But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold, That to the fall and rising he should be Of many in Ifraël, and to a fign Spoken againft, that through my very foul A sword shall pierce; this is my favor'd lot, My exaltation to afflictions high;
Afflicted I may be, it feems, and bleft;
I will not argue that, nor will repine.
I loft him, but fo found, as well I faw He could not lofe himself; but went about His Father's business; what he meant I mus'd, Since understand; much more his abfence
Thus long to fome great purpose he obfcures. But I to wait with patience am inur'd; My heart hath been a store-house long of things
And fay'ings laid up, portending strange events. Thus Mary pond'ring oft, and oft to
Recalling, what remarkably had pafs'd
Since first her falutation heard, with thoughts
Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling: The white her fon tracing the defert wild, Sole but with holieft meditations fed,
Into himself defcended, and at once
All his great work to come before him fet; How to begin, how to accomplish best His end of being on earth, and mission high: For Satan with fly preface to return 115 Had left him vacant, and with speed was gone Up to the middle region of thick air, Where all his potentates in council fat; There without fign of boaft, or fign of joy, Solicitous and blank he thus began.
Princes, Heav'n's ancient Sons, ethereal Thrones,
Demonian Spirits now, from th' element Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd Pow'rs of fire, air, water, and earth beneath, So may we hold our place and these mild
Without new trouble; fuch an enemy
Is rifen to invade us, who no lefs
Threatens than our expulfion down to Hell; I, as I undertook, and with the vote
Confenting in full fréquence was impo
Have found him, view'd him, tafted him,
Far other labor to be undergone
Than when I dealt with Adam first of Men, Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell, However to this man inferior far,
If he be man by mother's fide at least, With more than human gifts from Heav'n adorn'd,
Perfections abfolute, graces divine,
And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds. Therefore I am return'd, left confidence Of my fuccefs with Eve in Paradife Deceive ye to persuasion over-sure Of like fucceeding here; I fummon all Rather to be in readiness, with hand Or counsel to affift; left I who erst Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd. So fpake th' old Serpent doubting, and from all
With clamor was assur'd their utmost ́aid At his command; when from amidst them rofe Belial, the diffoluteft Spirit that fell, The fenfualleft, and After Afmodai The fleshlieft Incubus, and thus advis'd. Set women in his eye, and in his walk, Among daughters of men the fairest found; Many are in each region passing fair As the noon sky; more like to Goddesses
Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet, Expert in amorous arts,-inchanting tongues Perfuafive, virgin majefty with mild
And sweet allay'd, yet terrible t' approach, 160 Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw Hearts after them tangled in amorous nets.
Such object hath the pow'r to soft'n and tame Severeft temper, smooth the rugged'st brow, Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dif- folve, 165 Draw out with credulous defire, and lead At will the manlieft, resolutest breast, As the magnetic hardest iron draws. Women, when nothing elfe, beguil'd the heart Of wifeft Solomon, and made him build, 170 And made him bow to the Gods of his wives.
To whom quick answer Sàtan thus return'd. Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st All others by thy felf; because of old Thou thyself doat'dft on womankind, admi-
Their fhape, their color, and attractive grace, None are, thou think'ft, but taken with such toys.
Before the flood thou with thy lufty crew, Falle titled fons of God,, roaming the earth Caft wanton eyes on the daughters of men, 180 And coupled with them, and begot a race. Have we not feen, or by relation heard, In courts and regal chambers, how thou lurk'st, In wood or grove by molly fountain fide, In valley or green meadow, to way lay Some beauty rare, Califto, Clymene, Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,
Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more
Too long, then lay'ft thy fcapes on names ador'd,
Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan,
Satir, or Faun, or Sylvan? But these haunts Delight not all; among the fons of men, How many have with a fmile made small
Of beauty and her lures, eafily fcorn'd All her affaults, on worthier things intent? 195 Remember that Pellean conqueror,
A youth, how all the beauties of the east He flightly view'd, and flightly overpafs'd; How he firnam'd of Africa difmifs'd
In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid, 200 For Solomon, he liv'd at ease, and full Of honor, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond
Higher defign, than to enjoy his state; Thence to the bait of women lay expos'd; But he whom we attempt, is wiser far 205 Than Solomon, of more exalted mind, Made and set wholly on th' accomplishment Of greatest things; what woman will you find, Though of this age the wonder and the fame, On whom his leifure will vouchlafe an eye 210 Of fond defire? or fhould fhe confident, As fitting queen ador'd on beauty's throne, Defcend with all her winning charms begirt T'enamour, as the zone of Venus once
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