To all truth requisite for men to know.'

So spake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend,
Though inly stung with anger and disdain,
Dissembled, and this answer smooth return'd:
'Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke,

And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will
But misery hath wrested from me.

Where

Easily canst thou find one miserable,
And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth,
If it may stand him more in stead to lie,
Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure?
But thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord;
From thee I can, and must, submiss, endure
Check or reproof, and glad to 'scape so quit.
Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk,
Smooth on the tongue discours'd, pleasing to the' ear,
And tuneable as sylvan pipe or song;

What wonder then if I delight to hear

Her dictates from thy mouth? Most men admire
Virtue, who follow not her lore: permit me
To hear thee when I come, (since no man comes)
And talk at least, though I despair to' attain.
Thy Father, who is holy, wise, and pure,
Suffers the hypocrite or atheous priest
To tread his sacred courts, and minister
About his altar, handling holy things,
Praying or vowing; and vouchsaf'd his voice
To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet
Inspir'd: disdain not such access to me.'

To whom our Saviour, with unalter'd brow: "Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope, I bid not, or forbid: do as thou find'st

Permission from above; thou canst not more.'

He added not; and Satan, bowing low His gray dissimulation, disappear'd,

Into thin air diffus'd: for now began

Night with her sullen wings to double-shade

The desert; fowls in their clay nests were couch'd; And now wild beasts came forth the woods to roam.

END OF BOOK I.

THE

SECOND BOOK

OF

PARADISE REGAINED,