To his deftruction, as I had in charge, For what he bids I do though I have loft Much luftre of my native brightness, loft To be belov'd of God, I have not loft To love, at least contemplate and admire What I fee excellent in good, or fair, Or virtuous, I fhould fo have loft all fenfe. What can be then lefs in me than defire To fee thee and approach thee, whom I know Declar'd the Son of God, to hear attent Thy wisdom, and behold thy Godlike deeds? Men generally think me much a foe
To all mankind: why should I? they to me Never did wrong or violence; by them
I loft not what I loft, rather by them
I gain'd what I have gain'd, and with them dwell Copartner in thefe regions of the world,
If not difpofer; lend them oft
my aid, Oft my advice by prefages and figns,
And anfwers, oracles, portents and dreams, 395 Whereby they may direct their future life.
Envy they fay excites me, thus to gain Companions of my mifery and woe.
may but long fince with woe Nearer acquainted, now I feel by proof, That fellowship in pain divides not smart, Nor lightens ought each man's peculiar load. Small confolation then, were man adjoin'd: This wounds me moft (what can it lefs?) that man, Man fall'n fhall be reftor'd, I never more.
To whom our Saviour fternly thus reply'd. Defervedly thou griev'ft, compos'd of lies From the beginning, and in lies wilt end; Who boaft'ft releafe from Hell, and leave to come Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns: thou com'ft indeed, 410
As a poor miferable captive thrall Comes to the place where he before had fat Among the prime in fplendor, now depos'd, Ejected, emptied, gaz'd, unpitied, fhunn'd, A fpectacle of ruin or of fcorn
To all the host of Heav'n: the happy place Imparts to thee no happiness, no joy, Rather inflames thy torment, reprefenting Loft blifs, to thee no more communicable,
So never more in Hell than when in Heaven. 420 But thou art ferviceable to Heav'n's King. Will thou impute t`obedience what thy fear Extorts, or pleafure to do ill excites ? What but thy malice mov'd thee to misdeem Of righteous Job, then cruelly to' afflict him With all inflictions? but his patience won. The other fervice was thy chosen task, To be a liar in four hundred mouths; For lying is thy fuftenance, thy food. Yet thou pretend'ft to truth; all oracles By thee are giv'n, and what confefs'd more true Among the nations? that hath been thy craft, By mixing fomewhat true to vent more lies. But what have been thy anfwers, what but dark, Ambiguous and with double fenfe deluding, 435 Which they who ask'd have seldom understood, And not well understood as good not known? Who ever by confulting at thy fhrine Return'd the wifer, or the more inftruct To fly or follow what concern'd him most, And run not fooner to his fatal fnare ? For God hath justly giv'n the nations up To thy delufions; juftly, fince they fell Idolatrous: but when his purpofe is Among them to declare his providence
To thee not known, whence hast thou then thy truth, But from him or his Angels prefident
In every province ? who themselves difdaining T'approach thy temples, give thee in command What to the smallest tittle thou shalt fay To thy adorers; thou with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parafite obey'ft; Then to thyself afcrib'ft the truth foretold. But this thy glory fhail be foon retrench'd; No more fhalt thou by oracling abuse The Gentiles; henceforth oracles are ceas'd, And thou no more with pomp and facrifice Shalt be inquir'd at Delphos or elsewhere,
At least in vain, for they shall find thee mute. God hath now fent his living oracle
Into the world to teach his final will,
And fends his Spirit of truth henceforth to dwell In pious hearts, an inward oracle
To all truth requifite for men to know.
So fpake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend, 465 Though inly ftung with anger and difdain, Diffembled, and this anfwer smooth return'd. Sharply thou haft infifted on rebuke,
And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will But mifery hath wrefted from me: where Eafily canft thou find one miferable,
And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth; If it may ftand him more in stead to lie, Say and unfay, feign, flatter, or abjure? But thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord; 475 From thee I can and muft fubmifs indure Check or reproof, and glad to 'fcape fo quit. Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk, Smooth on the tongue difcours'd, pleasing to th' ear, And tuneable as fylvan pipe or fong;
What wonder then if I delight to hear
Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire Virtue, who follow not her lore: permit me To hear thee when I come (fince no man comes) And talk at least, though I deípair to attain. 485 Thy Father, who is holy, wife and pure, Suffers the hypocrite or atheous prieft To tread his iacred courts, and minister About his altar, handling holy things, Praying or vowing, and vouchfaf'd his voice 490 To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet Infpir'd; difdain not fuch accels to me.
To whom our Saviour with unaiter'd brow. Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope, I bid not or forbid; do as thou find ft
Permiffion from above; thou canst not more. He added not; and Satan bowing low gray diffimulation, disappear'd
Into thin air diffus'd: for now began
Night with her fullen wings to double-fhade
And now wild beafts came forth the woods to roam.
The defert; fowls in their clay nefts were couch'd;
The end of the First Book:
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