THE

SECOND BOOK

OF

PARADISE REGAIN’D.

PARADISE REGAIN'D.

BOOK

II.

M

EAN while the new-baptiz'd, who yet re

main'd
At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen
Him whom they heard fo late exprelly callid
Jesus Messiah Son of God declar'd,
And on that high authority had believ'd, 5
And with him talk'd, and with him lodg’d, I mean
Andrew and Simon, famous after known,
With others though in holy writ not nam'd,
Now missing him their joy fo lately found,
So lately found, and fo abruptly gone,
Began to doubt, and doubted many days,
And as the days increas’d, increas'd their doubt :
Sometimes they thought he might be only shown,
And for a time caught up to God, as once
Moses was in the mount, and miffing long ; 15
And the great Thisbite, who on fiery wheels
Rode up to Heav'n, yet once again to come.
Therefore as those young prophets then with care
Sought loft Elijah, so in each place these
Nigh to Bethabara ; in Jericho
The city of palms, Ænon, and Salem old,
Machærus, and each town or city walld
On this fide the broad lake Genezaret,
Or in Peræa ; but return'd in vain.
Then on the bank of Jordan, by a creek, 25

Where

20

Where winds with reeds and ofiers whisp'ring play,
Plain fishermen, no greater men them call,
Close in a cottage low together got,
Their unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd.

Alas, from what high hope to what relapse 30
Unlook'd for are we fall’n! our eyes beheld
Messiah certainly now come, so long
Expected of our fathers; we have heard
His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth;
Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand,

35 The kingdom shall to Israel be restor'd: Thus we rejoic’d, but soon our joy is turn'd Into perplexity and new amaze : For whither is he

gone,

what accident Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire 40 After appearance, and again prolong Our expectation ? God of Ifraël, Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come; Behold the kings of th' earth how they oppress

Thy chosen, to what highth their pow'r unjust 45 They have exalted, and

behind them cast All fear of thee; arise and vindicate Thy glory, free thy people from their yoke. But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd, Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him, 50 By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown In public, and with him we have convers’d; Let us be glad of this, and all our fears Lay on his providence; he will not fail, Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, 55 Mock us with his blest fight, then snatch him hence; Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return.

Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume To find whom at the first they found unsought : But to his mother Mary, when the faw 60

Others

manger his;

75

Others return’d from baptism, not her son,
Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none,
Within her breast though calm,her breast though pure,
Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais d
Some troubled thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad.
O what avails me now that honor high

66
To have conceiv'd of God, or that falute
Hail highly favor'd, among women blest!
While I to forrows am no less advancd,
And fears as eminent, above the lot

70 Of other women, by the birth I bore, In such a leafon born when scarce a shed Could be obtain d to shelter him or me From the bleak air; a stable was our warmth, А

; yet foon enforc d to fly Thence into Egypt, till the murd rous king Were dead, who fought his life, and milling filled With infant blood the streets of Bethlehem ; From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth Hath been our dwelling many years ; his life 80 Private, unactive, calm, contemplative, Little suspicious to any king; but now Full grown to man, acknowledg d, as I hear, By John the Baptift, and in public shown, Son ownd from Heaven by his Father's voice; 85 I look'd for some great change; to honor ? no, But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold, That to the fall and rising he should be Of many in Israël, and to a sign Spoken against, that through my very soul १० A sword shall pierce ; this is my favor'd lot, My exaltation to afflictions high ; Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest; I will not argue that, nor will repine. But where delays he now ? some great intent 95

Con