After forty days fafting had remain'd,
Now hungring first, and to himself thus faid.
Where will this end? four times ten days I've pafs'd Wand'ring this woody maze, and human food 246 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 support nature without repast Though needing, what praise is it to indure? But now I feel I hunger, which declares Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God Can fatisfy that need some other way, Though hunger ftill remain fo it remain Without this body's wafting, I content me, And from the fting of famin 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 260 Commun'd in filent walk, then laid him down Under the hospitable covert nigh
Of trees thick interwoven; there he slept,
And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream,
Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment fweet; 265
Him thought, he by the brook of Cherith stood
And saw the ravens with their horny beaks
Food to Elijah bringing ev'n and morn, (brought:
Though ravenous, taught t'abstain from what they
He saw the prophet also how he fled
Into the defert, and how there he slept
Under a juniper; then how awak'd,
He found his fupper on the coals prepar'd,
And by the Angel was bid rise and eat,
And eat the fecond time after repose,
The ftrength whereof fuffic'd him forty days;
Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,
Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse.
Thus wore out night, and now the herald lark
Left his ground-neft, high tow'ring to defcry 280
The morn's approach, and greet her with his fong:
As lightly from his graffy couch up rose
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream,
Fasting 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 prospect round,
If cottage were in view, fheep-cote or herd;
But cottage, herd, or fheep-cote none he saw,
Only' in a bottom saw a pleasant grove,
With chaunt of tuneful birds refounding loud; 290
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) 295
And to a fuperftitious eye the haunt (round,
Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it
When fuddenly a man before him flood,
Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad,
As one in city', or court, or palace bred,
And with fair fpeech these words to him addrefs'd.
With granted leave officious I return,
But much more wonder that the Son of God
In this wild folitude so long should bide
Of all things deftitute, and well I know,
Not without hunger. Others of some note,
As story tells, have trod this wilderness;
The fugitive bond-woman with her fon
Out-cast Nebaioth, yet found here relief
By a providing Angel; all the race
Of Ifrael here had famifh'd, had not God
Rain'd from Heav'n Manna; and that Prophet bold
Native of Thebez wand'ring here was fed
Twice by a voice inviting him to eat :
Of thee these forty days none hath regard, 315 Forty and more deserted here indeed.
To whom thus Jefus. What conclud'ft thou hence? They all had need, I as thou seest 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 Jesus. Why should that
Cause thy refusal? said the subtle Fiend.
Haft thou not right to all created things?
Owe not all creatures by just 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 opprefs'd? Behold
Nature asham'd, or better to exprefs,
Troubled that thou should'ft hunger, hath purvey'd From all the elements her choiceft ftore
To treat thee as befeems, and as her Lord 335 With honor, 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 spread, in regal mode,
With dishes pil'd, and meats of nobleft fort
And favor, beafts of chafe, or fowl of game,
In pastry built, or from the spit, or boil'd,
Gris-amber-fteam'd; all fish from sea or shore,
Frefhet, or purling brook, of shell or fin,
And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast.
Alas how fimple, to these 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 ftripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue
Than Ganymed or Hylas; diftant more
Under the trees now tripp'd, now folemn ftood
Nymphs
Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades
With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn,
And ladies of th' Hefperides, that seem'd
Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled fince
Of faery damfels met in forest wide
By knights of Logres, or of Lyones,
Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore:
And all the while harmonious airs were heard
Of chiming ftrings, or charming pipes, and winds
Of gentleft gale Arabian odors fann'd
From their foft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. 365
Such was the fplendor, and the Tempter now
His invitation earnestly renew'd.
What doubts the Son of God to fit and eat? These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict Defends the touching of these viands pure; Their taste no knowledge works at least of evil, But life preferves, destroys life's enemy,
Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.
All these are Spi'rits of air, and woods, and springs, Thy gentle minifters, 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'ft thou not that to all things I had right? And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? 380 Shall I receive by gift what of my own,
When and where likes me best, I can command?
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