on: Satan raises a tremendous storm, and attempts further to alarm Jesus with frightful dreams, and terrific threatening spectres; which however have no effect upon him. A calm, bright, beautiful morning succeeds to the horrors of the night. Satan again presents himself to our blessed Lord, and from noticing the storm of the preceding night as pointed chiefly at him, takes occasion once more to insult him with an account of the sufferings which he was certainly to undergo. This only draws from our Lord a brief rebuke. Satan, now at the height of his desperation, confesses that he had frequently watched Jesus from his birth, purposely to discover if he was the true Messiah ; and, collecting from what passed at the river Jordan that he most probably was so, he had from that time more assiduously followed him, in hopes of gaining some advantage over him, which would most effectually prove that he was not really that Divine Person destined to be his "fatal enemy." In this he acknowledges that he has hitherto completely failed; but still determines to make one more trial of him. Accordingly he conveys him to the temple at Jerusalem, and, placing him on a pointed eminence, requires him to prove his Divinity either by standing there, or casting himself down with safety. Our Lord reproves the Tempter, and at the same time manifests his own Divinity by standing on this dangerous point. Satan, amazed and terrified, instantly falls; and repairs to his infernal Compeers, to relate the bad success of his enterprise. Angels in the meantime convey our blessed Lord to a beautiful valley; and, while they minister to him a repast of celestial food, celebrate his victory in a triumphant hymn. PERPLEX'D and troubled at his bad success That sleek'd his tongue, and won so much on Eve, But as a man, who had been matchless held In cunning, over-reach'd where least he thought, To salve his credit, and for every spite Still will be tempting him who foils him still, About the wine-press where sweet must is pour'd, Met ever, and to shameful silence brought, He brought our Saviour to the western side On each side an imperial city stood, "The city, which thou seest, no other deem Than great and glorious Rome, queen of the earth, So far renown'd, and with the spoils enrich'd Of nations: there the Capitol thou seest, Above the rest lifting his stately head On the Tarpeian rock, her citadel Impregnable; and there mount Palatine, The' imperial palace, compass huge, and high The structure, skill of noblest architects, With gilded battlements conspicuous far, Turrets, and terraces, and glittering spires: Many' a fair edifice besides, more like Houses of gods (so well I have disposed My aëry microscope), thou may'st behold, Outside and inside both, pillars and roofs, Carved work, the hand of famed artificers, In cedar, marble, ivory, or gold. Thence to the gates cast round thine and see eye, What conflux issuing forth, or entering in; Prætors, proconsuls to their provinces Hasting, or on return, in robes of state, Lictors and rods, the ensigns of their power, Legions and cohorts, turms of horse and wings; Or embassies from regions far remote, In various habits, on the Appian road, Or on the' Emilian: some from furthest south, Syene, and where the shadow both way falls, Meroë, Nilotic isle; and, more to west, The realm of Bocchus to the Black-moor sea; From the' Asian kings, and Parthian among these; From India, and the golden Chersonese, And utmost Indian isle Taprobane, Dusk faces with white silken turbans wreathed; From Gallia, Gades, and the British west; Germans, and Scythians, and Sarmatians, north All nations now to Rome obedience pay; And long renown, thou justly may'st prefer All public cares, and yet of him suspicious; And with my help thou may'st: to me the power To whom the Son of God, unmoved, replied: "Nor doth this grandeur and majestic show Of luxury, though call'd magnificence, More than of arms before, allure mine eye, (For I have also heard, perhaps have read), Then cruel, by their sports to blood inured What wise and valiant man would seek to free |