Extol not riches then, the toil of fools,
The wise man's cumbrance if not snare, more apt
To flacken virtue, and abate her edge, 455
Than prompt her to do ought may merit praise.
What if with like averfion I reject
Riches and realms ; yet not for that a crown,
Golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns,
Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights
To him who wears the regal diadem,

461 When on his shoulders each man's.burden lies

រ For therein stands the office of a king, His honor, virtue, merit and chief praise, That for the public all this weight he bears. 465 Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king ; Which every wife and virtuous man attains : And who attains not, ill aspires to rule Cities of men, or head-strong multitudes, 470 Subject himself to anarchy within, Or lawless passions in him which he ferves. But to guide nations in the way of-truth By saving doctrin, and from error lead To know, and knowing worship God aright, 475 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 sincere delight. Besides to give a kingdom hath been thought Greater and nobler done, and to lay down Far more magnanimous, than to assume. Riches are needless then, both for themselves, And for thy reason why they should be sought, 48.5 To gain a scepter, oftest better miss'd.

480

The end of the Second Book,

THE

THIRD BOOK

OF

PARADISE REGAIN'D.

PARADISE REGAIN'D.

во ок

III.

O spake the Son of God, and Satan stood
A while as mute confounded what to say,

What to reply, confuted and convinc'd
Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift;
At length collecting all his serpent wiles,

S With soothing words renew d, him thus accosts.

I fee thou know it what is of use to know, What best to lay canit say, to do canít do ; Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart 10 Contains of good, wile, just, the perfect shape. Should kings and nations from thy mouth confult, Thy counsel would be as the oracle Urim and Thummim, those oraculous gems On Aaron's breatt ; or tongue of leers old 15 Infallible : or wert thou sought to deeds That might require th’array of war, thy skill Of conduct would be such, that all the world Could not sustain thy prowess, or fubfift In battel, though against thy few in arms. These God-like virtues wherefore dost thou hide, Affecting private life, or more obfcure In favage wilderness ? wherefore deprive All earth her wonder at thy acts, thyielf The fame and glory, glory the reward

25 That fole excites to high attempts, the flame

E

2

Of

30

Of moft erected spi'rits, most temper'd pure
Ethereal, who all pleasures else despise,
All treasures and all gain esteem as dross,
And dignities and pow'rs all but the highest ?
Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe ; the son
Of Macedonian Philip had ere these
Won Alia, and the throne of Cyrus held
At his dispose ; young Scipio had brought down
The Carthaginian pride; young Pompey quell'd 35
The Pontic king, and in triumph had rode.
Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature,
Quench not the thirit of glory, but augment.
Great Julius, whom now all the world admires,
The more he grew in years, the more inflam'd 40
With glory, wept that he had liv’d so long
Inglorious : but thou yet art not too late.

To whom our Saviour calmly thus reply'd.
Thou neither doft persuade me to seek wealth
For empire's fake, nor empire to affect 45
For glory's sake by all thy argument.
For what is glory but the blaze of fame,
The peoples praise, if always praise unmix'd ?
And what the people but a herd confus'd,
A miscellaneous rabble, who extol [praise ?
Things vulgar, and well weigh’d, scarce worth the
They praise, and they admire they know not what,
And know not whom, but as one leads the other ;
And what delight to be by such extoll’d,
To live upon their tongues and be their talk,

55 Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise ? His lot who dares be singularly good. Th'intelligent among them and the wise Are few, and glory scarce of few is rais’d. This is true glory and renown, when God Looking on th' earth, with approbation marks

The

69