THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 
 Lucius K. Chase 
 Maria Y/atkins Chase 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Ransome W. Chase 
 David P. Chase
 
 I

 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D: 
 
 An HEROIC POEM* 
 
 % 
 
 In SIX BOOKS. 
 
 p 
 
 WRITTEN BY 
 
 MARCUSHIERONYMUSVIDA, 
 
 And Tranflated into ENGLISH Vtait, 
 B V 
 
 E D W A R D G R A N A N, M. A; 
 
 Immortal VIDA ! on whofe honour' d brow 
 The Poet's bays and Critics ivy grow : 
 CREMONA now fhall bo^ft thy name, 
 As next in place to MANTUA, next in Fame ! 
 
 POPE. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the AUTHOR, 
 
 And Sold by R, BALDWIN, in Paternofter Row.- 
 
 M DCC LXXI:
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 o F 
 
 MARCUS HIERONYMUS VIDA. 
 
 I Think it more eligible to ufher in to the Public 
 this performance by prefixing to it the Author's 
 Life, than endeavour either to palliate its inaccura- 
 cies, or to difplay its merit ; fully perfuaded, that 
 the one can no more be mended by an obilinate 
 defence, than the other can be totally extinguifhed 
 by ill-natured eenfure. 
 
 Marcus Hieronymus Vida was born at Cre- 
 mona, in the year 1 470, He was the fon of Gelel- 
 tnus Vida, and Leona Ofcafala, both Italians of 
 A 2 the
 
 iv The LIFE of 
 
 the neighbourhood of St. Leonard; and each was of 
 illuftrious extraction, Bonvefmus Vida being Con- 
 ful of Cremona, in 1 166. But, at the time of our 
 Author's birth, little of opulent fpiendor remained 
 in the family, but its inherent virtue was ftill the 
 fame, unaltered and unblemifhed. To tranfmit it 
 to their child, his parents fent him early in life, 
 near home, to the fchool of the celebrated Nico- 
 laus Lafcarus, where his progrels in the dailies, 
 Philofophy, and Orator) 7 , much exceeded what 
 might be expected from his years, though not 
 from his genius, which was found to be uncom- 
 monly bright and piercing. 
 
 Thus inftructed at Cremona and Mantua, he 
 went to Padua, where, and at Bologna, he applied 
 himfelf to Divinity and Poetry ; the firft, his oc- 
 cupation ; the fecond, his amufement. Kis Ikill in 
 Divinity procur'd for him, when young, a Pre- 
 bendary's flail among the Regulars of St. Mark's 
 of Mantua, a Community of royal foundation , and, 
 being foon after invited to Rome to enjoy the fame 
 dignity in the church of St. John of Lateran, he 
 took his laft leave of his parents. 
 
 When Vida went to Rome, Leo the Tenth filled 
 the Pontifical Chair. To him it is that the finer 
 art: owe their revival, as having extricated them 
 the Gothic darkneis which for many ages 
 
 had
 
 MARCUS HIERONYMUS VIDA. v 
 
 had obfcured their beauties : For which reafon his 
 character drawn by Mr. Pope is minutely juft, and 
 poetically elegant : 
 
 But fee ! each Mufe, in Leo's golden days, 
 Starts from her trance, and trims her wither'd bays, 
 Rome's ancient genius o'er its ruins fpread, 
 Shakes off the duft, and rears his rev'rend head. 
 Then Sculpture and her fifter Arts revive-, 
 Stones leap'd to form and rocks began to live ; 
 With fwceter notes eacli riling Temple rung, 
 A Raphael painted, and a Vida fung. 
 
 While Leo had in view the finding out of a Poet, 
 whofe judgment could difpofc in order, and fire 
 animate the actions of Chrift, Lefcaris, a King's 
 Legate, preiented him with Vida's Scacchio or 
 Game of Chefs ; which he no fooner had begun to 
 read, but his looks were exprefiive of the fatisfac- 
 tion he mould have in perufing the poem. Come 
 at length to the fictitious battle, he cried out. This, 
 this is the man, the only one I know of fufficient a- 
 bilities to undertake, and happily to execute the life 
 and deeds of Chrift ! Vida being immediately fent 
 for to court, his Holinefs defired, he would com- 
 pofe a poem to be call'd the CHRISTIAD , and at the 
 fame time conferred on him the priory of St. Syl- 
 vefter in Tufculum, that now, at his eafe, he 
 might purfue the work with proper afliduity and 
 fpirit, 
 
 A 3 Retired
 
 vi The L I F E of 
 
 Retired to live on his benefice, he nrft frames 
 the plan of the Chriftiad, then works upon it, en- 
 Joying from Leo's munificence that indepe ndence 
 which fofters and cherifhes the vigour of every 
 mufe. Yet even here he was not a mere reclufe ; 
 for he fo temper'd the folitary with the focial life, 
 that he diflipated the fupinenefs that generally deals 
 on the former, and avoided the diftraction that at- 
 tends on the latter. 
 
 His houfe was therefore open to men of tafte and 
 ehgance, where they were received with a plain 
 generofity, which freed him from paying dull com- 
 pliments, and his guefts from that referved- 
 neis which formal ceremony is ufually produc- 
 tive of. 
 
 When Vida had finim'd the firft Book, he laid 
 it before the Pontiff for his perufal j who, on 
 returning the copy, to exprefs his approbation, 
 and compliment the Author, fpoke the following 
 diflich: 
 
 ' Cedite Romani fcriptores, cedite Graii ; 
 * Hie fcio quid majus nafcitur ./Eneide.' 
 
 Ye Bards of Greece and Rome refign your bays ; 
 Something now loftier grows than Marc's lays. 
 
 But
 
 MARCUS HIERONYMUS VIDA. vii 
 
 But what place isfecure from uneaiinefs ? If Ru- 
 bens, in his perlpedtive view of Arcadia, placed, in 
 a corner of the delicious fcene, a tomb infcribedwith 
 this motto, ET IN ARCADIA, EVEN IN ARCADIA; 
 furely Vida could not exped: an uninterrupted leries 
 of happinefs in his Tufculum. During his refidence 
 here, he loft both his parents, almoft at the fame 
 time j and, to complete his affliction, his own fupport 
 and the life of his mufe would have died away by 
 the death of Leo, which happened foon after, had 
 not Clement VII, in the fpace of two years (after 
 the death of Adrian VI .) afcended the Papal 
 Throne. 
 
 Clement, being fcllow-ftudent with our author, 
 and not ignorant of his genius, infifted that he mould 
 finiih the Chriftiad, which he had undertaken at the 
 inftance of his uncle Leo. And here I hope the Rea- 
 der will indulge me for obferving, that there is 
 not one power in Europe the learned world is 
 more indebted to, than the Houfe of Medicis ; 
 which appears from the encouragement given to 
 the Belles-lettres by Leo the Xth, Clement the 
 Vllth, and Catharine of Medicis, Queen of France, 
 all or" the fame Houfe , to the laft of whom we 
 owe the famous Galkry of painting in the palace 
 of Luxembourg in Paris. When the Chriftiad 
 was finim'd, Clement patronized it, and rewarded 
 the Author with the Bifhopric of Alba, in the 
 A 4 Mar-
 
 viii The LIFE of 
 
 Marquifate of Monferrat, then vacant by the death 
 of Antonius Molus. 
 
 Paul III. intended further to promote him to 
 the fee of Cremona, as fucceffor to the Cardinal 
 Accolita deceafed ; but his death prevented Vi- 
 da's being inftalled there. His election, however, 
 to Cremona by the Chapter of that cathedral is 
 ftill extant in their regifter, where, after the ufual 
 preamble, are thefe words : " They have none fit- 
 " ter than the Rev. M. H. Vida ; one fo excell- 
 * 6 ing in all kinds of virtues and true piety, as to 
 *' deferve much greater honours." 
 
 This work, though intended for the moft noble 
 purpofes, th? promoting of Chriftianity , and env 
 bellifhed with the charms of poetry, to court and 
 fix the attention > has not efcaped the pen of Scali- 
 ger, who fays the lines have often the tautology 
 of Ovid, the bombaft of Lucan, and fometimes 
 the words, but never the majcrfty of Virgil : But 
 this is a cenfurecn words, not on things and there- 
 fore not worth a refutation. But there is a ferious 
 objection made by P. Frizon, and adopted by Mr- 
 Bayle, which is, that the fpeeches of Jofeph and 
 John the Evangelift, which take up the third and 
 fourth Books, are too long. The force of this ob- 
 jection will fcon vanifh, if we confidcr, that every 
 {ranfactjon, related in either fpcech, was new to the 
 
 ears
 
 MARCUS HIERONYMUS VIDA. ix 
 
 cars of Pilate ; and confequently what may appear 
 tedious to a previous knowledge is generally fhort 
 to the raptured fenfe of novelty. Again ; unlefs 
 we make Pilate fuch a Judge as Shakefpeare's, 
 *' who would hang the prifoner, before he*d eat 
 *' his mutton cold ;" we muft fuppofe him to 
 have had a competent knowledge of all the parti- 
 culars neceffary for the due difcharge of his office, 
 and therefore to have d^egarcled the law maxim, 
 that ' nunquam longa eft cunctatio, quando de 
 * vita hominis agitur ;' as indeed, tjp ^Je c^r^i^, 
 the deliberation in fome cafes can never be top 
 long, when a man's life is in queftion. 
 
 Befides the Chrifliad, Vida's other genuine 
 works are divine Hymns, his Art of Poetry, the 
 Silk-worm, the Poem on Chefs, three Eclogues, and 
 fome Poems on various fubjecls. Thefe in his life 
 time were honoured with a place in the Academy 
 of Bologna, and tranflated into various languages. 
 To him are alfo afcribed a Treatife on rewulatinjr a 
 
 O tD 
 
 Common- wealth, and others on Religious iuh- 
 jecls. 
 
