And bear through highth or depth of nature's
With profp'rous wing full fumm'd, to tell of deeds
Above heroic, though in secret done,
And unrecorded left through many an age, Worthy t' have not remain'd so long unfung. Now had the great Proclamer, with a voice More awful than the found of trumpet, cry'd Repentance, and Heav'n's kingdom nigh at
To all baptiz'd: to his great baptifm flock'd
With awe the regions round, and with them
From Nazareth the fon of Jofeph deem'd
To the flood Jordan, came as then obscure,
Unmark'd, unknown; but him the Baptist
Defcry'd, divinely warn'd, and witnefs bore
As to his worthier, and would have refign'd
To him his heav'nly office, nor was long
His witness unconfirm'd; on him baptiz'd
Heav'n open'd, and in likeness of a dove 30
The Spirit defcended, while the Father's
From Heav'n pronounc'd him his beloved Son. That heard the Adverfary, who roving still About the world, at that affembly fam'd Would not be laft, and with the voice
Nigh thunder- ftruck, th' exalted man, to
Such high attest was giv'n, a while fur
With wonder, then with envy fraught and
Flies to his place, nor refts, but in mid air
To council fummons all his mighty peers, 40
Within thick clouds and dark ten-fold in-
volv'd'
A gloomy confiftory; and them amidst
With looks aghaft and fad he thus befpake.
O ancient Pow'rs of air and this wide
For much more willingly I mention air,
This our old conqueft, than remember Hell,
Our hated habitation; well ye know
How many ages, as the years of men,
This univerfe we have poffefs'd, and rul'd
In manner at our will th' affairs of earth, 50
Since Adam and his facil confoat Eve
Loft Paradife deceiv'd by me, though fince
With dread attending when that fatal wound
Shall be inflicted by the feed of Eve
Upon my head: long the decrees of Heav'n 55 Delay, for longest time to him is fhort;
And now too foon for us the circling hours This dreaded time have compass'd, wherein
Muft bide the ftroke of that long threaten'd
wound,
At least if fo we can, and by the head 60
Broken be not intended all our power
To be infring'd, our freedom and our being,
In this fair empire won of earth and air;
For this ill news I bring, the woman's feed
Deftin'd to this, is late of woman born: 65
His birth to our juft fear gave no fmall caufe,
But his growth now to youth's full flow'r, dif-
playing
All virtue', grace, and wisdom to achieve
Things higheft, greateft, multiplies my fear.
Before him a great prophet, to proclame
His coming, is fent harbinger, who all
Invites, and in the confecrated stream
Pretends to wash off fin, and fit them fo
Purified to receive him pure, or rather
To do him honor as their king; all come,
And he himself among them was baptiz'd,
Not thence to be more pure, but to receive
The teftimony' of Heav'n, that who he is
Thenceforth the nations may not doubt; I
The prophet do him reverence,
Out of the water, Heav'n above the clouds
Unfold her crystal doors, thence on his head
A perfect dove descend, whate'er it meant,
And out of Heav'n the fovran voice I heard,
This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd. 85
His mother then is mortal, but his fire
He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven,
And what will he not do to' advance his Son?
His first-begot we know, and fore have felt,
When his fierce thunder drove us
Who this is we must learn, for man he seems
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his father's glory shine,
Ye fee our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate, 95
But muft with fomething fudden be oppos'd,
Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well wo-
ven fnares,
Ere in the head of nations he appear
Their king, their leader, and fupreme on earth.
I, when no other durft, fole undertook
The difmal expedition to find out
And ruin Adam, and th' exploit perform'd
Successfully; a calmer voyage now
Will waft me: and the way found profp'rous
Induces beft to hope of like fuccefs.
He ended, and his words impreffion left Of much amazement to th' infernal crew, Diftracted and furpris'd with deep difmay At these fad tidings; but no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprize
To him their great dictator, whofe attempt
At first against mankind so well had thriv’d
In Adam's overthrow, and led their march '115
From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,
Regents and potentates, and kings, yea Göds
Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.
So to the coaft of Jordan he directs
His ealy fteps, girded with fnaky wiles, Where he might likelieft find this new-declar'd,
This man of men, attefted Son of God,
Temptation and all guile on him to try;
So to fubvert whom he fufpected rais'd
To end his reign on earth fo long enjoy'd: 125
But contrary unweeting he fulfill'd
The purpos'd counsel pre-ordain'd and fix'd
Of the moft High, who in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel fmiling fpake..
Gabriel, this day by proof thou fhalt be-
Thou and all Angels converfant on earth
With man or mens affairs, how I begin
To verify that folemn message late,"
On which I fent thee to Virgin pure.
In Galilee, that she should bear a son
Great in renown, and call'd the Son of God;
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