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Then to the Defart takes with these his flight;
Where ftill from fhade to fhade the Son of God
After forty days fasting had remain❜d,
Now hungring firft, and to himself thus faid.

Where will this end? four times ten days I've pass'd Wandring this woody maze, and human Food Nor tafted, nor had appetite; that Fast To Virtue I impute not, or count part Of what I fuffer here? if Nature need not, Or God fupport Nature without repast Though needing, what praise is it to endure? But now I feel I hunger, which declares Nature hath need of what she asks; yet Can fatisfie that need fome other way, Though hunger ftill remain: fo it remain Without this body's wafting, I content me, And from the fting of Famine fear no harm, Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed Me hungring more to do my Father's will..

God

It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Commun'd in filent walk, then laid him down Under the hospitable covert nigh

Of trees thick interwoven; there he flept,

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And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream,.

Of meats and drinks, Nature's refreshment sweet;
Him thought, he by the Brook of Cherith stood
And faw the Ravens with their horny beaks
Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn,
Though rav'nous, taught t'abstain from what they
[brought:
He faw the Prophet also how he fled

Into the Defart, and how there he flept
Under a Juniper, then how awak'd,
He found his Supper on the coals prepar'd,
And by the Angel was bid rise and eat,
And eat the second time after repose,
The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days;
Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,

Or as a guest with Daniel at his Pulfe.

Thus wore out night, and now the Herald Lark
Left his ground-neft, high tow'ring to descry
The morn's approach, and greet her with his Song:
As lightly from his graffie couch up rofe
Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream,
Fafting he went to fleep, and fasting wak'd.
Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd,

From whose high top to ken the profpect round,

If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd;
But Cottage, Herd, or Sheep-cote none he saw,
Only in a bottom faw a pleasant Grove,
With chaunt of tuneful Birds refounding loud;
Thither he bent his way, determin'd there
To reft at noon, and enter'd foon the fhade
High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown
That open'd in the midst a woody Scene,
Nature's own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art)
And to a Superftitious eye the haunt

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Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it
When fuddenly a man before him stood,
Not ruftic as before, but feemlier clad,

As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred,

And with fair speech these words to him address'd.
With granted leave officious I return,

But much more wonder that the Son of God
In this wild folitude fo long should bide
Of all things deftitute, and well I know,
Not without hunger. Others of some note,
As ftory tells, have trod this Wilderness;
The fugitive Bond-woman with her Son
Out-caft Nebaioth, yet found here relief

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By a providing Angel; all the race

Of Ifrael here had famish'd, had not God

Rain'd from Heav'n Manna, and that Prophet bold

Native of Thebes wandring here was fed

Twice by a voice inviting him to eat;

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

To whom thus Jefus; what conclud'it thou hence?
They all had need, I as thou feest have none.
How haft thou hunger then? Satan reply'd,
Tell me if Food were now before thee fet,
Would't thou not eat? Thereafter as I like
The giver, answer'd Jefus. Why should that
Cause thy refusal, faid the subtle Fiend,
Haft thou not right to all Created things,
Owe not all Creatures by juft right to thee
Duty and service, not to stay 'till bid,
But tender all their pow'r? 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
Would fcruple that, with want oppreft? Behold
Nature afham'd, or better to express,

Troubl'd

Troubl'd that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd
From all the Elements her choiceft ftore
To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord
With honour, only deign to fit and eat.

He spake no dream, for as his words had end,
Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld
In ample space under the broadest shade
A Table richly fpred, in Regal mode,
With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort
And favour, Beafts of chafe, or Fowl of game,
In Pastry-built, or from the fpit, or boil'd,
Gris-amber-fteam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore,
Frefhet, or purling Brook, of fhell or fin,
And exquifiteft name, for which was drain'd
Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coaft.
Alas how fimple, to thefe Cates compar'd,
Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve!
And at a stately fide-board by the wine
That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood
Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew
Than Ganymed or Hylas, diftant more

Under the Trees now trip'd, now folemn stood
Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades

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