Or work Redemption for mankind, whose sins
Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head.
Yet neither thus dishearten'd or dismay'd,
The time prefix'd I waited, when behold
The Baptift (of whose birth I oft had heard,
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
Straight knew me, and with loudest voice proclaim'd
Me him (for it was shewn him fo from Heav'n)
Me him whose Harbinger he was; and first
Refus'd on me his Baptifm to confer,
As much his greater, and was hardly won:
But as I rose out of the laving stream,
Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence
The Spirit defcended on me like a Dove,
And last the fum of all, my Father's voice,
Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his,
Me his beloved Son, in whom alone
He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the time
Now full, that I no more should live obfcure,
But openly begin, as best becomes
The Authority which I deriv'd from Heav'n.
And now by some strong motion I am led
Into this Wilderness, to what intent
I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know;
For what concerns my knowledge God reveals.
So spake our Morning Star, then in his rife,
And looking round on every fide beheld
A pathless Defart, dusk with horrid shades,
The way he came not having mark'd, return
Was difficult, by humane steps untrod;
And he still on was led, but with fuch thoughts
Accompanied of things past and to come
Lodg'd in his breaft, as well might recommend
Such Solitude before choicest Society.
Full forty days he pass'd, whether on hill
Sometimes, anon in shady vale, each night
Under the covert of fome ancient Oak,
Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew,
Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd;
Nor tasted humane food, nor hunger felt
Till those days ended, hunger'd then at last
Among wild Beasts: they at his fight grew mild,
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 seem'd, the quest of some stray Ewe,
Or wither'd sticks to gather; which might serve
Against a Winters day when winds blow keen,
To warm him wet return'd from Field at Eve,
He saw approach, who first with curious eye
Perus'd him, then with words thus utter'd spake.
Sir, what ill chance has 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 Carcass, pin'd with hunger and with droughth.
I ask the rather, and the more admire,
For that to me thou seem'ft the man, whom late
Our new baptizing Prophet at the Ford
Of Jordan honour'd so, and call'd thee Son
Of God; I saw and heard, for we sometimes
Who dwell this wilde, constrain'd by want, come
To Town or Village nigh (nighest is far)
Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,
What happ'ns new; Fame also finds us out.
To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hiWill bring me hence, no other Guide I seek. [ther By Miracle he may, reply'd the Swain, 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, Men to much mifery and hardship born; But if thou be the Son of God, Command That out of these hard ftones be made thee Bread, So shalt thou fave thy felf and us relieve With Food, whereof we wretched seldom taste. 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 seem'ft) Man lives not by Bread only, but each Word Proceeding from the mouth of God; who fed Our Fathers here with Manna, in the Mount Mofes was forty days, nor eat nor drank, And forty days Elijah without food Wandred this barren waste, the fame I now: Why dost thou then suggest to me distrust, Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?
Whom thus answer'd th' Arch Fiend now undif
'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate,
Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revolt
Kept not my happy Station, but was driv'n
With them from Bliss to the bottomless deep,
Yet to that hideous place not so confin'd
By rigour unconniving, but that oft
Leaving my dolorous Prison I enjoy
Large Liberty to round this Globe of Earth,
Or range in th' Air, nor from the Heav'n of Heav'ns
Hath he excluded my resort sometimes.
I came among the Sons of God, when he
Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job
To prove him, and illustrate his high worth;
And when to all his Angels he propos'd
To draw the proud King Ahab into fraud
That he might fall in Ramoth, they demuring,
I undertook that Office, and the tongues
Of all his flattering Prophets glibb'd with lies
To his destruction, as I had in charge.
For what he bids I do, though I have lost
Much luftre of my native brightness, loft
To be beloy'd of God, I have not loft
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