Frethet or purling Brook, of Shell or Fin,
And exquifiteft Name, for which was drain'd
Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Africk Coast.
And at a stately Sideboard by the Wine,
That fragrant Smell diffus'd, in order ftood
Tall ftripling Youths rich clad, of fairer Hue
Than Ganymede or Hylas; diftant more

Under the Trees now tripp'd, now folemn stood
Nymphs of Diana's Train, and Naiades

With Fruits and Flowers of Amalthea's Horn,
And Ladies of th' Hefperides, that feem'd
Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled since
Of Fairy-Damfels met in Foreft wide

By Knights of Logres, or of Lyones.
Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore;

And all the while harmonious Airs were heard'
Of chiming Strings, or charming Pipes; and Winds
Of gentleft Gale Arabian Odours fann'd

From their foft Wings, and Flora's earliest Smells.

SATAN, defeated in this Affault, has recourse to Temptations of a more prevailing Influence. He

endeavours

endeavours to excite in our Saviour a Thirft for Wealth, for Power, and for the Glory and Fame of military Exploits. The Anfwer return'd him with respect to Wealth, is perfectly worthy of the Speaker.

Can'ft thou not remember

Quintus, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?

For I esteem thofe Names of Men fo poor,
Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
Riches tho' offer'd from the Hand of Kings.

And what in me seems wanting, but that I
May alfo in this Poverty as foon

Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?
Extol not Riches then, the Toyl of Fools,

The wife Man's Cumbrance, if not Snare, more apt
To flacken Virtue, and abate her Edge,

Than prompt her to do aught may merit Praife.

THEN are fubjoined these admirable Lines on Empire and a Defire of kingly Rule, which conclude the second Book. Kings are here instructed in their Duty, and not flattered into Pride, or pointed out as Objects of Envy to the reft of Mankind. Nor is Government defcribed, as it too often is imagined to be, the Patrimony or Birthright of particular Perfons

but

but as it really is, a publick Office and Truft, and even a Burthen impofed for the common Good. At the fame time every Man is taught how to make himself greater and more deferving of Honour than the greatest sceptered Monarch, by ruling his Paffichs, and by fubjecting all his Actions to the Laws of a wellinformed and well-directed Mind.

What if with like Averfion I reject

Riches and Realms; yet not for that a Crown, Golden in Shew, is but a Wreath of Thorns, Brings Dangers, Troubles, Cares, and fleepless Nights To him who wears the regal Diadem,

When on his Shoulders each Man's Burden lies:

For therein ftands the Office of a King,

His Honour, Virtue, Merit, and chief Praife,
That for the Publick all this Weight he bears.
Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules
Paffions, Defires, and Fears, is more a King,
Which every wife and virtuous Man attains;
And who attains not, ill afpires to rule
Cities of Men, or headftrong Multitudes,
Subject himself to Anarchy within,

Or lawless Paffions in him which he serves.

But

But to guide Nations in the Way of Truth
By faving Doctrine, and from Error lead
To know, and knowing worship God aright,
Is yet more kingly; this attracts the Soul,
Governs the inner Man, the nobler part;
That other o'er the Body only reigns,
And oft by Force, which to a generous Mind
So reigning can be no fincere Delight.-
Befides to give a Kingdom hath been thought
Greater and nobler done, and to lay down
Far more magnanimous than to affume.

Riches are needless then, both for themselves,
And for thy reafon why they fhould be fought,
To gain a Scepter, oftest better miss'd.

M

LICHA P. III.

i.

a

ILTON has been feen delivering his Thoughts on Wealth and Power in a perfectly right and true Way in the foregoing Chapter. He continues in the fame way of thinking in the third Book, in which the Devil perfifts in tempting the Son of God to fignalize himself in Arms for the fake of Glory and Fame. There are few Writers on these delicate Subjects who are not found to speak more conformably to vulgar Prejudices than. to Reason and Truth. But every thing that Milton utters, is accompanied with ftrong Senfe, with clear Light, with refiftlefs Charms. His Doctrines in these Points, in which Mankind are generally deceiv'd, are more juft, more rational, and more inftructive, than thofe which any Philosopher before him has taught either in Profe or Verfe. What Mifery and Defolation! what Havock and Bloodshed! what Disorder and Confufion in human Affairs, have been owing to a

Fondness