Under the hospitable covert nigh Of trees thick interwoven; there he slept, 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, 266 And saw the ravens with their horny beaks
Food to Elijah bringing ev'n and morn, [brought : Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they
He saw the Prophet also how he fled Into the desert, and how there he slept 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 pulse. Thus wore out night, and now the herald lark Left his ground-nest, high tow'ring to descry 280 The Morn's approach, and greet her with his song:
As lightly from his grassy couch up rose Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream, Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak'd: Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd, From whose high top to ken the prospect round, If cottage were in view, sheep-cote or herd; But cottage, herd, or sheep-cote, none he saw, Only' in a bottom he saw a pleasant grove, With chaunt of tuneful birds resounding loud; 290 Thither he bent his way, determin'd there
To rest at noon, and enter'd soon the shade 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 superstitious eye the haunt
Of wood-gods and wood-nymphs; he view'd it When suddenly a man before him stood, Not rustic as before, but seemlier 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 solitude so long should bide Of all things destitute, and well I know, Not without hunger. Others of some note, As story tells, have trod this wilderness; The fugitive bond-woman with her son Out-cast Nebaioth, yet found here relief By a providing angel; all the race Of Israel here had famish'd, had not God Rain'd from Heav'n manna; and that prophet bold Native of Thebez wand'ring here was fed Twice by a voice inviting him to eat: Of thee these forty days none hath regard, Forty and more deserted here indeed.
To whom thus Jesus. What conclud'st thou They all had need, as I thou seest have none. How hast thou hunger then? Satan reply'd: Tell me if food were now before thee set, Would'st thou not eat? Thereafter as I like
The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that Cause thy refusal? said the subtle Fiend. Hast thou not right to all created things? Owe not all creatures by just right to thee Duty and service, not to stay till bid, But tender all their power? 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 scruple that, with want oppress'd? Behold Nature asham'd, or better to express, Troubled that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd From all the elements her choicest store To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord
With honor, only deign to sit 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 spread, in regal mode, With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort And savor, beasts of chase, or fowl of game, In pastry built, or from the spit, or boil'd, Gris-amber steam'd; all fish from sea or shore, Freshet, or purling brook, of shell or fin, And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast. Alas, how simple, to these cates compar'd, Was that crude apple that diverted Eve! And at a stately side-board by the wine That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood
Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue Than Ganymed or Hylas; distant more Under the trees now tripp'd, now solemn stood Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades With fruits and flow'rs from Amalthea's horn, And ladies of th' Hesperides, that seem'd Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled since Of faery damsels met in forest 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 gentlest gale Arabian odors fann'd From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells. Such was the splendor, and the Tempter now
His invitation earnestly renew'd.
What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat?
These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict Defends the touching of these viands pure; Their taste no knowledge works at least of evil, But life preserves, destroys life's enemy, Hunger, with sweet restorative delight. All these are spirits of air, and woods, and springs, Thy gentle ministers, who come to pay Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord : What doubt'st thou Son of God? sit down and eat.
To whom thus Jesus temp'rately reply'd : Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? And who withholds my power that right to use? Shall I receive by gift what of my own,
The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that Cause thy refusal? said the subtle Fiend. Hast thou not right to all created things? Owe not all creatures by just right to thee Duty and service, not to stay till bid, But tender all their power? 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 scruple that, with want oppress'd? Behold Nature asham'd, or better to express,
Troubled that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd From all the elements her choicest store To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord
With honor, only deign to sit 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 spread, in regal mode, With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort And savor, beasts of chase, or fowl of game, In pastry built, or from the spit, or boil'd, Gris-amber steam'd; all fish from sea or shore, Freshet, or purling brook, of shell or fin, And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast. Alas, how simple, to these cates compar'd, Was that crude apple that diverted Eve !
And at a stately side-board by the wine
That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood
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