufe were to unfold fome active Scene 240 Now hungring firft, and to himself thus faid. Where will this end? four times ten days I've pass'd Wandring this woody maze, and human Food 245 Nortafted, nor had appetite; that Faft To Virtue I impute not, or count part Or God fupport Náture without repaft 1 Though 250 Though needing, what praife is it to endure? It was the hour of night, when thus the Son 255 260 Of trees thick interwoven; there he flept, And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream, Of meats and drinks, Nature's refreshment fweet ; 265 And faw the Ravens with their horny beaks Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn, Though rav'nous, taught t'abstain from what they He faw the Prophet alfo how he fled Into the Defart, and how there he slept And eat the second time after repose Lbrought 270 The ftrength whereof fuffic'd him forty days; 275 Or as a guest with Daniel at his Pulfe. Thus wore outnight, and now the Herald Lark The Morn's approach, and greet her with his Song: As lightly from his graffie couch up rofe Up to a hill anon his fteps he rear'd, From whofe high top to ken the profpect round, 281 285 only Only in a bottom saw a pleasant Grove, With chaunt of tuneful Birds refounding loud; 290 To reft at noon, and enter'd foon the fhade High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown Nature's own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) 295 Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it When fuddenly a man before him stood, Lround, Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad, As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred, And with fair fpeech these words to him address'd. With granted leave officious I return, But much more wonder that the Son of God Of Ifrael here had famish'd, had not God Rain'd from Heav'n Manna, and that Prophet bold Native of Thebes wandring here was fed Twice by a voice inviting him to eat ; Of thee these forty days none hath regard, Forty and more deferted here indeed. ΠΟΣ 305 To whom thus Jefus; What conclud'st thou hence? They all had need; I as thou feeft have none. How haft thou hunger then? Satan reply'd, 310 315 Tell me if Food were now before thee fet, 320 Cause thy refufal, faid the fubtle Fiend, Owe not all Creatures by just right to thee Duty and fervice, not to ftay till bid, 325 Bur But tender all their pow'r? nor mention I Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first To Idols, thofe young Daniel could refuse; Would fcruple that, with want oppreft? Behold 330 Troubl'd that thou should'ft hunger, hath purvey'd From all the Elements her choiceft store To treat thee as befeems, and as her Lord With honour, only deign to fit and eat. 335 He spake no dream, for as his words had end, Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld In ample space under the broadeft shade A Table richly fpred, in Regai mode, With dishes pil'd, and meats of nobleft fort 340 345 350 Tall ftripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue Than Ganymed or Hylas, diftant more Under the Trees now tripp'd, now folemn ftood With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn, 355 |