The law and prophets, fearching what was

writ

260

Concerning the Meffiah, to our scribes Known partly, and soon found, of whom they spake

265

I am; this chiefly, that my way muft lie
Through many a hard affay ev'n to the death,
Ere I the promis'd kingdom can attain,
O work redemption for mankind, whofe fins
Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head.
Yet neither thus difhearten'd or dismay'd,
The time prefix'd I waited, when behold
The Baptift (of whose birth I oft had heard, 270
Not knew by fight) now come, who was

to come

Before Meffiah and his way prepare.

I as all others to his baptifm came,

Which I believ'd was from above; but he Strait knew me, and with loudeft voice pro

1

clam'd

275

Me him (for it was fhown him fo from

Heaven)

Me him whofe harbinger he was; and firft
Refus'd on me his baptifm to confer,
As much his greater, and was hardly won:
But as I rofe out of the laving stream, 280
Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence
The Spirit defcended on me like a dove,
And laft the fum of all, my Father's voice,

Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me

his,

Me his beloved Son, in whom alone 285 He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the

time

Now full, that I no more should live obfcure, But openly begin, as beft becomes.

Th' authority, which I deriv'd from Heaven.
And now by fome ftrong motion I am led 290
Into this wilderness, to what intent

I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know;
For what concerns my knowledge God reveals.
So fpake our Morning Star then in his rife,
And looking round on every fide beheld 295
A pathlefs defert, dusk with horrid fhades;
The way he came not having mark'd, return
Was difficult, by human steps untrod;
And he still on was led, but with such
thoughts

Accompanied of things paft and to come 300 Lodg'd in his breast, as well might recommend

Such folitude before choiceft fociety.

Full forty days he pafs'd, whether on hill
Sometimes, anon in fhady vale, each night
Under the covert of some ancient oak,
Or cedar, to defend him from the dew,
Or harbour'd in one cave, is not reveal'd;
Nor tasted human food, nor hunger felt

305

Till those days ended, hunger'd then at laft

Among wild beafts: they at his fight grew

Nor fleeping him nor waking harm'd, his
walk

The fiery serpent fled, and noxious worm,
The lion and fierce tiger glar'd aloof.

But now an aged man in rural weeds,
Following, as feem'd, the quest of some stray

ewe,

315 Or wither'd sticks to gather, which might

ferve

Against a winter's day, when winds blow keen,
To warn him wet return'd from field at eve,
He faw approach, who firft with curious eye
Perus'd him, then with words thus utter'd

fpake.

320

Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to
this place

So far from path or road of men, who pass
In troop or caravan? for single none
Durst ever, who return'd, and dropt not here
His carcals, pin'd with hunger and with

drouth.

I ask the rather, and the more admire,
For that to me thou feem'ft the man,

late

325

whom

Our new baptizing Prophet at the ford
Of Jordan honor'd fo, and call'd thee Son

Of God; I faw and heard, for we fometi

mes

330

Who dwell this wild, constrain'd want, come

forth

To town or village nigh (nigheft is far)

Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,

What happens new; fame also finds us out. To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hither,

335 Will bring me hence; no other guide I feek.

By miracle he may, reply'd the [wain,
What other way I fee not, for we here

Live on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inur'd
More than the camel, and to drink go far, 340
Men to much mifery and hardship born;
But if thou be the Son of God, command
That out of these hard stones be made thee
bread,

So fhalt thou fave thyself and us relieve

· With food, whereof we wretched feldom

He ended, and the Son of God reply'd. Think'st thou fuch force in bread? is it not

written

(For I difcern thee other than thou feem'ft) Man lives not by bread only, but each word Proceeding from the mouth of God, who fed

350

Our fathers here with Manna? in the mount
Mofes was forty days, nor eat nor drank ;
And forty days Elijah without food

Wander'd this barren wafte; the fame I now:
Why doft thou then suggest to me distrust, 355
Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?
Whom thus answer'd th' Arch-Fiend now
undisguis'd.

This true, I am that Spirit unfortunate,
Who leagu'd with millions more in rafh revolt
Kept not my happy ftation, but was dri-

ven

360 With them from blifs to the bottomlefs deep, Yet to that hideous place not fo confin'd By rigor unconniving, but that oft

Leaving my dolorous prifon I enjoy

Large liberty to round this globe of earth, 365 Or range in th' air, nor from the Heav'n of

Heav'ns

Hath he excluded my refort fometimes.

I came among the fons of God, when he
Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job

To prove him, and illuftrate his high worth; 370
And when to all his Angels he propos'd

To draw the proud king Ahab into fraud,
That he might fall in Ramoth they demurring,
I undertook that office, and the tongues
Of all his flattering prophets glibb'd with