 Should we pafs in review Vida's fentimental 
 life, the profpeft will appear as amiable as his 
 poetical is picturefque. We obferve in him the 
 tender heart join'd with the courage of the foldier ; 
 the cleared reafon, fubmifTive to Revelation \ the 
 
 wit
 
 x The LIFE of 
 
 wit of the Scholar blended with the devotion of the 
 Hermit : We fee him humble in an opulent eftate ; 
 parfimonious to himfelf, munificent to others ; 
 courted by the Great, attending the poor and in- 
 firm , in Ihort, the citizen and the chriftian hap- 
 pily united in his perfon. 
 
 The tendernefs of his heart is obvious in the ele- 
 gy he infcribed to the memory of his parents j 
 where filial piety weeps in mournfully-pleafing 
 numbers. When the war raged between the Em- 
 peror Charles V. and Francis I, the French troops 
 fovigoroufly beficged Alba, tiiat when the Impe- 
 rialifts favv the enemy gain the trenches and fome 
 enter the town, they inflantly left the ramparts de- 
 fencelefs, and fought fafety in the moil fortified 
 parts. Vida, laying aficle the Mitre, and taking on 
 him the General, rallied the citizens, and, march- 
 ing at the their head, attacked, defeated, and 
 put to Might enemy ; and thus faved the town 
 from ths impending plunder and carnage of the 
 fword. 
 
 Add to this fignal inftance of his courage his 
 humility, which made him as amiable to man- 
 kind, as his courage refpeclable. This appears 
 by the poftfcript to his Chriftiad, where he a (lures 
 the reader, that, if any line or thought mould be 
 found in the work contrary to the dogms of faith, 
 
 or
 
 MARCUS HIERONYMUS VIDA. xi 
 
 or the fanclion of the ancient Fathers, it fliould be - 
 deemed as inferted inadvertently. This learned hti- 
 mility is fo peculiar to Vida, that few have endea- 
 voured to become his rivals in the practice of this 
 virtue : The chief rival of any note was Monf. Fene- 
 lon, Archbimop of Cambray, and author of Telema- 
 chus -, who, when his treatile on Quietifm was cen- 
 iured, mounted the pulpit, condemn'd it publicly, 
 and caufed it to be burned before the door of his 
 cathedral. 
 
 As he imitated Virgil in the majeily of his fenti- 
 ments, fo he followed him in the modefly of his 
 expreflions ; for not one word is found in all his 
 works that can offend the chafteft ear: And what 
 the prefent Lord Lyttleton truly faid of our cele- 
 brated poet Mr. Thomplbn may with equal juftice 
 be applied to Vida : 
 
 Not one immoral, one corrupted thought, 
 One line, when dying, he could wifli to blot. 
 
 He was fent to the Council of Trent with an autho- 
 rity little inferior to that of the Pope's Legates ; where, 
 after having difcharged the duties committed to him, 
 he retired to his Dioceie, whence he could not be 
 withdrawn by the iplendor of a Court, ortheprelf- 
 inginvitations of the Great -, being employed in pub- 
 lic works of utility, by erecting, repairing, or beauti- 
 fying
 
 xii The LIFE of 
 
 fy ing Religious edifices-, orconfoling the uneafy, and 
 relieving the poor, many of whom he daily fed at his 
 own houfe, and was careful to have them ferv'd be- 
 fore he fat down himfelf to meat. Thus happy in the 
 confcioufnefs of making others fo,and labouring for 
 above thirty-five years in the feveral duties of agood 
 and pious Prelate, until his death, which happened 
 the 27th of September, 1 566, after he had lived nine- 
 ty-fix years - s his body was, with folemnity, amidftthe 
 cries, lamentations, and tears of the poor, buried 
 in the cathedral of Alba, and foon after the citi- 
 zens of Cremona erected a monument in the great- 
 eft church of their city, with the following infcrip- 
 tion, the tranflation of which I fnall give in the 
 words of the Rev. Mr. Pullein : 
 
 To Marcus Hieronymus Vida, Bifhop of Alba, 
 
 A man well known to the world, 
 The City of Cremona, decreeing, at the Public ex- 
 pence, 
 A Sepulchre to its much deferving Citizen, 
 
 Performs its laft duties. 
 
 Who, being endowed by nature 
 
 With every great and worthy accomplishment, 
 
 Seemed alfo to deferve immortality from her, 
 
 Were it not ordained 
 
 That all men muft die ; 
 
 Neverthelefs, he ft ill lives among us, 
 
 And
 
 MARCUS HIERONYMUS VIDA. xiii 
 
 And will live to lateft Pofterity 
 
 In the perpetual remembrance 
 
 Of his mod good and tender offices, 
 
 Who > having fulfilled all the duties which he owed 
 
 To the flock he was intrufted with, 
 
 Left us at a time rather fit for himfelf 
 
 Than others ; 
 Eminent for piety, chariry, faith and conftancy, 
 
 Void of offence, dear to all ; 
 
 Who not only fo fincerely and devoutly ferved God 9 
 
 But alfo fo celebrated him in fong, 
 
 As to gain a place ever to enjoy him 
 
 In Heaven, 
 
 And to the advantage of all mankind 
 A fame unperifhable 
 
 On earth. 
 Died Sept. 27. Anno. Dom. 1566. 
 
 He was tall of ftature ; his countenance open and 
 elevated, and the air of his afpect grave, with a mix- 
 ture of fweetnefs, that produced at once both love 
 and veneration. There are fome Medals extant with 
 . his image and name on one fide, and on the reverfe 
 Pegafuswith thisinfcription : QuosamaruntDii 
 the Favourites of the Gods. In other Medals the 
 reverfe has this motto Non ftemma fed virtus 
 not titles but virtue. His picture has a place in 
 
 many
 
 xiv The LIFE of, &c. 
 
 many public repofitories of learning, and among 
 others in the Duke of . Tufcany's Library; his 
 writings have been admired by men of the firieft 
 tafte, and even commended by fome of the fevereft 
 critics, being, of all the moderns, the mod refem- 
 bling VirgiP.s, in elegance, harmony, and fimpli- 
 city. 
 
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 THE 
 
 ARGUMENT 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 FIRST BOOK 
 
 O F 
 
 V I D A's C H R I S T I A D. 
 
 After the proportion and invocation, the poet, to furnifh 
 himfelf with epifodes arifing from the fubjecl, introdu- 
 ces CHRIST, his Hero, on the verge of life, repairing 
 to Jerufalem, where he is to fuffer death. As he pur- 
 fues his journey, he is received by Zaccheus, at whofe 
 houfe a meflenger arrives, and announces the mortal 
 fickncfs of Lazarus. While CHRIST was going to 
 Bethania, to reftore him to life, SATAN calls a coun- 
 cil to fruftrate the great defigns of the SAVIOUR, 
 Having left Bethania, he flops at Simon the leper's 
 hpufe, whither Magdalen comes uninvited, repents of 
 her fins, and is forgiven. As he approaches Jerufa- 
 1cm, he is met and conducted to the city by a band 
 of youths and virgins, hailing him with choral fongs, 
 the people ftrewing the way with their garments and 
 flowers. The poet then gives a defcription of the pool 
 of Bethefda, where the LORD reftores to Jairus the ufe 
 of his limbs ; alfo a defcription of Solomon's temple, 
 whence the buyers and fellers are expelled. Next he 
 explains the myfterious figures fculptured on the tem- 
 ple-walls. Thefe exhibit the work of the creation- 
 the tranfgrefllon of Adam the general deluge Abra- 
 ham with uplifted fword to flay his fon Jofeph fold 
 kr a {lave. Mofes's pafiage through the Red Sea. . 
 B Laftly,
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Laftly, Chrift, leaving the temple, faves Sufanna from 
 being ftoned to death. He thence proceeds to mount 
 Tabor. His prayer there, and transfiguration. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D, 
 
 BOOK the FIRST. 
 
 OT H O U, whofe Godhead fills fldes, earth, and feas ; 
 SPIRIT BENIGN ! infpire my voice to praife 
 The twice-born KING, who from his Father's dome 
 Gliding into the Virgin's pregnant womb, 
 In mortal form, inhai'd this vital air, 5 
 
 And fhed his blood to fave his human care 
 From the drear prifon of eternal night, 
 And waft the pious (hades to fields of light. 
 Earth fcarce fuftain'd, convulfive with a groan, 
 Her God in pangs, for vices not his own. 10 
 
 In ether's height, Sol veil'd in clouds his mame ; 
 And nature lower'd, fuffus'd with livid gleam. 
 THOU! once her guide, the Mufe mail pleas'd furvey 
 The blue immenfe, and quaff eternal day ; 
 Unfold God's counfel, and the caufe relate, 1 5 
 In ftrains immortal, of fo dire a fate. 
 
 B 2 
 
 NOW
 
 4 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Now CHRIST beheld the deflin'd moments flow, 
 \Vhen death fhould end, at once, his life and woe. 
 Full of his fate, Phenicia's bounds he flies, 
 And feeks the plains, where Salem's turrets rife. 20 
 A band of youths and fires around him throng 
 To view his deeds, which fame records in fong : 
 Where-e'erhegoes, new crowds his prefence draws 
 To mare his travels, and obey his laws : 
 The towns their thoufands pour to fill his train, 25 
 And numbers wound the defert's filent reign. 
 So from Mount Vefulus, with pines imbrown'd, 
 In rills the Po creeps o'er the teeming ground , 
 Wide fpread his ftreams, as he victorious glides, 
 And Naids pour their urns to feed his tides. 30 
 Each bound foam'd o'er, his torrents roaring ftray 
 In various beds, and burft into the fea. 
 
