66 Young John, glad child! before he could be born, Leap'd in the womb, his joy to prophecy; Old Anna, though with age all spent and worn, Proclaims her Saviour to posterity, And Simeon fast his dying notes doth ply. Oh, how the blessed souls about him trace! It is the Sire of heaven thou dost embrace: Sing, Simeon, sing-sing, Simeon, sing apace!" With that the mighty thunder dropt away For pardon, and for pity, it had known, That should have been for sacred vengeance thrown: There too the armies angelic devow'd Their former rage, and all to Mercy bow'd; Their broken weapons at her feet they gladly strow'd. "Bring, bring, ye Graces, all your silver flaskets, So down she let her eyelids fall, to shine Whose woods drop honey, and her rivers skip with wine. PART II. CHRIST'S VICTORY ON EARTH. THE ARGUMENT. Christ brought into the place of combat, the wilderness, among the wild beasts, Mark i. 13.-Described by his proper attribute, the Mercy of God-whom the creatures cannot but adore-by his unity with the Godhead-The beauty of his body, Cant. v. 11; Psal. xlv.2; Gen. xlix. 12; Cant. v. 10; and Isa. liii. 2.-By preparing himself to the combat with his adversary, that seemed what he was not-some devout Essene-closely tempting him to despair of God's providence, and provide for himself-But was what he seemeth not, Satan, and would fain have led him, 1st. to Desperation; charactered by his place, countenance, apparel, horrible apparitions, &c.-2d. To Presumption; charactered by her place, attendants, &c.-and by her temptation, to Vain-glory; poetically described from the place where her court stood, a garden ;-from her court and courtiers ;-pleasure in drinking; in luxury; avarice; ambitious honour; from her throne, and from her temptation.-The effect of this victory in Satan; the angels; the creatures. THERE, all alone, she spied, alas the while! That now had measur'd many a weary mile, The citizens of the wild forest ran, And all with open throat would swallow whole the man. Soon did the lady to her graces cry, And on their wings herself did nimbly strow, I After her coach a thousand loves did fly, Made shipwreck of themselves, and vanish'd quite away. Seemed that man had them devoured all, Whom to devour the beasts had made pretence; But him their savage thirst did naught appal, Though weapons none he had for his defence: What arms for Innocence, but innocence ? For when they saw their Lord's bright cogni zance Shine in his face, soon did they disadvance, And some unto him kneel, and some about him dance. Down fell the lordly lion's angry mood, With fawning tongue he lick'd away the dust; And ev'ry one would nearest to him thrust, And ev'ry one, with new, forgot his former lust. Unmindful of himself, to mind his Lord, And on the lion's back the goat did ride, If he stood still, their eyes upon him baited, If walk'd, they all in order on him waited, And when he slept, they as his watch themselves conceited. Wonder doth call me up to see—(O no, I cannot see, and therefore sink in wonder) That band; yet not so close, but from him break Such beams, as mortal eyes are all too weak Such sight to see, or it, if they should see, to speak. Upon a grassy hillock he was laid, As with her leaves she seemed to crown his head, The Sun so near, needs must the winter ceaseThe Sun so near, another spring seem'd to in crease. His hair was black, and in small curls did twine, crowd. |