"Satyr, or Faun, or Sylvan? But these haunts "Delight not all: among the sons of men, "How many have, with a smile, made small account "Of beauty and her lures, easily scorned "All her assaults, on worthier things intent! "Remember that Pelléan1 conqueror "A youth,-how all the beauties of the East 190 195 "He slightly viewed, and slightly overpassed; 200 "Of honour, wealth, high fare, aimed not beyond "Higher design than to enjoy his state; "Thence to the bait of women lay exposed: "But he, whom we attempt, is wiser far 205 "Than Solomon,-of more exalted mind,— "Made and set wholly on the accomplishment "Of greatest things. What woman will you find, 210 215 1 Pelléan conqueror,-Alexander the Great, born at Pella, whose continence towards the queen of Darius, and other Persian ladies who became his captives, is commended by the historians. 2 Surnamed of Africa,--Scipio Africanus, whose continence and generosity, in restoring a handsome Spanish lady to her husband and friends, have been duly lauded. 3 The zone of Venus,-a magic girdle said to be in possession of Venus, which rendered any one who wore it immediately an object of love and desire. 4 One look from his majestic brow, seated as on the top of Virtue's hill.— Compare Shakspeare, Hamlet, act iii. sc. 4: "See what a grace was seated on his brow: self thus said: four times ten days I've passed maze, and human food for our appetite; that fast upute not, or count part Though needing, what praise is it to endure? "But now I feel I hunger, which declares "Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God "Can satisfy that need some other way, Though hunger still remain: so it remain “Without uus body's wasting, I content me, “And from the sting of famine fear no harm; "Nor mind it, lui wisa better thoughts, that teed "Me hungerng more to do my Father's will." It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Commment in silent walk, then laid him down Under fe hospitable covert nigh Of trees huch interwoven; there he slept, Food to Elijah bringing, even and morn, Though venons, taught to abstain from brought He saw the prophet also, how he fled Thus wore out night; and now t.. The Morn's approach, and greet her with his song: 285 290 High roofed, and walks beneath, and alleys brown,3 Nature's own work it seemed (Nature taught Art), 295 And, to a superstitious eye, the haunt Of Wood-gods and Wood-nymphs: he viewed 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 addressed : "With granted leave officious I return ;3 "But much more wonder that the Son of God 1 Bottom, -"low ground, dale, valley." 2 Alleys brown,-" dark from shady foliage." 305 310 3 With granted leave officious I return;-Satan, at parting, b. i. l. 483, 492, had asked leave to come again, but was neither bid nor forbid by the Saviour. It was quite in character to make him take permission for granted leave. Officious,-to render good offices, to minister to you. The fugitive bond-woman,-Hagar, Gen. xvi. 6. Nebaioth,-son of Ishmael. Thebez,-Thisbe, or Tishbe; see before line 16, note. "Rained from Heaven manna; and that prophet bold, "Native of Thebez, wandering here was fed1 "Twice by a voice inviting him to eat. "Of thee these forty days none hath regard,— "Forty and more deserted here indeed!" 315 To whom thus Jesus: "What concludest thou hence? "They all had need; I, as thou seest, have none." 320 "Cause thy refusal?" said the subtle Fiend: 325 330 "Would scruple that, with want oppressed? Behold, "Nature ashamed, or, better to express, "Troubled, that thou shouldst hunger, hath purveyed 335 1 Wandering here was fed.-The incidents referred to in the preceding lines happened, no doubt, in deserts; but in quite different localities. Hagar was met by the angel in the wilderness of Beersheba, on the south border of Palestine; the Israelites were fed with manna in the wilderness of Sin, and during their forty years' wanderings, ere they entered the promised land; Elijah retired to the wilderness, " a day's journey from Beersheba;" and the scene of our Saviour's temptation was in the wilderness near Jordan and the Dead Sea. Poetic license may admit of these various scenes being treated as one; or it may be admitted, as in keeping with the tempter's character, to speak of them as if they were. 2 Thereafter as I like the giver,-Compare Ps. cxli. 4; Prov. xxiii. 3, 6. See a similar sentiment in Milton's Comus, l. 699–705. 3 Those young Daniel could refuse :-See Dan. |