 Now' from the throng his chofen Twelve he calls, 
 The true aflertors of his deeds and toils 
 To a dark grove, where with a penfive look, 35 
 Beneath a cedar, thus in fighs he fpoke. 
 'Tis done, my friends ; lo! time mail fhortly bring 
 The day, that bears my fate on fable wing. 
 Glad with my fight no longer earth mall be, 
 But the bleft Manes trim their bow'rs for me : 40 
 With joy to hated Solyma I go 
 To meet my death in all its pomp of woe -, 
 So oft foretold : view how the Flamens flame 
 To caft away that life, they cannot blame. 
 I dying (hall each ancient crime deface-, 45 
 
 Such are thy gifts, firft Sire, of human race ! 
 
 5 Of
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 5 
 
 Of all its fwects you drain'd the fruitful prize, 
 
 Mine are the woes, that from the fraud arife. 
 
 Yet free from (laughter lhall I mount the fides 
 
 E'er fable night the third day's luflre flies. 50 
 
 For you, who blufh not ftill to hear my lore, 
 
 Of cruel pain the fates refer ve a (lore : 
 
 Yet dare thefe ills ; and bold with me confpire 
 
 To fcorn, for heav'nly day, this life's defire. 
 
 No manfion here, to you no feat is giv'n ; 55 
 
 Your home, your country are the fanes of Heav'n : 
 
 That realm with liars, to light your paflage, glows ; 
 
 Where dwell calm peace, and labour's fond repofe: 
 
 Thither contend, tho' narrow be the road, 
 
 And fix with joy your permanent abode. 60 
 
 He faid , th' attendants with his words confus'd, 
 
 Caft down the clouded eye, and penfive mus'd. 
 
 Then Peter, impotent to hide his care, 
 
 Thus rev'rend to the God addrefs'd his pray'r. 
 
 Offspring of God, can Heav'n thy Godhead move 65 
 
 To rum on danger, and death's anguifh prove. 
 
 Since HIM, who whirls the ftars, you call your Sire, 
 
 Nature obedient moves to your defire , 
 
 From harm fecure, perform your ov/n decree, 
 
 Nor, fick of day, of life profufive be : 70 
 
 Pity thyfelf ; let us thy pity tell, 
 
 And from thy mind thofe dread refolves expell, 
 
 Nor fpurn, unkind, your helplefs train, who wait 
 
 Guides of your way, and partners of your fate. 
 
 Thus he-, with warmth the Hero thus replies ; 75 
 Too blind to blufh ! too heedlefs of the ikies ! 
 
 B 3 H*
 
 6 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Has earth then charms tofeizeyour groveling breaft. 
 And from her cares have you not learn'd to reft ? 
 Did e'er fuch maxims from my labours pour ? 
 Far other counfels wants the prefent hour; 80 
 
 Far other agents, pure from vile defire, 
 "When prefs the mandates of the mighty Sire. 
 Let but the foul imbibe one heay'nly ray, 
 Then fhall this world unheeded roll away. 
 Labour mail groan, without a fenfe of pain, 85 
 And human thoughts fhall ceafe the mind to ftain. 
 The groupe of ills (ills flie on ev'ry fide) 
 Tho' fad, yet bear, and fpurn with honeft pride. 
 The galling tongue, dark (lander's pois'nous breath, 
 Difgrace,falfe crimes, and tortures big with death. 90 
 Myiterious ills ! what joys attend your frowns ; 
 Unfading glory, and immortal crowns. 
 Thus having faid ; he gains the mountain's height ; 
 The fad companions on their Monarch wait, 
 Refolv'd with him to feel fate's partial blows, 95 
 Touch'd with his bloom and foft'n'd with his woes. 
 Now come to palm-crown'd Jericho's fair feat, 
 Zaccheus gives the dome, and fpreads the feaft, 
 Who once to pleafe his wicked thirft of gold, 
 The mazes trod, that mifer's plans unfold. 100 
 But when his bread confefs'd the prefent pow'r, 
 And grace defcended in a heav'nly fhow'r, 
 In difPrent tides, quick rolls the fraudful ftore -, 
 The fuff 'rers one, and one relieves the poor. 
 In woe a Herald fudden here appears 105 
 
 And h&'fad meflage wounds the lift'ning ears ; 
 
 Not
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD, y 
 
 Not far hence, Laz'rus held Bethania's plains, 
 Wealth f well'd his gates, and regal blood his veins i 
 The Syrian realms once heard his Sire's lore, 
 And conquer'd cities bent beneath his power, no 
 His welcome portals courted ev'ry gueft, 
 And poorly typ'd their Mafter's lib'ral breaft. 
 Hither the Lord difdain'd not oft to come, 
 And mare th' indulgence of the feftive dome ; 
 Here oft the clouds, that veil'd Him, fled away, 115 
 And pour'd his Godhead flaming on the day. 
 But when he heard the burthen of the plaint, 
 That Laz'rus feiz'd with ficknefs, pale and faint, 
 Refpir'd with painful throbs his gafping breath, 
 And feebly ftruggl'd on the verge of death j 1 20 
 The gufhing grief rolls dreaming down his cheeks, 
 And to his fad companions thus he fpeaks : 
 Since death, e'er now, has fnatch'd our friend away. 
 Let's hafte our courfe to call him back to day. 
 If now, as oft, the Sire fupreme will hear, 125 
 And prove his pow'r by nodding to my pray'r. 
 He added not j but to Bethania tends, 
 Environ'd by his train of faithful friends ; 
 Behind, in long proceflion, crowds proceed 
 To view the God perform the wond'rous deed. 130 
 
 Mean while the monfter, whofe tyrannic fway 
 The dark and wide ftretch'd coafts of hell obey, 
 With eyes tranfpiercing fate's myfterious gloom, 
 Sees the day rip'ning in time's pregnant womb, 
 Proftrate in ruin, when his drear realm {hall be 135 
 Himfelf a captive, and his manes free. 
 
 B 4 A crowd
 
 8 The CHRISTIAD. Book i. 
 
 A crowd of plans his anxious mind o'erwhelm, 
 T' avert deftrudtion low'ring on his realm. 
 He burns with rage, that to his ardent eye, 
 Unfeen, came down this native of the fky, 140 
 Whofe death fpontaneous mould at once deface 
 The crimes and vengeance due to human race -, 
 Of various counfels Deicide feems beft ; 
 This he revolves and fofters in his breaft. 
 Without delay, his Chiefs and train he calls, 1 45 
 A horrid Council ! to his palace-walls : 
 And lo ! the trump emits the piercing founds, 
 Which the huge dome thro* all its cells rebounds. 
 Loud roars each cavern from its gloomy feat, 
 And earth vibrates beneath its pond'rous weight. 150 
 Inftant the gate with various fpectres fwarms, 
 To day adverfe, and ftrange with monft'rous forms-, 
 Their breafts exprefs the man, their waftes forfake, 
 And writhe with fpiry folds into a fnake : 
 Gorgons and fphynxes breathe an horrid air j 155 
 Some flalk a centaur, fome a hydra dare ; 
 Thefe rile chimeras, fpouting livid fires, 
 And Scylla's barking image thofe infpires. 
 Fiends clad in harpies fwell the dreadful train 
 And realife the fhapes, that mortals feign. 1 60 
 Above the reft, the form of towring fize, 
 And flaming front of hell's grim tyrant rife : 
 With hundred hands th' ambient air he cleaves, 
 And his throat pours a hundred burning waves. 
 From all their mouths,andeyes,and noftrils ftrearn 1 65 
 Dark gales of fume, and meets of fickly flame. 
 
 Around
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 9 
 
 Around their heads fnakes bend into a wreath, 
 And dimpling down their necks in hifles breathe; 
 Each wields a trident, each a firebrand fhakes, 
 That urge the guilty ghofts to burning lakes. 170 
 From earth's green margin fpectres hither fwarm 
 Who with oblivion fhade fair Virtue's form j 
 In ev'ry clime, thro' which they vagrant ftray, 
 And dazzle men with fin's fictitious ray. 
 To thefe fucceed the wing'd infernal race, 1 75 
 Riding in clouds and ever changing place ; 
 Who tempefts rule, and ruder blafts inform, 
 And low'ring mount the horrors of the ftorm. 
 All come with fouls elate, in counfel ftrong, 
 And the roofs eccho to th' infernal throng. 1 80 
 Till in the mid the King majeftic rofe, 
 And while he fpeaks, his hand with thunder glows. 
 
 Tartarean Chiefs, whofe births from ether fpring, 
 Sad victims, now, to Heav'n's inclement King ; * 
 Who (proudly weak, thro' luft to reign alone, 185 
 To bear each Equal, rival of his throne) 
 Againft us roll'd his thunder big with fate, 
 And hurl'd us flaming from our native feat. 
 Should fame deny our conflicts to renew, 190 
 The woes that wait us, fhall prefent to view 
 What wars we kindled in th' etherial plain ; 
 What fury labour'd in each advcrfe train, 
 But now the Victor boafts the ftars his prize, 
 And arrogates the fceptre of the fkies. 195 
 
 How dire his vengeance our difaflers tell ; 
 Once brightnefs wrapt us, now the gloom of hell ; 
 
 Our
 
 16 The CHRISTIAD. Book L 
 
 Our lot's to mare, with human ghofts thefe fcenes, 
 In crimes once like us, now alike in pains. 
 Earth intervenes between our hope and Heav'n 206 
 And in reward, our thrones to men are giv'n. 
 But here end not our woes ; again, he frames, 
 Raging with war, his deep concerted fchemes j 
 To drive us hence in ftratagems he low'rs, 
 And hell's the envy of the blifsful bow'rs : 205 
 For this defign, a youth forfakes the Ikies 
 (His Son or Angel in a youth's difguife) 
 Prepares, relying on celeftial aid, 
 To pour deftruction on thefe realms of made ; 
 Withdraw our fubjeet-fpirits from our lore, 2 10 
 And leave us with the impotence of pow'r. 
 Perhaps (unlefs we bold fruflrate the means) 
 Ourfelves mail feel the flav'ry of his chains, 
 Be led in triumph to the bleft abodes, 
 The glory He, and we the fcorn of Gods. 
 Think not this caution flows from fancy's fear ; 2 1 5 
 Experience has confirm'd tHe truth you hear : 
 To fay he's mortal, is to view his frame j 
 To fay he's woundlefs, hear each baffled fchcme : 
 I have intrepid oft oppos'd his way, 
 And oft decreed him to my wiles a prey ; 220 
 Approach'd him various in each fhape and air, 
 That hatred can belye or malice wear. 
 But armlefs he, my keeneft arms defies, 
 And without ufmg flrength, my ftrength outvies * 
 For by his utt'ring of the Prophets ftrain, 225 
 Arms blunt, deceits unmafk, and words are vain. 
 
