Then to the Defart takes with these his flight; Where ftill from fhade to fhade the Son of God After forty days fasting had remain❜d, 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 Nor tafted, nor had appetite; that Fast To Virtue I impute not, or count part Of what I fuffer here? if Nature need not, Or God fupport Nature without repast Though needing, what praise is it to endure? But now I feel I hunger, which declares Nature hath need of what she asks; yet Can fatisfie that need fome other way, Though hunger ftill remain: fo it remain Without this body's wafting, I content me, And from the fting of Famine fear no harm, Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed Me hungring more to do my Father's will..
It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Commun'd in filent walk, then laid him down Under the hospitable covert nigh
Of trees thick interwoven; there he flept,
And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream,.
Of meats and drinks, Nature's refreshment sweet; Him thought, he by the Brook of Cherith stood And faw the Ravens with their horny beaks Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn, Though rav'nous, taught t'abstain from what they [brought: He faw the Prophet also how he fled
Into the Defart, and how there he flept Under a Juniper, then how awak'd, 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, The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days; Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,
Or as a guest with Daniel at his Pulfe.
Thus wore out night, and now the Herald Lark Left his ground-neft, high tow'ring to descry The morn's approach, and greet her with his Song: As lightly from his graffie couch up rofe Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream, Fafting he went to fleep, and fasting wak'd. Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd,
From whose high top to ken the profpect round,
If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd; But Cottage, Herd, or Sheep-cote none he saw, Only in a bottom faw a pleasant Grove, With chaunt of tuneful Birds refounding loud; Thither he bent his way, determin'd there To reft at noon, and enter'd foon the fhade High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown That open'd in the midst a woody Scene, Nature's own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) And to a Superftitious eye the haunt
Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it When fuddenly a man before him stood, Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad,
As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred,
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 folitude fo long should bide Of all things deftitute, and well I know, Not without hunger. Others of some note, As ftory tells, have trod this Wilderness; The fugitive Bond-woman with her Son Out-caft Nebaioth, yet found here relief
By a providing Angel; all the race
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 thefe forty days none hath regard, Forty and more deserted here indeed.
To whom thus Jefus; what conclud'it thou hence? They all had need, I as thou feest have none. How haft thou hunger then? Satan reply'd, Tell me if Food were now before thee fet, Would't thou not eat? Thereafter as I like The giver, answer'd Jefus. Why should that Cause thy refusal, faid the subtle Fiend, Haft thou not right to all Created things, Owe not all Creatures by juft right to thee Duty and service, not to stay 'till bid, But tender all their pow'r? 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 Would fcruple that, with want oppreft? Behold Nature afham'd, or better to express,
Troubl'd that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd From all the Elements her choiceft ftore To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord With honour, only deign to fit 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 fpred, in Regal mode, With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort And favour, Beafts of chafe, or Fowl of game, In Pastry-built, or from the fpit, or boil'd, Gris-amber-fteam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore, Frefhet, or purling Brook, of fhell or fin, And exquifiteft name, for which was drain'd Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coaft. Alas how fimple, to thefe Cates compar'd, Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve! And at a stately fide-board by the wine That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew Than Ganymed or Hylas, diftant more
Under the Trees now trip'd, now folemn stood Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades
« ПредишнаНапред » |