The Poetical Works of John Milton Part 30

Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd, From whose high top to ken the prospect round, If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd; But Cottage, Herd or Sheep-cote none he saw, Only in a bottom saw a pleasant Grove, With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud; 290 Thither he bent his way, determin'd there To rest at noon, and entr'd soon the shade High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown That open'd in the midst a woody Scene, Natures own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) And to a Superst.i.tious eye the haunt Of Wood-G.o.ds and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it round, When suddenly a man before him stood, Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad, As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred, 300 And with fair speech these words to him address'd.

With granted leave officious I return, But much more wonder that the Son of G.o.d In this wild solitude so long should bide Of all things dest.i.tute, and well I know, Not without hunger. Others of some note, As story tells, have trod this Wilderness; The Fugitive Bond-woman with her Son Out cast Nebaioth, yet found he relief By a providing Angel; all the race 310 Of Israel here had famish'd, had not G.o.d Rain'd from Heaven Manna, and that Prophet bold Native of Thebes wandring here was fed Twice by a voice inviting him to eat.

Of thee these forty days none hath regard, Forty and more deserted here indeed.

To whom thus Jesus; what conclud'st thou hence?

They all had need, I as thou seest have none.

How hast thou hunger then? Satan reply'd, Tell me if Food were now before thee set, 320 Would'st thou not eat? Thereafter as I like The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that Cause thy refusal, said the subtle Fiend, Hast thou not right to all Created things, Owe not all Creatures by just right to thee Duty and Service, nor to stay till bid, But tender all their power? nor mention I Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first To Idols, those young Daniel could refuse; Nor proffer'd by an Enemy, though who 330 Would scruple that, with want opprest? behold Nature asham'd, or better to express, Troubl'd that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd From all the Elements her choicest store To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord With honour, only deign to sit and eat.

He spake no dream, for as his words had end, Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld In ample s.p.a.ce under the broadest shade A Table richly spred, in regal mode, 340 With dishes pil'd, and meats of n.o.blest sort And savour, Beasts of chase, or Fowl of game, In pastry built, or from the spit, or boyl'd, Gris-amber-steam'd; all Fish from Sea or Sh.o.r.e, Freshet, or purling Brook, of sh.e.l.l or fin, And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coast.

Alas how simple, to these Cates compar'd, Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve!

And at a stately side-board by the wine 350 That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew Then Ganymed or Hylas, distant more Under the Trees now trip'd, now solemn stood Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn, And Ladies of th' Hesperides, that seem'd Fairer then feign'd of old, or fabl'd since Of Fairy Damsels met in Forest wide By Knights of Logres, or of Lyones, 360 Lancelot or Pelleas, or Pellenore, And all the while Harmonious Airs were heard Of chiming strings, or charming pipes and winds Of gentlest gale Arabian odors fann'd From their soft wings, and flora's earliest smells.

Such was the Splendour, and the Tempter now His invitation earnestly renew'd.

What doubts the Son of G.o.d to sit and eat?

These are not Fruits forbidden, no interdict Defends the touching of these viands pure, 370 Thir taste no knowledge works, at least of evil, But life preserves, destroys life's enemy, Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.

All these are Spirits of Air, and Woods, and Springs, Thy gentle Ministers, who come to pay Thee homage, and acknowledge thee thir Lord: What doubt'st thou Son of G.o.d? sit down and eat.

To whom thus Jesus temperately reply'd: Said'st thou not that to all things I had right?

And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? 380 Shall I receive by gift what of my own, When and where likes me best, I can command?

I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou, Command a Table in this Wilderness, And call swift flights of Angels ministrant Array'd in Glory on my cup to attend: Why shouldst thou then obtrude this diligence, In vain, where no acceptance it can find, And with my hunger what hast thou to do?

Thy pompous Delicacies I contemn, 390 And count thy specious gifts no gifts but guiles.

To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent: That I have also power to give thou seest, If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd.

And rather opportunely in this place Chose to impart to thy apparent need, Why shouldst thou not accept it? but I see What I can do or offer is suspect; Of these things others quickly will dispose 400 Whose pains have earn'd the far fet spoil. With that Both Table and Provision vanish'd quite With sound of Harpies wings, and Talons heard; Only the importune Tempter still remain'd, And with these words his temptation pursu'd.

By hunger, that each other Creature tames, Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd; Thy temperance invincible besides, For no allurement yields to appet.i.te, And all thy heart is set on high designs, 410 High actions: but wherewith to be atchiev'd?