 But
 
 Book I. The CHR1STIAD. n 
 
 But to my counfcl now attention pay ; 
 
 To Salem's ancient tow'rs he bends his way. 
 
 Tho' odious there to all their hoary Sires, 
 
 And to the Priefts, who zealous for their choirs, 23^ 
 
 Their myftic forms, and their paternal laws, 
 
 Refolve to flay him in religion's caufe. 
 
 For thro' the towns new myft'ries he reveals, 
 
 Prefcibes new rites divine, and old repeals. 
 
 Now" with occafion let your aid confpire 235 
 
 On him to pour the Rabbi's deadly ire ; 
 
 And left truth mould a gen'rous fenfe impart, 
 
 Their anger calm and humanize the heart ; 
 
 Soft in their minds infufe a pois'nous hate, 
 
 And to ferment it, lyes as truth relate. 240 
 
 Then blow it into rage by fland'rous breath, 
 
 And never let it die, but with his death. 
 
 But could we gain by fraud or fmooth applaufe, 
 
 One of his chofen twelve to 'fpoufe our caufe, 
 
 Then conqueft's ours, and chilling fear withdraws. 
 
 ;fe, | 
 ws. j 
 
 Scarce had he finim'd, when the wicked band, 24$ 
 Impatient to perform the dire command, 
 Impetuous pour diverfe thro' all the gates, 
 And earth the murmur feels thro' her retreats. 
 Nowpois'd in air, they cut the darkfome fpace, 250 
 And earth's expanfe with fnaky pinions graze. 
 In greater myriads not the flower- fed bees, 
 (When Aufter rain not, nor fierce Boreas freeze) 
 In fields of ether war indignant wage, 
 Of rival Kings to vindicate the rage. 256 
 
 Sad is the place, on which thefe demons, low'r ! 
 How great the havock ! havock their fole power ( 
 
 Near
 
 t2 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Near to Bethania come, God's offspring ends 
 His pious march, attended by his friends ; 
 There virgin Martha, Magdalena there, 260 
 
 (From Magdel's ancient town they nam'd the Fair) 
 With hair diforder'd, and with ftreaming eyes, 
 Performing at the tomb their obfequies, 
 He view'd : Whom when the mornful virgins faw, 
 They leave their friends, and from the rites with- 
 draw: 265 
 Firft pay the homage to his prefence due, 
 Then pour their grief while tears their cheeks bedew. 
 In tender words, and looks o'ercaft with gloom ; 
 Are you then come to view our brother's tomb ? 
 Who to his aid oft call'd You, noble gueft, 270 
 While with death's chilling cold he lay opprefs'd. 
 Nor is there room to doubt, had you been here, 
 He would have now inhal'd the vital air i 
 But fmce your pray'rs are realiz'd in heav'n, 
 To hope, that he mail live again, is giv'n. 1 75 
 
 While thus they pray'd, grief melts the (landers- by 
 And from their breafts refults one gen'ral figh. 
 
 The Chief forbids the crowd the youth deplore, 1 
 Intent to free him and to life reftore, j 
 
 Tho' rolls the fourth fun, fmce he was no more. J 
 The town foon ecchoes with the wond'rous fame -,281 
 And fends her thoufands to behold the fame, 
 The mountains, eager to detail his fkill, 
 Pour down their people and the valley fill. 
 
 The
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 13 
 
 The tomb approach'd, the youths there form a 
 ring 285 
 
 Where Hands in filent pray'r the Heav'n-born King, 
 With hands ftretch'd forth, and with ere&ed eyes 
 Invokes his Father to his enterprife. 
 The crowd in filence and furprife, attend 
 The op'ning of the wonder and the end. 290 
 
 Twice from his face the fhifting tincture flies ; 
 Nods (hake his head, and twice burfl. forth the fighs. 
 But lo ! the tomb fhakes with a quick'ning throe 
 The fight forbids the gazers' blood to flow, 
 On all their fenfes pours a dewy fear, 295 
 
 And from the Hero draws this vocal pray'r. 
 
 Tho' ever prefent, O Imperial Sire ! 
 To give relief and fecond my defire , 
 Still thanks mod warm are for this favour due, 
 Which paints thy virtue to the people's view. 300 
 But hade ye fervant throng, the tombftone heave, 
 Tear from the corps the drap'ry of the grave. 
 Without delay wide opes the yawning tomb, 
 And blots the ftimYing crowd with horrid gloom. 
 With looks {hot down the vault, they tremblingeyeT 
 The faded corps in foul difhonour lye, 306 > 
 
 And heave with life's infmuating figh. J 
 
 Thrice, Lazarus come forth, the Hero cries, 
 W r hen from the tomb he ftalksand breathes the Ikies. 
 The circling train, with chilling horror wan, 3 10 
 With inexhaufted looks devour the man ; 
 Inhale with greedy ears his rifing breath 
 Which to them wafts the feries of his death. 
 
 How
 
 i 4 * The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 How the rack'd foul in fad ard plaintive cries, 
 Her confort body with reiudtance flies : 315 
 
 What furies, in dread fhapes, difplay'd their pow'r, 
 And threatning rofe upon his dying hour : 
 With pain the fpirits of eternal day 
 Chas'd the foul demons from their prefent prey. 
 To this, the clufter of rewards fucceeds, 320 
 
 That terminate the blifs of virtuous deeds. 
 The pains, the guilty feel, conclude the theme, 
 Their wretched fate and hell's eternal flame. 
 
 The wonder finim'd, by requeft o'ercome 
 The God repairs to Simons' neighb'ring dome, 325 
 Whofe limbs diftain'd with leprofy's difeafe 
 The God rehVd, and bade the fury ceafe. 
 While at the board, with grateful viands preft, 
 Amid the Nobles, fat the welcome gueft ; : 
 
 Unbidden, lo ! a maid invades the room, 330 
 Fam'd for her mien, and texture of the loom : 
 Her purple robe fwell'd, ruilling in each fold, 
 With filver cloy'd, and interwoven gold ; 
 Pond'rous with gems, the luxury of her veft 
 (Her moulders pride) a golden clafp cornpreft. 335 
 A cawl her trefies held in ringlets wreath'd, 
 Sleak with the comb, and liquid amber bath'd. 
 O'er which with ftudded jewels blaz'd her Tire, 
 And a large ruby fet her front on fire. 
 Big pearls and diamonds ftrung on fufile gold, 340 
 Around her neck their blended luftre roll'd. 
 So earth (her bofom bright with vernal fhow'rs) 
 Unlocks her gems and decks herfelf with flow'rs. 
 
 An
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 15 
 
 An orphan left by both her parents' death, 
 
 This maid became fole heirefs of their wealth. 345 
 
 Religion to her tender age beam'd fair, 
 
 And bluming honour was her virgin care. 
 
 But by degrees youth revels in her veins 
 
 And Venus furious in her fenfes reigns, 
 
 "Who in her bofom lights unlawful fire, 350 
 
 And the broad blaze confumes each pure defire. 
 
 Now loft to all, that grace a virgin's name, 
 
 Religion, coynefs, and a Veftal fame, 
 
 In pride of womanhood, me joys to roam, 
 
 A vulgar object, from her private dome. 355 
 
 Shines firft at banquets, and theatric fcenes 
 
 And giddy bears^not admonition's reins. 
 
 So fome tall fhip, without a pilot's guide, 
 
 When the big waves upon the tempeft ride, 
 
 Subject to billows and the dorm's domain, 360 
 
 A vagrant courfe purfues along the main. 
 
 Of her large ftore of ancient wealth now vain, 
 
 She meditates, among the youthful train, 
 
 To foothe him into love, whofe manly form, 
 
 Above the reft, fhall glow with ev'ry charm. 365 
 
 And now me hears, that one of beauteous frame 
 
 Hither arriv'd, and ftil'd a God by fame. 
 
 Her joy, impatient of a long delay, 
 
 To view the fame me bends her rapid way. 
 
 But when his mien exhal'd its breathing grace, 370 
 
 And (he inhal'd the luftre of his face ; 
 
 When her breaft caught his eyes' love-feeding 
 
 beams, 
 
 Her former paflion fudden me difclaims, 
 And feels her heart refine with chafter flames. 
 
 And 
 
 i
 
 i6 The CHRISTJAD. Book I. 
 
 And now feven firebrands, horrid to behold ! 375 
 Rufh from her lips benighted in a cloud ; 
 Dark as the fparkles, that in gafps afpire 
 From dying taper, and in fume expire. 
 Lo ! flies, exclaims the God, the fouleft Fiend, 
 Who prey'd upon her heart and warpt her mind. 
 Maria then (fuch was the damfel's name) 381 
 New in defire, nor now in thought the fame, 
 "Who hither came, in confcious beauty bold, 
 Her bofom blazing with embroider'd gold ; 
 Tears off the glories, that her head furround, 385 
 And her bright bracelet twinkles on the ground j 
 Her tunic fpurns, that cafts a golden gleam, 
 Rack'd with the fenfe of guilt and flufh'd with 
 
 fhame. 
 
