What if with like aversion I reject
Riches and realms; yet not for that a crown,
Golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns,
Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and slepless

nights

460 To him who wears the regal diadem, When on his shoulders each man's burden lies; For therein stands the office of a king, His honor, virtue, merit and chief praise, That for the public all this weight he

bears.

465 Yet he who reigns within himfelf, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king; Which every wise and virtuous man attains; And who attains not, ill aspires to rule Cities of men, or headftrong multitudes 470 Subject himfelf to anarchy within, Or lawless passions in him which he serves. But to guide nations in the way of truth By saving doctrin, and from error lead To know, and knowing worship God

aright,

475 Is yet more kingly; this attracts the soul, Governs the inner man,

the nobler part; That other o'er the body only reigns, And oft by force, which to a generous mind So reigning can be no cincere delight, 480 Besides to give a kingdom hath been thought Greater and nobler done, and to lay down

Far more magnanimous, than to assume. Riches are needless then, both for themfelves, And for thy reason, why they, should be

sought,

485 To gain a scepter, oftest better miss'd.

The End of the Second Book.

BOOK III.

So spake the fon of God, and Satan stood
A while as mute confounded what to say,
What to reply, confuted and convinc'd
Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift :
At length collecting all his serpent wiles, 5
With foothing words renew'd, him thus

'accosts.
I see thou know'st, what is of use to

know, What best to say canst say, to do canst do; Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words To thy large heart give utterance due, thy

heart Contains of good, wise, just, the perfect

shape. Should kings and nations from thy mouth

consult, Thy counsel would be as the oracle Urim and Thummim, those oraculous gems On Aaron's breast; or tongue of seers old 15 Infallible :

; or wert thou sought to deeds

10

That might require th’ array of war, thy

i skill

Of conduct would be such, that all the world
Could not fustain thy prowess, or sublist
In battel, though against thy few in arms.
These. God - like virtues wherefore dost thou

hide,
Affecting private life, or more obscure
In Cavage wildernels? wherefore deprive
All earth her wonder at thy acts, thyself
The fame and glory , glory the reward
That sole excites to high' attempts', the flame
Of most erected spi'rits, molt temper'd pure
Ethereal, who all pleafares elle despise,
All treasures and all gain esteem as dross,
And dignities and pow'rs all but the highest 30
Thy years are ripe, and over - ripe: the son
Of Macedonian Philip had ere these
Won Alia, and the throne of Cyrus held
At his dispose; young Scipio had brought down
The Carthaginian pride; young Pompey

quellid

35 The Pontic king and in triumph had rode. Yet years, and to ripe years judgmend mature, Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment. Great: Julius, whom now all the world ad

mires, The more he grew in years, the more in

flam'd

40

With glory, wept that he had liv'd so long
Inglorious: but thou yet art not too late.

To whom 'our Saviour calmly thus reply'd.
Thou' neither dost persuade me to seek wealth
For empire's fake , nor empire to effect 45
For glory's sake by all thy argument.
For what is glory but the blaze of fame,
The peoples' praise, if always praise un-

mix'd ? And what the people but a herd confus'd, A miscellaneous rabble, who extol 50 Things vulgar, and well weigh'd, scarce

worth the praise ? They praise, and they admire they know not

what, And know not whom , but as one leads the

other; And what delight to be by such extollid, To live upon their tongues and be their

talk,

55 Of whom to be disprais'd were no small

praise ? His lot who dares be fingularly good. Th' intelligent among them and the wise Are few, and glory scarce of few is rais’d. This is true glory and renown, when God 60 Looking on th' earth, with approbation marks The just man, and divulges him through

Heaven