Great acts require great means of enterprise, Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth, A Carpenter thy Father known, thy self Bred up in poverty and streights at home; Lost in a Desert here and hunger-bit: Which way or from what hope dost thou aspire To greatness? whence Authority deriv'st, What Followers, what Retinue canst thou gain, Or at thy heels the dizzy Mult.i.tude, 420 Longer then thou canst feed them on thy cost?

Money brings Honour, Friends, Conquest, and Realms; What rais'd Antipater the Edomite, And his Son Herod plac'd on Juda's Throne; (Thy throne) but gold that got him puissant friends?

Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive, Get Riches first, get Wealth, and Treasure heap, Not difficult, if thou hearken to me, Riches are mine, Fortune is in my hand; They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain, 430 While Virtue, Valour, Wisdom sit in want.

To whom thus Jesus patiently reply'd; Yet Wealth without these three is impotent, To gain dominion or to keep it gain'd.

Witness those antient Empires of the Earth, In highth of all thir flowing wealth dissolv'd: But men endu'd with these have oft attain'd In lowest poverty to highest deeds; Gideon and Jephtha, and the Shepherd lad, Whose off-spring on the Throne of Juda sat 440 So many Ages, and shall yet regain That seat, and reign in Israel without end.

Among the Heathen, (for throughout the World To me is not unknown what hath been done Worthy of Memorial) canst thou not remember Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?

For I esteem those names of men so poor Who could do mighty things, and could contemn Riches though offer'd from the hand of Kings.

And what in me seems wanting, but that I 450 May also in this poverty as soon Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?

Extol not Riches then, the toyl of Fools The wise mans c.u.mbrance if not snare, more apt To slacken Virtue, and abate her edge, Then prompt her to do aught may merit praise.

What if with like aversion I reject Riches and Realms; yet not for that a Crown, Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns, Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights 460 To him who wears the Regal Diadem, When on his shoulders each mans burden lies; For therein stands the office of a King, His Honour, Vertue, Merit and chief Praise, That for the Publick all this weight he bears.

Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules Pa.s.sions, Desires, and Fears, is more a King; Which every wise and vertuous man attains: And who attains not, ill aspires to rule Cities of men, or head-strong Mult.i.tudes, 470 Subject himself to Anarchy within, Or lawless pa.s.sions in him which he serves.

But to guide Nations in the way of truth By saving Doctrine, and from errour lead To know, and knowing worship G.o.d aright, Is yet more Kingly, this attracts the Soul, Governs the inner man, the n.o.bler part, That other o're the body only reigns, And oft by force, which to a generous mind So reigning can be no sincere delight. 480 Besides to give a Kingdom hath been thought Greater and n.o.bler done, and to lay down Far more magnanimous, then to a.s.sume.

Riches are needless then, both for themselves, And for thy reason why they should be sought, To gain a Scepter, oftest better miss't.

Note: 309 he] here 1695.

The End of the Second Book.

The Third Book.

So spake the Son of G.o.d, and Satan stood A while as mute confounded what to say, What to reply, confuted and convinc't Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift; At length collecting all his Serpent wiles, With soothing 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 10 Conteins of good, wise, just, the perfect shape.

Should Kings and Nations from thy mouth consult, Thy Counsel would be as the Oracle Urim and Thummin, those oraculous gems On Aaron's breast: or tongue of Seers old Infallible; or wert thou sought to deeds That might require th' array of war, thy skill Of conduct would be such, that all the world Could not sustain thy Prowess, or subsist In battel, though against thy few in arms. 20 These G.o.d-like Vertues wherefore dost thou hide?

Affecting private life, or more obscure In savage Wilderness, wherefore deprive All Earth her wonder at thy acts, thy self The fame and glory, glory the reward That sole excites to high attempts the flame Of most erected Spirits, most temper'd pure Aetherial, who all pleasures else despise, All treasures and all gain esteem as dross, And dignities and powers all but the highest? 30 Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe, the Son Of Macedonian Philip had e're these Won Asia and the Throne of Cyrus held At his dispose, young Scipio had brought down The Carthaginian pride, young Pompey quell'd The Pontic King and in triumph had rode.

Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature, Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment.

Great Julius, whom now all the world admires, The more he grew in years, the more inflam'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 perswade me to seek wealth For Empires sake, nor Empire to affect For glories sake by all thy argument.

For what is glory but the blaze of fame, The peoples praise, if always praise unmixt?

And what the people but a herd confus'd, A miscellaneous rabble, who extol 50 Things vulgar, & 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 extoll'd, To live upon thir tongues and be thir talk, Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise?

His lot who dares be singularly 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 G.o.d 60 Looking on the Earth, with approbation marks The just man, and divulges him through Heaven To all his Angels, who with true applause Recount his praises; thus he did to Job, When to extend his fame through Heaven & Earth, As thou to thy reproach mayst well remember, He ask'd thee, hast thou seen my servant Job?