 Prone as the dog, beneath his matter's board, 
 For pity, proftrate me invokes the Lord : 390 
 Clings to his knees, his feet with tears bedews, 
 And dries with robes, aflum'd for other views. 
 Now from an alabafter urn me brings 
 The blended fragrance of Arabia's fprings. 
 The blufhing Cafia, Nardus' od'rous ears, 395 
 Amomum fweet, and frankincenfe's tears. 
 Faft on his feet the od'rous ftreams me pours, 
 And the air grows pregnant with the balmy (how'rs, 
 Pleas'd he receives the homage of the Fair, 
 Herfaults abfolves, and points toheav'n her care. 400 
 
 Mean while in mournful groupes the patients 
 
 come, 
 
 From neighboring cities, and furround the dome, 
 
 The
 
 ^ 
 
 } 
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. if 
 
 The Blind for fight, the Lame for motion cry, 
 
 The Dumb for fpcech, the Deaf for hearing figh. 
 
 Hither the infane for relief are brought, 40$ 
 
 Unconfcious of their ftate, as void of thought j 
 
 But God diftrefs'd with each peculiar pain, 
 
 Reliev'd and fent them back, a healthful train. 
 
 He feeks, departing hence, Jerufalem, 
 
 The mighty fabrick of thy fons, O Shem, 4 1 o 
 
 Planter of vines ! when earth fuperior flood 
 
 To the broad furface of the general flood, 
 
 And the check'd ocean in his channel flow'd. 
 
 With victor-arms the Jebufites then came, 
 
 And call'd the captive city by their name. 415 
 
 Here Juda's race with regal blood elate, 
 
 Subdu'd the neighb'riag vales, and fix'd their feat. 
 
 Here rear'd great Solomon, with foreign toil, 
 
 From of everted mrines the copious fpoil, 
 
 An awful temple, of ftupendous fize, 420 
 
 Its airy fummit mingling with the fkies : 
 
 All other fanes their ornaments rcfign, 
 
 To drefs this temple out for rites divine. 
 
 Here, brazen ciflerns, dazz'ling to behold, 
 
 Here tables (hone, compos'd of marly gold: 425 
 
 Here fleecy robes drank deep the purple dye i 
 
 And the ftifTveftments glitter'd on the eye : 
 
 Altars arofe devote to fanguine rites, 
 
 And pendent lamps diffus'd their awful lights. 
 
 Here tripods, cenfers, bowls blaze on the fkies, 450 
 
 And all the great parade of facrifice. 
 
 C Jehovah's
 
 *8 The CHRISTIAD. Book L 
 
 Jehovah's ftatutes fculptur'd deep on (lone, 
 
 And fhrin'd in wood religioufly here flione. 
 
 Before the king, and in the people's view, 
 
 The prieft, within the fane, the victim flew. 435 
 
 In this fole place, the holy pow'r is found, 
 
 With ritual gore, to (lain the blufhing ground : 
 
 For Ifrael's race, by cultom hither led, 
 
 Thrice in the year the victim-homage bled. 
 
 The Lord oft to this temple bent his way, 440 
 
 To fliare the rites, and adoration pay. 
 
 When the Median near Jerufalem drew, 
 The tow'rs and columns rufhing on the view, 
 The train of thoufands, who his labours fliare, 
 Boughs in their hands of palm and olive bear. 445 
 The foot precede, behind him move the horfe, 
 And in the mid, the Hero takes his courfe ; 
 No prancing fteed, in pride of trapings dreft, 
 Norfoaming with keert life the Hero preft : 
 But to the poor his darling want to mew, 450 
 
 An afs, beneath him, moves his dull feet flow. 
 (This deed once ftrung the Prophet's facred lyre, 
 And from the theme he caught celeflial fire) 
 Bare was his head; his robe (the work of love, 
 Which for his youth his tender mother wove) 455 
 Flow'd to his ancles, in a various fold ; 
 Tho' worn, yet new, nor by duration old : 
 A pair of fandals on Kis feet he laced, 
 And in this humble pomp the city traced. 
 Before the gate in long arrangement ftand 460 
 A choir of youths and maids, a beauteous band : 
 
 Twin'd
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAN 19 
 
 Twin'd in the virgins' locks the rofes breathe ; 
 And with fhorn crowns the youths their temples 
 
 wreathe. 
 
 Large boughs of living palm their hands employ 
 And their glad hymns flow fparkling with their 
 
 joy. 465 
 
 All vie, with holy emulation warm, 
 Who moft may view the God's delightful form. 
 Within the walls, the people form a ring, 
 And ardent prefs to hail the Saviour king. 
 Spears grace their hands, their olives flam their 
 
 dyes, 470 
 
 And their applaufes rattle 'long the ikies. 
 
 Rous'd with the cries that thro' the city flray 
 Quick rofe the fages, who the nation fway. 
 The caufe unknown, and ftruck with deepfurpri*^ 
 To fee large clouds of duft obfcure the fkies, 475 
 Of this uproar demand the fudden caufe, 
 Who leads the crowd, and whence this vaft applaufe ? 
 But thofe, who thro' his fame the Godhead fpy, 
 Augment his train, and fwell the rapt'rous cry. 
 The ftrects, he vifits, they with purple ftrew, 480 
 And on the pavement Indian carpets glow. 
 Some roads ape kindled with profufive flow'rs, 
 And the broad furface fwells with crimfon fhow'rs. 
 
 Not far he pafs'd, when lo ! another train 
 Salute his entry in a gladfome ftrain : 485 
 
 Pleas'd he receives the raptures of their hearts, 
 Anl full of wonder from the crowd departs. 
 
 C 2 A vale
 
 20 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 A vale fubfides among umbrageous hills, 
 Where fprcads a pool fed with perpetual rills : 
 The city dames for water hither came 49 1 
 
 The cattle here drown'd deep their thirfty flame > 
 And fickly flocks rofe healthful from the ftream. J 
 Hence after times, as fame divulges, gave 
 The name Bethefda to the healing wave. 
 At certain feafons of the circling year, 495 
 
 The morbid patients to its banks repair - r 
 For oft the pool in tumult feem'd to rife, 
 And fpout its azure current to the fkies. 
 The moving principle long latent lay, 
 Which youths and virgins ufher'd into day : 500 
 They fung, a cherub, blazing on the face, 
 His pure robe ftreaming in the airy fpace, 
 On wings incumbent ting'd with golden dyes, 
 Shot from the fummit of the ftarry fkies, 
 And ftaining his etherial route with blaze, 505 
 His hands comprefs'd to rage the placid waves. 
 So the bright ftar, hung in the front of heav'n, 
 To mariners or camps a fignal giv*h, 
 Darts from its feat, and flafiiing wild its fires, 
 The fubject world with panick fear infpires. 51 
 And now the fickly groupe the pool furround, 
 Eager to catch from heav'n the bathing found : 
 Each views the liquid plain with ardent eye, 
 And of the breeze, each drinks the fofteft figh : 
 Panting to plunge the firft into the flood 515 
 
 When in the air the waters trembling flood. 
 Tho' woo'd by all, to him alone, health came, 
 Who firft div'd for it, in the troubled ftream. 
 
 A band
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 2 * 
 
 A band of youths, thus in a lawn's fmooth fpace, 
 Collect their vigour for the rapid race ; 520 
 
 Their fouls already flart, their hearts thick beat, 
 And for the tedious fign they throbbing wait. 
 Hope crowns them all, and with delufive eyes, 
 Each for himfelf regards the unwon prize. 
 
 Among the fick, young Jetrus helplefs lay, 525 
 Whofe finews flirunk, whofe members dy'd away ; 
 Of ancient wealth he flouriuYd with a ftore -, 
 But trufting much in Med'cine's faving pow'r, 
 He tried each virtue of the faithlefs art, 
 To firing his nerves, and motion fwift impart, 530 
 But feeble for the talk, art flies and leaves 
 Pale-hagard want aflbciate with difeafe. 
 Thus forty years beheld his limbs to fade, 
 Himfelf a prey to want and void of aid, 
 Whom when the God had ey'd in fuch diftrefs, 535 
 With tender looks he pours this foft addrefs. 
 
 Ah fay, unhappy ! why this long delay 
 Upon the margin ? while the dreams convey 
 Their balmy moifture, and theii healing pow'r 
 To all the ills, that in their channels low'r, .540 
 Hence home they vifit, mindlefs of their pains, 
 Strength in their limbs, and fpirits in their veins. 
 
 Weak Jetrus thus -, and while he drove to fpeak, 
 His burfting forrow trickled down his cheek. 
 I tarnifh not the pool's falubrious fame 545 
 
 But while I wait the motion of its dream, 
 
 C 3 Others
 
 22 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Others more active, than inactive I, 
 
 Into the roaring waters headlong file : 
 
 For none, to bathe me, his afiiftance lends, 
 
 .Want feldom feels the benefit of friends. 550 
 
 To his complaint the God vouchfaf'd an ear ; 
 And faid, arife, and to thy home repair, 
 Nor think thefe waters have the pow'r abne, 
 To brace the nerves and to fupprefs the groan. 
 .Scarce had hefpoke, when lo '! before the throng,555 
 Erect ftands Jetrus, in his movement ftrong ; 
 Throws on his back his couch, without delay, 
 And with quick ftrides he (talks the rapid way. 
 The fhepherd thus, who in the foreft toils, 
 To cull of broken boughs the fcatter'd fpoils ; 560 
 Cafts in the pile, unconfcious of the prize, 
 A fnake, in leaves involv'd, and numb'd with ice. 
 Wak'd wiih the flames, that crackling round him 
 
 fpread, 
 
 Quick ftarts the fnake and lifts erect his head : 
 Darts his red eyes, and rowls in fpires along 565 
 The dome, vibrating faft his forky tongue. 
 
