Not knew by fight) now come, who was to come Before Meffiah and his way prepare.

I as all others to his baptism came,

Which I believ'd was from above; but he
Strait knew me, and with loudest voice proclam'd 275
Me him (for it was shown him fo from Heaven)
Me him whofe harbinger he was; and first
Refus'd on me his baptifm to confer,
As much his greater, and was hardly won:
But as I rofe out of the laving ftream,
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

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285
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

Th' authority which I deriv'd from Heaven.
And now by fome 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 fpake our Morning Star then in his rise,
And looking round on every fide beheld
A pathless desert, dusk with horrid shades;
The way he came not having mark'd, return
Was difficult, by human fteps untrod;
And he still on was led, but with fuch thoughts
Accompanied of things paft and to come
Lodg'd in his breaft, as well might recommend
Such folitude before choiceft fociety.
Full forty days he pafs'd, whether on hill
Sometimes, anon in fhady vale, each night
Under the covert of fome ancient oak,

296

295

300

305

Or

Or cedar, to defend him from the dew,
Or harbour'd in one cave, is not reveal'd;
Nor tafted human food, nor hunger felt
Till thofe days ended, hunger'd then at last
Among wild beafts: they at his fight grew mild, 310
Nor fleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk
The fiery ferpent fled, and noxious worm,
The lion and fierce tiger glar'd aloof.
But now an aged man in rural weeds,
Following, as feem'd, the queft of fome stray ewe,
Or wither'd sticks to gather, which might ferve 316
Against a winter's day when winds blow keen,
To warm him wet return'd from field at eve,
He faw approach, who firft with curious eye
Perus'd him, then with words thus utter'd spake. 320
Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place
So far from path or road of men, who pass
In troop or caravan ? for fingle none

Durst ever, who return'd, and dropt not here
His carcafs, pin'd with hunger and with drouth. 325
I afk the rather, and the more admire,

For that to me thou feem'ft the man, whom late
Our new baptizing Prophet at the ford

Of Jordan honor'd fo, and call'd thee Son

Of God; I faw and heard, for we fometimes 33@
Who dwell this wild, constrain'd by want, come forth
To town or village nigh (nigheft is far)

Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,
What happens new; fame alfo finds us out.

To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hither,
Will bring me hence; no other guide I feck. 336
By miracle he may, reply'd the fwain,
What other way I fee not, for we here
Live on tough roots and ítubs, to thirst inur'd
More than the camel, and to drink go far,

340

Men

Men to much misery and hardship born;

But if thou be the Son of God, command
That out of these hard ftones be made thee bread,
So fhalt thou fave thyfelf and us relieve

With food, whereof we wretched seldom taste. 345
He ended, and the Son of God reply'd.
Think it 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 350
Our fathers here with Manna? in the mount
Mofes was forty days, nor eat nor drank;
And forty days Elijah without food

355

Wander'd this barren wafte; the fame I now :
Why dost thou then suggest to me distrust,
Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?
Whom thus anfwer'd th'Arch-Fiénd now undif-
'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate, [guis'd.
Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revolt
Kept not my happy ftation, but was driven
With them from blifs to the bottomlefs deep,
Yet to that hideous place not so confin'd
By rigor unconniving, but that oft

360

Leaving my dolorous prison I enjoy

Large liberty to round this globe of earth,

365

Or range in th' air, nor from the Heav'n of Heav'ns

Hath he excluded my refort sometimes.

I came among the fons of God, when he
Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job

To prove him, and illuftrate his high worth; 370
And when to all his Angels he propos'd

To draw the proud king Ahab into fraud
That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring,
I undertook that office, and the tongues
Of all his flattering prophets glibb'd with lies

C

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