Famous he was in Heaven, on Earth less known; Where glory is false glory, attributed To things not glorious, men not worthy of fame. 70 They err who count it glorious to subdue By Conquest far and wide, to over-run Large Countries, and in field great Battels win, Great Cities by a.s.sault: what do these Worthies, But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and enslave Peaceable Nations, neighbouring, or remote, Made Captive, yet deserving freedom more Then those thir Conquerours, who leave behind Nothing but ruin wheresoe're they rove, And all the flourishing works of peace destroy, 80 Then swell with pride, and must be t.i.tl'd G.o.ds, Great Benefactors of mankind, Deliverers, Worship't with Temple, Priest and Sacrifice; One is the Son of Jove, of Mars the other, Till Conquerour Death discover them scarce men, Rowling in brutish vices, and deform'd, Violent or shameful death thir due reward.

But if there be in glory aught of good, It may by means far different be attain'd Without ambition, war, or violence; 90 By deeds of peace, by wisdom eminent, By patience, temperance; I mention still Him whom thy wrongs with Saintly patience born, Made famous in a Land and times obscure; Who names not now with honour patient Job?

Poor Socrates (who next more memorable?) By what he taught and suffer'd for so doing, For truths sake suffering death unjust, lives now Equal in fame to proudest Conquerours.

Yet if for fame and glory aught be done, 100 Aught suffer'd; if young African for fame His wasted Country freed from Punic rage, The deed becomes unprais'd, the man at least, And loses, though but verbal, his reward.

Shall I seek glory then, as vain men seek Oft not deserv'd? I seek not mine, but his Who sent me, and thereby witness whence I am.

To whom the Tempter murmuring thus reply'd.

Think not so slight of glory; therein least, Resembling thy great Father: he seeks glory, 110 And for his glory all things made, all things Orders and governs, nor content in Heaven By all his Angels glorifi'd, requires Glory from men, from all men good or bad, Wise or unwise, no difference, no exemption; Above all Sacrifice, or hallow'd gift Glory he requires, and glory he receives Promiscuous from all Nations, Jew, or Greek, Or Barbarous, nor exception hath declar'd; From us his foes p.r.o.nounc't glory he exacts. 120 To whom our Saviour fervently reply'd.

And reason; since his word all things produc'd, Though chiefly not for glory as prime end, But to shew forth his goodness, and impart His good communicable to every soul Freely; of whom what could he less expect Then glory and benediction, that is thanks, The slightest, easiest, readiest recompence From them who could return him nothing else, And not returning that would likeliest render 130 Contempt instead, dishonour, obloquy?

Hard recompence, unsutable return For so much good, so much beneficence.

But why should man seek glory? who of his own Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs But condemnation, ignominy, and shame?

Who for so many benefits receiv'd Turn'd recreant to G.o.d, ingrate and false, And so of all true good himself despoil'd, Yet, sacrilegious, to himself would take 140 That which to G.o.d alone of right belongs; Yet so much bounty is in G.o.d, such grace, That who advance his glory, not thir own, Them he himself to glory will advance.

So spake the Son of G.o.d; and here again Satan had not to answer, but stood struck With guilt of his own sin, for he himself Insatiable of glory had lost all, Yet of another Plea bethought him soon.

Of glory as thou wilt, said he, so deem, 150 Worth or not worth the seeking, let it pa.s.s: But to a Kingdom thou art born, ordain'd To sit upon thy Father David's Throne; By Mother's side thy Father, though thy right Be now in powerful hands, that will not part Easily from possession won with arms; Judaea now and all the promis'd land Reduc't a Province under Roman yoke, Obeys Tiberius; nor is always rul'd With temperate sway; oft have they violated 160 The Temple, oft the Law with foul affronts, Abominations rather, as did once Antiochus: and think'st thou to regain Thy right by sitting still or thus retiring?

So did not Machabeus: he indeed Retir'd unto the Desert, but with arms; And o're a mighty King so oft prevail'd, That by strong hand his Family obtain'd, Though Priests, the Crown, and David's Throne usurp'd, With Modin and her Suburbs once content. 170 If Kingdom move thee not, let move thee Zeal, And Duty; Zeal and Duty are not slow; But on Occasions forelock watchful wait.

They themselves rather are occasion best, Zeal of thy Fathers house, Duty to free Thy Country from her Heathen servitude; So shalt thou best fullfil, best verifie The Prophets old, who sung thy endless raign, The happier raign the sooner it begins, Raign then; what canst thou better do the while? 180 To whom our saviour answer thus return'd.