 Another view prefents the temple's gate, 
 Beneath whofe ample arch the fervants wait 
 To fell oblations for the brazen mrine 
 To thofe, who labour under vows divine ; 570 
 Here bleat the flock, whofe fleece the day improves, 
 Here lowe the oxen, and here cooe the doves. 
 When the God faw the traffick in the fane, 
 And heard rucjg noifc the facred place prophane, 
 
 Jnfpir'd
 
 Book I. the CHRISTIAD. 23 
 
 Infpir'd with holy rage, the Hero glows, 575 
 
 And with reproaches deals about his blows : 
 The whip's percufilons on their backs refound, 
 And drive the rabble off the holy ground. 
 So Boreas from his Arctick cavern flies, 
 Rufhing in furious blafts along the fides, 580 
 Expels the low'ring clouds th'etherial plain, 
 And roaring arrogates the Ether's reign. 
 Thefe walls are hallow'd (thus the Hero cries) 
 And to JEHOVAH'S honour facred rife, 
 'Which you with mercenary traffick ftain, 5% 
 
 And caft the GOD an exile from his Fane. 
 Tho' blood your altars bathes, and life expires, 
 A facrifice once granted to your fires -, 
 Such rites the fupreme BEING pleafe no more, 
 And fheep now pour in vain their ritual gore. 590 
 Henceforth forbear his purer fiqrht to ftain 
 With entrails warm of birds and cattle (lain : 
 And now a fpotlcfs facrifice prepare ; 
 And taught new rites of faith, the old forbear. 
 Dare to be virtuous, in libation fhow'r 595 
 
 Yourfpotlefs thoughts and pray the fupreme POW'R ; 
 Your myftick modes let thefe hereafter be, 
 Thefe be the offerings to the Deity. 
 
 This faid, he at the altar fuppKant bows, 
 And pays hii Sire in filent pray'r his vows. 600 
 
 And now the priefts with deep refentment rife, 
 Grjef in their hearts, and anger in their eyes ; 
 
 C 4 Nor
 
 24 The CHRrSTIAD. Book I, 
 
 Nor was their furious rage a recent gueft, 
 Nor was their hate a ftranger to the breaft : 
 Stor'd in their minds, the ancient caufc of ire 605 
 Lay deeply grav'd, and fet their fouls on fire. 
 Yet ftill they fear'd their cruelty to wage, 
 For loth to rouzc the mob's vindictive rage. 
 Inftant they leave the temple's inmoft feats, 
 Content to vent their wrath in murmuring threats. 
 
 61 
 
 The wolves at night thus to the fold repair, 
 But Ihcpherds watchful o'er their fleecy care, 
 With vocal dogs their bloody progrefs ftay, 
 And chafe them headlong from the bleating prey. 
 Sudden they part, tho* wild with famine's fling, 615 
 And the wide forefts with their roaring ring. 
 
 But while the GOD before the altar bends, 
 And to his SIRE his foul inpray'r afcends, 
 About the temple rove his focial band, 
 Struck with its grandeur and the builders hand. 620 
 Scoop'd from huge rocks a hundred columns fpread 
 Their frames, high as their parent- mountains head. 
 Of equal number, and of equal fize, 
 Columns of folid brafs refplendent rife. 
 In the large beams they view the cedars ftrength, 625 
 And the arch'd cielings everlafting length. 
 The. brazen doors on creeking hinges found, 
 And the fquar'd marble fmoothes the painted ground. 
 Here into pillars meets of gold are roll'd 
 And tables fpread their plains in burnim'd gold. 630 
 
 Bright
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 25 
 
 Bright chariots in the temple votive rife, 
 Diftinct with iv'ry and with ebon dyes. 
 While on thefe objects the difciples gaze ; 
 The Hero paid his tributary praife 
 And coming forward filent and unfeen, 635 
 
 Thus fpoke abrupt with a dejected mien. 
 Already Solyma the vengeance due 
 To all thy deeds, hangs frowning to the view. 
 This pile fo large, this temple fo divine, 
 Shall rufli, ere long, to fragments like the pine 640 
 (Whofe roots the wind tearing from parent ground) 
 A victim tumbles to the tempeft's found. 
 The blood of Prophets, envoys of the Lord, 
 Which purpled once your facrilegious iword, 
 Or ting'd your rocks, their bodies thrown from 
 high, 645 
 
 Againft you point the thunder of the fky. 
 Yet ftill to fave you from impending pain, 
 How oft I anxious ftrove, but flrove in vain, 
 To clafp your children in my fond embrace, 
 As the hen, anxious for her feather'd race, 650 
 The little rovers to her bofom brings, 
 Panting the mother in her voice and wings. 
 Your ftate, already nodding, foon (hall feel 
 The civil fury, and the hoftile fteel. 
 From dome to dome vindictive flames mail bound, 
 
 655 
 And human blood run crimfon on your ground. 
 
 In vain to heav'n afcend repeated vows, 
 
 To prop your kingdom, which already bows. 
 
 Jehovah
 
 26 The CHRIST! AD. Book I. 
 
 Jehovah hafles the period of your reign, 
 
 And in a foreign clime erects his fane, 660 
 
 This faid, the fculptur'd figures he difplays ; 
 A true and mighty roll of ancient days. 
 Where the Creation fhifts her varied face, 
 With all the annals of the human race. 
 No human image fwells this myftick fcene 665 
 Nor paint belies Jehovah's awful mien : 
 But lines myfterious labour'd nice on ftone, 
 Sketch thebold draught to bardsthemfelves unknown, 
 
 The Sire of Heav'n here burfting from a cloud, 
 Seems the drear realms of darknefs to behold. 670 
 And whilft before him lies the chaos -ftate, 
 The world's creation feems to meditate. 
 Now from the burfting brighmefs feems to roll, 
 The fpacious concave of the Harry pole ; 
 The earth's brown orb, the ocean's azure tide, 67 3 
 And floods of light, that thro' the ether glide. 
 Whence Sol mall draw effulgence from his rays, 
 And Heav'n her ftars mall kindle with the blaze. 
 
 The winged myriads of the heav'nly fpacc, 
 The firft day's labour of the Supreme grace, 6So 
 With plaufive wings, and with melodious found, 
 In fwarms their parent and their guide furround. 
 Yet ftill with earth was mi^d heavVs burninggleam, 
 And ftagnant on her flept the briny ftream, 
 For evVy matter lay confus*dly hurl'd, 
 Which gave, arraing'dj exigence to the world.
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 27 
 
 Without delay, the orb of hcav'n he frames, 
 And on it fprinkles drops of ftarry flames ; 
 Now all things flow aflume their proper face, 
 And Heav'n in vigour firm retains its place. 690 
 
 Earth in the mid, and delug'd now no more, 
 The heaving waters form a winding more, 
 On mallows tortur'd into fury rife, 
 And fpout their azure current to the fkies. 
 As yet the fca no fhrowded vefiel bore, 695 
 
 Nor in the waters bent appeared the oar, 
 But Zephyrs, fporting innocently gay, 
 Dimpl'd the mining furface of the fea. 
 And now the mountains rife in beechen pride, 
 And vales in long extended plains fubfide. ,703 
 Inftant the ground with feeming virtue heaves 
 Her lap with fiow'rs to fill, the tree with leaves. 
 Now fields adorn their broad expanfe with green. 
 Now trees embrace, to form a fylvan fcene. 
 Oaks wave their branches o'er a length of glade 
 To join the olive, and the cyprefs fnade. 
 
 To light this infant world, two globes of flame 
 Full in the concave arch of ether gleam , 
 To guard the world, they, leagued, alternate rife, 
 To drop their melting luftre from the fkies -, 710 
 The Sun by day Olympus' round furveys, 
 And Earth glows lucid with his native rays. 
 The Moon with guardian care the night adorns 
 Streaming a filver palenels from her horns, 
 
 Ether
 
 28 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Ether at night on his black forehead wears 715 
 A blaze of ftars, revolving in the fpheres. 
 
 The fcaly herds in wanton gambols play, 
 Brufh with their fins and fwim along the lea. 
 The birds their bodies poize in ethers plain, 
 And with indignant bills a war fuftain. 720 
 
 Not diflant hence, another profpect yields 
 Whole herds of cattle cov'ring all the fields ; 
 With pafture cloy'd the woolly flocks are feen 
 Playful to Ikip along the fruitful green. 
 Fierce beafts feem here to lurk in caverns deep, 725 
 And tortoifed fnakes along the ground to creep. 
 The Sire of Heav'n Hands in a cloud confefs'd, 
 And in glad accents, thus his will exprefs'd. 
 " With genial love increafe and multiply, 
 *' And give from age to age a progeny." 730 
 
 Frefli from the earth at length man naked (lands 
 To whom the God feems utt'ring his commands ; 
 Gives him to fpread o'er earth his wide domain ; 
 And life immortal, focial to his reign, 
 Had been his lot, had he obey'd the God, 735 
 Obferv'd his mandates and rever'd his nod. 
 
 Her lies a garden glitt'ring on the. eyes, 
 With branching trees and flowers of various dyes : 
 An azure dragon keeps his vigils nigh 
 To guard the fruitage blufliing on the fky. 740 
 
 A branch-
 
 Book I. The CHRISTTAD. 2$ 
 
 A branching fountain m the center fheds 
 Its filver currents in four various beds : 
 And ftreaming widely o'er the fubjecl plain, 
 Fofters the herbage, and calls forth the grain, 
 
 Here rolls the ferpent on the ftoried wall, 745 
 The fraudful worker of the firft man's fall, 
 "Who heedlefs of the mandate and decree, 
 Spoils of its apples the forbidden tree. 
 The youth fcarce to his lips the fraud had giv'n, 
 But aw'd with all the majefty of Heav'n, 750 
 
 Sheds faft, to lave his crime, repentant waves 
 And drives to wrap him and his fhame in leaves. 
 But o'er him, rifing in a fleecy cloud 
 The Almighty feems to fpeak, as thunder, loud, 
 Kindling with threats that may the vengeance fpeed, 
 Reponfive to the horror of the deed, 755 
 
 Which once he bore, and all his race muft bear, 
 *Who mall by birth inhale this vital air. 
 
