The glimpses of his father's glory shine.
Ye see our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,
But must with something sudden be oppos'd,
Not force, but well-couch'd fraud, well-woven
Ere in the head of nations he appear
Their king, their leader, and supreme on earth.
I, when no other durst, sole undertook

The dismal expedition to find out

[snares,

And ruin Adam, and the exploit perform'd
Successfully; a calmer voyage now

100

Will waft me; and the way found prosp'rous once
Induces best to hope of like success.

He ended, and his words impression left
Of much amazement to th' infernal crew,
Distracted and surpriz'd with deep dismay
At these sad tidings; but no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears or grief.
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprize
To him their great dictator, whose attempt
At first against mankind so well had thriv'd

94 edge] Shakesp. All's Well, &c. Act. iii. sc. 3.

'We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake

To the extreme edge of hazard.'

Newton.

105

110

In Adam's overthrow, and led their march
From hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,
Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods
Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.
So to the coast of Jordan he directs

His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles,
Where he might likeliest find this new-declar'd,
This man of men, attested Son of God,
Temptation and all guile on him to try;
So to subvert whom he suspected rais'd
To end his reign on earth so long enjoy'd:
But contrary unweeting he fulfill'd
The purpos'd counsel pre-ordain'd and fixt
Of the most High, who, in full frequence bright
Of angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake.

115

120

125

Gabriel, this day by proof thou shalt behold, 130 Thou and all angels conversant on earth With man or men's affairs, how I begin To verify that solemn message late, On which I sent thee to the virgin pure In Galilee, that she should bear a son Great in renown, and call'd the Son of God;

135

Then told'st her doubting how these things could be
To her a virgin, that on her should come
The Holy Ghost, and the Power of the Highest
O'er-shadow her: this man born, and now up-grown,
To show him worthy of his birth divine
And high prediction, henceforth I expose

137 told'st] The sense Thou told'st her.' The language obscure, from being comprest and latinised, 'dixisti.'

Dunster.

To Satan; let him tempt and now assay
His utmost subtlety, because he boasts

And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng 145
Of his apostasy; he might have learnt

Less overweening, since he fail'd in Job,
Whose constant perseverance overcame
Whate'er his cruel malice could invent.

He now shall know I can produce a man
Of female seed, far abler to resist

150

All his solicitations, and at length

All his vast force, and drive him back to hell,
Winning by conquest what the first man lost
By fallacy surpriz'd. But first I mean.
To exercise him in the wilderness;
There he shall first lay down the rudiments
Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth
To conquer sin and death, the two grand foes,
By humiliation and strong sufferance.
His weakness shall o'ercome satanic strength,
And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;
That all the angels and æthereal powers,
They now, and men hereafter, may discern,
From what consummate virtue I have chose
This perfect man, by merit call'd my Son,
To earn salvation for the sons of men.

So spake th' eternal Father, and all heaven
Admiring stood a space, then into hymns
Burst forth, and in celestial measures mov'd,

157 rudiments.] Virg. Æn. xi. 156.

'Bellique propinqui

155

160

165

170

Circling the throne and singing, while the hand
Sung with the voice, and this the argument.
Victory and triumph to the Son of God,
Now ent'ring his great duel, not of arms,
But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles.
The Father knows the Son; therefore secure
Ventures his filial virtue, though untry'd,
Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce,
Allure, or terrify, or undermine.

Be frustrate all ye stratagems of hell,
And devilish machinations come to nought!

175

180

185

So they in heaven their odes and vigils tun'd: Mean while the Son of God, who yet some days Lodg❜d in Bethabara where John baptiz'd, Musing and much revolving in his breast, How best the mighty work he might begin. Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first Publish his god-like office now mature, One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading, And his deep thoughts, the better to converse With solitude, till far from track of men, Thought following thought, and step by step led on, He enter❜d now the bordering desert wild,

190

And, with dark shades and rocks environ'd round, His holy meditations thus pursu❜d.

171 hand sung] Tibull. El. iii. 4. 41.

Digiti cum voce lucuti.'

Calton.

195

175 vanquish] Accent on the last syllable, so Shakesp. Hen. VI. Part 1. act iii. sc. 3.

'I am vanquish'd. These haughty words of hers,' &c. Todd.

185 revolving] Virg. Æn. x. 890.

Multa movens animo.'

Dunster.

200

203

O what a multitude of thoughts at once Awaken'd in me swarm, while I consider What from within I feel my self, and hear What from without comes often to my ears, Ill sorting with my present state compar'd! When I was yet a child, no childish play To me was pleasing, all my mind was set Serious to learn and know, and thence to do What might be public good; my self I thought Born to that end, born to promote all truth, All righteous things: therefore, above my years, The law of God I read, and found it sweet, Made it my whole delight, and in it grew To such perfection, that, ere yet my age Had measur'd twice six years, at our great feast I went into the temple, there to hear The teachers of our law, and to propose What might improve my knowledge or their own, And was admir'd by all; yet this not all To which my spirit aspir'd, victorious deeds. Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke, Then to subdue and quell o'er all the earth Brute violence and proud tyrannic pow'r, Till truth were freed, and equity restor❜d: Yet held it more humane, more heav'nly, first By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear;

222 willing] Virg. Georg. iv. 561.

'Victorque volentes

215

220