All things are best fullfil'd in thir due time, And time there is for all things, Truth hath said: If of my raign Prophetic Writ hath told That it shall never end, so when begin The Father in his purpose hath decreed, He in whose hand all times and seasons roul.

What if he hath decreed that I shall first Be try'd in humble state, and things adverse, By tribulations, injuries, insults, 190 Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence, Suffering, abstaining, quietly expecting Without distrust or doubt, that he may know What I can suffer, how obey? who best Can suffer, best can do; best reign, who first Well hath obey'd; just tryal e're I merit My exaltation without change or end.

But what concerns it thee when I begin My everlasting Kingdom, why art thou Sollicitous, what moves thy inquisition? 200 Know'st thou not that my rising is thy fall, And my promotion will be thy destruction?

To whom the Tempter inly rackt reply'd.

Let that come when it comes; all hope is lost Of my reception into grace; what worse?

For where no hope is left, is left no fear; If there be worse, the expectation more Of worse torments me then the feeling can.

I would be at the worst; worst is my Port.

My harbour and my ultimate repose, 210 The end I would attain, my final good.

My error was my error, and my crime My crime; whatever for it self condemn'd And will alike be punish'd; whether thou Raign or raign not; though to that gentle brow Willingly I could flye, and hope thy raign, From that placid aspect and meek regard, Rather then aggravate my evil state, Would stand between me and thy Fathers ire, (Whose ire I dread more then the fire of h.e.l.l,) 220 A shelter and a kind of shading cool Interposition, as a summers cloud.

If I then to the worst that can be hast, Why move thy feet so slow to what is best, Happiest both to thy self and all the world, That thou who worthiest art should'st be thir King?

Perhaps thou linger'st in deep thoughts detain d Of the enterprize so hazardous and high; No wonder, for though in thee be united What of perfection can in man be found, 230 Or human nature can receive, consider Thy life hath yet been private, most part spent At home, scarce view'd the Gallilean Towns And once a year Jerusalem, few days Short sojourn; and what thence could'st thou observe?

The world thou hast not seen, much less her glory, Empires, and Monarchs, and thir radiant Courts Best school of best experience, quickest in sight In all things that to greatest actions lead.

The wisest, unexperienc't, will be ever 240 Timorous and loth, with novice modesty, (As he who seeking a.s.ses found a Kingdom) Irresolute, unhardy, unadventrous: But I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit Those rudiments, and see before thine eyes The Monarchies of the Earth, thir pomp and state, Sufficient introduction to inform Thee, of thy self so apt, in regal Arts, And regal Mysteries; that thou may'st know How best their opposition to withstand. 250 With that (such power was giv'n him then) he took The Son of G.o.d up to a Mountain high.

It was a Mountain at whose verdant feet A spatious plain out strech't in circuit wide Lay pleasant; from his side two rivers flow'd, Th' one winding, the other strait and left between Fair Champain with less rivers interveind, Then meeting joyn'd thir tribute to the Sea: Fertil of corn the glebe, of oyl and wine, With herds the pastures throng'd, with flocks the hills, 260 Huge Cities and high towr'd, that well might seem The seats of mightiest Monarchs, and so large The Prospect was, that here and there was room For barren desert fountainless and dry.

To this high mountain top the Tempter brought Our Saviour, and new train of words began.

Well have we speeded, and o're hill and dale, Forest and field, and flood, Temples and Towers Cut shorter many a league; here thou behold'st a.s.syria and her Empires antient bounds, 270 Araxes and the Caspian lake, thence on As far as Indus East, Euphrates West, And oft beyond; to South the Persian Bay, And inaccessible the Arabian drouth: Here Ninevee, of length within her wall Several days journey, built by Ninus old, Of that first golden Monarchy the seat, And seat of Salmana.s.sar, whose success Israel in long captivity still mourns; There Babylon the wonder of all tongues, 280 As antient, but rebuilt by him who twice Judah and all thy Father David's house Led captive, and Jerusalem laid waste, Till Cyrus set them free; Persepolis His City there thou seest, and Bactra there; Ecbatana her structure vast there shews, And Hecatompylos her hunderd gates, There Susa by Choaspes, amber stream, The drink of none but Kings; of later fame Built by Emathian, or by Parthian hands, 290 The great Seleucia, Nisibis, and there Artaxata, Teredon, Tesiphon, Turning with easie eye thou may'st behold.

All these the Parthian, now some Ages past, By great Arsaces led, who founded first That Empire, under his dominion holds From the luxurious Kings of Antioch won.