 Mean time, his confort, who with vain defire, 
 Firft broke the mandate of the fupreme Sire, 760 
 Seems here the thtckeft of the fhrubs to gain, 
 And hide her folly in their ihades in vain. 
 The victor ferpent, flufh'd with fraud, appears, 
 On flaming fpires his wreathing body rears ; 
 Thrice round the tree his length depends in rings, 765 
 And to applaud his conqueft, claps his wings. 
 Of his fuccefs regards with fcorn the tool, 
 And laughs her eafy faith to ridicule. 
 
 Not
 
 30 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Not far remote, extend the realms of night, 
 With darknefs chequer'd and a livid light. 770 
 Where fhades of righteous men their freedom wait,. 
 Debar'd, for one man's crime, their happy ftate. 
 Here Sages ftand with ho-ary rev'rence crown'd, 
 Here bands of bards with facred fillets bound : 
 W r ith hands expanded and efifus'd in pray'r 775 
 They feem to court the God at length to fpare 
 The human kind, obnoxious to the rod 
 (For Adam's fault) of an offended God. 
 Superior by the moulders Abraham fpreads, 
 The wrath to bar, his garment o'er their heads. 780 
 
 Here flops the God ; and fays in broken fighs, 
 Behold the fcene, whence all my labours rife -,. 
 Yet flill to free them from this gloomy ftate 
 I, felf-devoted, all their tortures wait 
 Live o'er the fcenes, which follow, mark'd by few, 
 
 785 
 That paint my future death to fancy's view. 
 
 In figur'd furges here the waters rife, 
 And earth beneath the foaming burden lies. 
 The ark fecure, rides o'er the liquid fpace, 
 Charg'd with the reliques of the deluged race. 790 
 If any mountain's height fuperior flood, 
 Emerging from the ocean's gen'ral flood, 
 The burfting clouds indignant roll their ire, 
 And blafl tht fumtnit with a flafhing rke. 
 
 In
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. 31 
 
 In act to flay his Son, the Father ftands 
 (Unhappy made by hearing Heav'n's commands) 
 And now his flrength collected in his arm, 
 He waves the fteel in Ifaac's blood to warm. 
 When lo ! An angel wing'd from ether's round, 
 Recalls the mandate, and prevents the wound. 800 
 A white-fleeced ram near for a victim's fed 
 And plac'd for Ifaac, on the altar bled. 
 
 Stung with their brother's dream thj brothers 
 
 (land: 
 
 "Who's fold a (lave, and feeks a foreign land. 
 To the fad fire, theyouth's diredeaththey feign, 805 
 Torn by wild beafts, and barbaroufly (lain : 
 He views the filial veil befmear'd with blood, 
 And his eyes bathe it with a briny flood. 
 
 Here mines the Hero, famous for his laws, 
 Aided by Hcav'n, and aiding Heav'n's great caufe, 
 
 810 
 
 While he reftores from Pharoah's fpacious reign 
 To promis'd realms, his long exiled train. 
 The bite of ferpcnts and their pois'nous breath 
 Strew his pale wand'rers on the verge of death. 
 But quick he bids a brazen ferpent rear 815 
 
 Its fpiry volumes in the middle air ; 
 At it directs the fickly groupe to gaze, 
 As fure and whole reiterative of eafe. 
 
 A bird in figure lays her entrails bare 
 And with her life me feeds her new hatch'dcare. 820 
 
 All
 
 32 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 All fond of blood their mother's breaft furround, 
 And with contending bills probe deep the wound. 
 
 Thus having traced the wonders of the fcene : 
 The Hero full of thought departs the fane : 
 But fcarce had touch'd the Temple's fpacious flairs 
 
 825 
 
 When tumult in loud clamor wounds his ears : 
 Amid the crowd, behold Sufanna's led, 
 The youthful bride of old Manafles's bed. 
 Pale are her features, beamlefs are her eyes, 
 And down her back her hair difordeu'd lies. 830 
 Averfe, indignant, in her bloom of charms, 
 Her father plung'd her in the old man's arms. 
 But now the ftaining of the nuptial flate 
 Dooms her unhappy to a public fate. 
 And here the vulgar, here the youths prepare 835 
 To whirl the ftones againft the guilty fair. 
 But when the prieft faw Chrift the portals grace 
 Inftant he bids the execution ceafe ; 
 The trembling matron from the crowd withdraws, 
 And veils his bafe defign in fmooth applaufe. 840 
 This dame (fays he) has broke the marriage knot 
 And faithlefs to her bed was bafely caught : 
 For fuch a crime, it is by law decreed, 
 By mifilve ftones, yet how fevere ! to bleed. 
 We, Soft interpreter of bards ! prefume 845 
 
 To a(k your counfel of this matron's doom. 
 
 He fpoke, and with delufive hope is fed, 
 That by his force of fpeech the Hero's led 
 
 Into
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAB, 33 
 
 Into a fnare,where all evafion's vain, 
 Each pafiage block'd, and flight afruitlefs pain. 850 
 For fhould his tender nature fpare the dame, 
 And wave the death, due to her lawlefs flame, 
 He'd foon upon himfelf the rabble draw, 
 And fuffer as the fcorner of their law : 
 Yetfliould he, for the crime, pronounce her fate, 855 
 He'd then incur the vulgar's barb'rous hate. 
 Himfelf the pried, for fuch fuggeftions, hails, 
 And his breaft fwells with conqueft's flattering gales. 
 Thus while in fleep the Hind with fplendent (hare, 
 In ridges feems the cultur'd glebe to rear, 860 
 Huge heaps of gold difcover'd in the clay, 
 Vain throbs of gladnefs to his heart convey, 
 But fudden flits the vifion of the dream, 
 And of the golden (tore foon dyes the flame : 
 Awak'd, he rails at fortune and the fpoil, 865 
 Compell'd to ftick to poverty and toil. 
 But God (hall for himielf ftrike out a way, 
 (A God no human wit can lead aftray) 
 At once from death the wretched wife to draw, 
 And keep alive the fpirit of the law. 870 
 
 Fix'd on the ground awhile, he rais'd his eyes, 
 And to the crowd prepar'd for (laughter cries ; 
 *Tis true, the ftatutes which your fires decreed, 
 Confign to death this woman's fordid deed. 
 Whoever then a finlefs life has led, 
 Let him firft whirl the (lone, and ftrike her dead. 
 And can one boaft among this num'rous train, 
 By wounding her, a life without a (tain ? 
 
 D While
 
 34 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 While thus he fpoke, his looks, feverely ftrong, 
 Oblique he glances thro' the waving throng, 880 
 In act to write ; who fhould prefume to claim, 
 In the dame's maflacre, his fpotlefs fame ? 
 " A mind unlhock'd by actions bafely done, 
 " A life crown'd with the palm by virtue won." 
 Before the crowd the fair Hands chill'd with fright, 
 
 885 
 
 Her eyes fuffus'd with death's approaching night : 
 Proftrate me finks beneath her load of care, 
 Nervclefs her knees, no lefs diflblv'd in fear, 
 Than is the doe, which o'er a length of ground 
 Purfu'd and breathing the voracious found 890 
 Of panting dogs, fees her ftrength fmoak in air, 
 And her limbs captive in the trait'rous fnare ; 
 Hem'd round with foes, no hope of freedom nigh, 
 All other views forfake her but to die. 
 
 His tender fpeech among the vulgar glides, 895 
 And all their rage of murder foon fubfides : 
 Each in his mind revolves his actions paft, 
 There views agfoupe of ills, and Hands aghaft. 
 Among fo great a train no man fteps forth 
 By rectitude of life to prove his worth ; 900 
 
 But each, as confcious of fome moral ftain, 
 By Health lets fall his ftone and leaves the fane. 
 And now the porch unchock'd with riot-cries, 
 Off her bound hands the God the cord unties, 
 Difmifies her with words, that veil her fiiame. 905 
 Depart, let virtue cleanfe thy tarniih'd fame! 
 
 Then
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD. ^ 
 
 Then his Difciples thus addrefiing, faid, 
 This race, how hard ! how obitinatejy bred ! 
 Undar'd leave nothing, judge in each debate, 
 And always wrong, grow bolder by defeat. 910 
 Ev'n me, who violate their feftive days, 
 To give them health, and chafe away difeafe ; 
 Tender to thofe, who weep their finful ftains, 
 Their guilt to pardon, and avert their pains : 
 Ev'n me, who give to fpread the genial feaft, 915 
 And the foft guming of the vine to tafte, 
 Setting afide the lotion of the ftream, 
 And gorge on meats for which they blot your fame ; 
 Ev'n me they feek by artful fraud to (lay, 
 And roufe all Rome to chafe me as her prey ; 920 
 Glad, mould I own it lawlefs, that their tribes 
 The money tax mould pay, which Rome prefcribes. 
 Nor can my deeds above the reach of art, 
 The leaft conviction to their breads impart -, 
 Blind to the force, by which ray acts afpire, 925 
 They dare oppofe the counfels of my Sire, 
 Their rites I break not, nor their laws repeal 
 For maxims, morefublime, beneath the veil 
 Of their dark ceremonies, latent lye, 
 Than what are offered to the naked eye. 930 
 
 Why is Swine's flefh (an inftance to rehearfe) 
 Amid their various food, forbid a place ? 
 For minds, refin'd with thoughts fupremely good, 
 Can catch contagion from no mortal food : 
 The mind's diftemper is her bafc defire, 935 
 
 Yet as the briftly kind delight in mire, 
 
 D 2 As
 
 3 The CHRISTIAD. Book L 
 
 As in this bead an innate lewdnefs roves, 
 
 She lives a type of Venus' obfcenc loves. 
 
