Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades 355 With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn, Of chiming ftrings, or charming pipes, and winds From their foft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. 365 What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat? Hunger, with sweet restorative delight. 370 All these are Spirits of air, and woods, and springs, Thy gentle ministers, who come to pay 375 Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord: What doubt'ft thou Son of God? fit down and eat. To whom thus Jefus temp'rately reply'd. Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? When and where likes me best, I can command? I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou, And count thy specious gifts no gifts but guiles. To whom thus anfwer'd Satan malecontent. That I have also pow'r to give thou seeft; If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary 385 390. What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd, 395 And rather opportunely in this place Chose to impart to thy apparent need, Why shouldst thou not accept it? but I fee Of these things others quickly will dispose, 400 Whose pains have earn'd the far fet spoil. With that With found of harpies wings, and talons heard; By hunger, that each other creature tames, For no allurement yields to appetite, And all thy heart is set on high designs, C4 405 410 High High actions; but wherewith to be achiev'd? Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost? 415 420 Money brings honor, friends, conqueft, and realms: What rais'd Antipater the Edomite, And his fon Herod plac'd on Juda's throne, 425 (Thy throne) but gold that got him puissant friends? They whom I favor thrive in wealth amain, ,430 To whom thus Jefus patiently reply'd. 435 Gideon, Gideon, and Japhtha, and the shepherd lad, 440 That feat, and reign in Israel without end. For I esteem those names of men fo poor Who could do mighty things, and could contemn Riches though offer'd from the hand of kings. And what in me seems wanting, but that I May also in this poverty as soon Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more? Extol not riches then, the toil of fools, 450 The wife man's cumbrance if not snare, more apt Than prompt her to do ought may merit praise. 455 Riches and realms; yet not for that a crown, Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and fleepless nights To him who wears the regal diadem, When on his fhoulders each man's burden lies; For therein ftands the office of a king, 561 His honor, virtue, merit and chief praise, That for the public all this weight he bears. 465 Pal Paffions, defires, and fears, is more a king; Or lawless paffions in him which he serves. Riches are needless then, both for themselves, 470 475 480 And for thy reason why they should be fought, 485 To gain a scepter, oftest better miss'd. The end of the Second Book. |