And just in time thou com'st to have a view Of his great power; for now the Parthian King In Ctesiphon hath gather'd all his Host 300 Against the Scythian, whose incursions wild Have wasted Sogdiana; to her aid He marches now in hast; see, though from far, His thousands, in what martial equipage They issue forth, Steel Bows, and Shafts their arms Of equal dread in flight, or in pursuit; All Hors.e.m.e.n, in which fight they most excel; See how in warlike muster they appear, In Rhombs and wedges, and half moons, and wings.

He look't and saw what numbers numberless 310 The City gates out powr'd, light armed Troops In coats of Mail and military pride; In Mail thir horses clad, yet fleet and strong, Prauncing their riders bore, the flower and choice Of many Provinces from bound to bound; From Arachosia, from Candaor East, And Margiana to the Hyrcanian cliffs Of Caucasus, and dark Iberian dales, From Atropatia and the neighbouring plains Of Adiabene, Media, and the South 320 Of Susiana to Balsara's hav'n.

He saw them in thir forms of battell rang'd, How quick they wheel'd, and flying behind them shot Sharp sleet of arrowie showers against the face Of thir pursuers, and overcame by flight; The field all iron cast a gleaming brown, Nor wanted clouds of foot, nor on each horn, Cuira.s.siers all in steel for standing fight; Chariots or Elephants endorst with Towers Of Archers, nor of labouring Pioners 330 A mult.i.tude with Spades and Axes arm'd To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill, Or where plain was raise hill, or over-lay With bridges rivers proud, as with a yoke; Mules after these, Camels and Dromedaries, And Waggons fraught with Utensils of war.

Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp, When Agrican with all his Northern powers Besieg'd Albracca, as Romances tell; The City of Gallaphrone, from thence to win 340 The fairest of her s.e.x Angelica His daughter, sought by many Prowest Knights, Both Paynim, and the Peers of Charlemane.

Such and so numerous was thir Chivalrie; At sight whereof the Fiend yet more presum'd, And to our Saviour thus his words renew'd.

That thou may'st know I seek not to engage Thy Vertue, and not every way secure On no slight grounds thy safety; hear, and mark To what end I have brought thee hither and shewn 350 All this fair sight; thy Kingdom though foretold By Prophet or by Angel, unless thou Endeavour, as thy Father David did, Thou never shalt obtain; prediction still In all things, and all men, supposes means, Without means us'd, what it predicts revokes.

But say thou wer't possess'd of David's Throne By free consent of all, none opposite, Samaritan or Jew; how could'st thou hope Long to enjoy it quiet and secure, 360 Between two such enclosing enemies Roman and Parthian? therefore one of these Thou must make sure thy own, the Parthian first By my advice, as nearer and of late Found able by invasion to annoy Thy country, and captive lead away her Kings Antigonus, and old Hyrca.n.u.s bound, Maugre the Roman: it shall be my task To render thee the Parthian at dispose; Chuse which thou wilt by conquest or by league 370 By him thou shalt regain, without him not, That which alone can truly reinstall thee In David's royal seat, his true Successour, Deliverance of thy brethren, those ten Tribes Whose off-spring in his Territory yet serve In Habor, and among the Medes dispers't, Ten Sons of Jacob, two of Joseph lost Thus long from Israel; serving as of old Thir Fathers in the land of Egypt serv'd, This offer sets before thee to deliver. 380 These if from servitude thou shalt restore To thir inheritance, then, nor till then, Thou on the Throne of David in full glory, From Egypt to Euphrates and beyond Shalt raign, and Rome or Caesar not need fear.

To whom our Saviour answer'd thus unmov'd.

Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm, And fragile arms, much instrument of war Long in preparing, soon to nothing brought, Before mine eyes thou hast set; and in my ear 390 Vented much policy, and projects deep Of enemies, of aids, battels and leagues, Plausible to the world, to me worth naught.

Means I must use thou say'st, prediction else Will unpredict and fail me of the Throne: My time I told thee, (and that time for thee Were better farthest off) is not yet come; When that comes think not thou to find me slack On my part aught endeavouring, or to need Thy politic maxims, or that c.u.mbersome 400 Luggage of war there shewn me, argument Of human weakness rather then of strength.

My brethren, as thou call'st them; those Ten Tribes I must deliver, if I mean to raign David's true heir, and his full Scepter sway To just extent over all Israel's Sons; But whence to thee this zeal, where was it then For Israel or for David, or his Throne, When thou stood'st up his Tempter to the pride Of numbring Israel which cost the lives 410 Of threescore and ten thousand Israelites By three days Pestilence? such was thy zeal To Israel then, the same that now to me.