 Befide, by gentler difcipline to draw 
 
 Their ftubborn minds, to hear celeftial law* 940 
 
 To fix, whom no religion long could hold, 
 
 By bloody ceremonies, in one fold ; 
 
 The fupreme BEING bad the tribes prepare 
 
 To call, for death* fome of their bleating care ; 
 
 The guiklefs heifer' on their ihrine to wound, 945 
 
 And purple, with her harmlcfs blood, the ground. 
 
 Thcfe rites, to them, if not fuffus'd with gloom, 
 
 Shone types of the religion then to come. 
 
 This faid, already the declivous fkies 
 O'ercaft with fhade, the trait*rous town he flics. 950 
 And willing now, before his inftant fate, 
 To pray his Sire, and fecret vows repeat. 
 Unnoticed leaves his friends in Tabor's plains, 
 And the mount crown'd with lofty cedars gains. 
 None of the train he order'd to attend, 955 
 
 But Peter, James and John, a faithful friend, 
 Who meditating (land, and to the Ikies 
 Extend their fupine hands and piercing eyes. 
 And now the Son, in flam'd with heav'nly fire, 
 In extafy addrefles thus his Sire. 960 
 
 O father ? fee, tho' innocent I dye, 
 And meet the pangs of fate without one figh : 
 Since fuch your will, and fuch is your decree. 
 And fincc mankind is ever dear to me : 
 
 Yet,
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD, 37 
 
 Yet, thefc, who left their friends and native foil, 965 
 
 The follow'rs of my fortune and my toil. 
 
 Indulge propitious; and avert the harm, 
 
 Aim'd at their virtue by a lurking arm. 
 
 I dread not human hate, nor do phey fear $ 
 
 For impious men mail wound them ev'ry where, 970 
 
 Nor mall my anger or furprize run high, 
 
 To fee them tortur'd, or to fee them dye ; 
 
 To fee you, father, to compleat their woe, 
 
 In duft to fpurn them, and commence their foe. 
 
 No ; let your light'ning, if it is your will, 975 
 
 Flam fierce around them, or your thunder kill, 
 
 If fuch the toils, that men to heav'n elate 
 
 And bring back nature, to her priftine ftate ; 
 
 At leaft deny not to my pray'r this grace, 
 
 Let not of hell's domains the cruel race, 789 
 
 ( Whofe hate to human mortals never dyes) 
 
 Deftroy my focial pupils with furprize -, 
 
 Seduce them from their lore with wicked arts, 
 
 And pour the love of earth into their hearts ; 
 
 Nor in the praifeof vice let their tongues roll, 985 
 
 And ftrive to blot my Image from rhe foul. 
 
 Soon, toofoon, fhajl thefe infidious foes 
 
 (In whole] unfated breads revenge ftjll glows) 
 
 Revolve deceits, o'er baleful projects low'r, 
 
 And wear ftrange forms to fpread abroad their pow'r ; 
 
 To feize the harmlefs, whom they cannot blame, 
 
 And with polluted breath their breafts inflame. 
 
 But fruftrate, SJRJS, their meditated care, 1 
 
 May their curs'd fchemes evaporate in air, 
 
 And bid them conqucr'd, to betray forbear. 
 
 PJ
 
 $S The CHRIS.TIAD. Book I, 
 
 And when my mortal days fhall fet in death, 
 
 Give fome to rife to teach the fons of earth, 
 
 In the firm path of righteoufnefs to move, 
 
 And glow tranfported with religion's love. 
 
 Will not paternal fondnefs lend an ear loop 
 
 Propitious to his Son's mod ardent pray'r ? 
 
 Your Sire's true Image, and pow'r of his fkic.s, 
 Your fears remove (the heav'nly King replies) 
 The frauds mail ne'er annoy your chofen train, 
 "Which hell now meditates thro' its domain. 1005 
 Let Satan grim a hundred forms aflume, 
 Spread wide his fhares, and cover thick with gloom ; 
 My prcfence fhall the treachery difclofe, 
 The frauds detect, and diffipate the foes. 
 Yet one mail fall -a prey, thro' whofe dark foul 1010 
 Bafc plots, already, in diforder roll: 
 Now he, unhappy, weary of the pain, 
 (The fad re ward attendant on your train) 
 Repents, indignant, of the toils he bore 
 Sooth'd with the fweets, which life had given before. 
 
 1015 
 
 But prior to the world 'twas our decree, 
 This wretch mould fill an Apoftolic fee. 
 Not mindlefs of the bards, who fung his fall, 
 A warning great to thofe, you deign to call. 
 The reft, the fnares fhall fiie by culture free, 1020 
 And hold life lightly for the love of thee. 
 Death fhall not fright them with his dreadful mien, 
 BJK find them tranquil when he rules the fcene : 
 
 Wfcchful
 
 Book I. The CHRIST1AD. 39 
 
 Watchful of life, and proud of death's embrace, 
 From their heart's gore fhull rife a numerous race : 
 
 1025 
 
 Yet after the long pafiion of their fates, 
 Triumphant they foall fill heav'ns vacant feats, 
 Proceed then glorious, and compleat, my Son, 
 The mighty labour, which you have begun. 
 From your religion, fee, what crowds mail fpring ; 
 
 1030 
 
 Unfhaken how their breafts efpoufe their King ? 
 Ev'n thofe, who now relunctantly obey, 
 Of fpeech unpolifh'd, mall without delay 
 Inhale the breathing of the fpirit-gueft, 
 And feel conceptions new diftend the bread; 1035 
 In all the pomp of language drefs your law, 
 And into virtue raptur'd nations awe. 
 This race extinct, another mail arife, 
 And fpread your name bright kindling to the Ikies ; 
 Yourftandard fix on the remoteft fand, 1040 
 
 Where the waves check the further growth of land. 
 To you mall victor kings, in humble pray'r, 
 Their arms and crowns fubject, and altars rear,\ 
 Majeftick Rome, whofe womb with empires heaves, 
 Who rules, along th' Appenine Tibur's waves, 1 045 
 Vaft crowds, the faireft of the cities, fee, 
 Her fafces gives and the world's reins to thee : 
 There with .her temple's mall religion Hand, 
 And cenfers. blazing in the Pontiff's hand : 
 There, lhall a Prieft to Kings his law ordain, 1050 
 And teach the world to praife you in a ftrain. 
 
 D 4 Yet
 
 40 The CHRISTIAD. Book I. 
 
 Yet fhould, by lapfe of time, the human race, 
 Their morals wichthe uain of crimes difgrace, 
 Should they, by chance, degenerate from their Sires, 
 And ftudious tread the walk which vice infpires *, 
 I will by toils and fad affedion try 1O 55 1 
 
 To make them fond of virtue, which they flic, > 
 By ills reform'd all mortals mount the fky. j 
 
 Oft fhall the city ravag'd by the foe, 
 Her fuperb ftrudures in wide ruin ftrew, 
 The more opprefs'd Ihe feels the hoftile dread, 
 The loftier {hall flie raife her tow'ry head ; 
 Her walls fhall rife, into deftrudion hurl'd. 
 Nor fhall me ceaie till miftrefs of the world. 
 Our GODHEAD there fhall dwell, fuchisour grace; 
 He faid, and lock'd him in a fond embrace. 1065 
 
 But .on a fudden mingling glories rife, 
 The thunder rolls and light'nings wrap the ikies, 
 The Sire omnipotent expands a cloud, 
 Bedrop'd with luftre dazzling to behold. 
 AH fpace glows bright: nowChrift, rapt in a wind, 
 
 1070 
 
 On high is borne, and in the cloud enfhrin'd. 
 The God, the true refemblance of his Sire, 
 Ukc the pure eflence of ethereal fire, 
 Burfts through feisvifage$ while his frame exhales 
 A fragrant fweetnefs on the balmy gales. 1075 
 Nor lefs effnlg'd his beauty on the fight, 
 (The Ether bathing with unufual light) 
 Than when the matin fun, bright font of day, 
 The heav'ris o'erflows with his irriguous ray, 
 
 Tte
 
 Book I. The CHRISTIAD, 41 
 
 The fe reflect his Image in the waves, 1080 
 
 And with his gold, groves tinge their faffron leaves. 
 
 His wond'ring friends the Hero radiant ey'd, 
 
 Two bards attending, one on either fide-, 
 
 The one, on flaming chariot rais'd fuhlime, 
 
 Gliding along the heav'ns aerial clime. 
 
 The other, leader of an exil'd band, 
 
 Once led the Jewifii flaves from Egypt's land. 
 
 To civilize the tribes prefcrib'd a law, 
 
 And fram'd new rites, to worfhip God with awe. "* 
 
 The heav'ns feem now to fpread their portals wide, 
 
 1090 
 
 And pour their glory in a radiant tide : 
 Then from a cloud on fire with golden {tains; 
 His Son within his arms Jehovah drains -, 
 And failing on the Zephir's fcented wings, 
 A liquid voice this facred meafure fings ; 1095 
 *' Behold my fon, behold my joy fupreme, 
 " Hear him ye nations and revere his name !" 
 The voice here ceafed : in heav'n the winged throng 
 Unite their gladnefs in a choral fong. 
 At length the Hero drops his heav'nly air, 1 100 
 Moves to his friend, fepulchr'd deep in fear, 
 Wakes them diffblv'd in wonder of the fcene, 
 And lives among them in his mortal mien. 
 
 End of the Firft Book.
 
 Alarm'd at the honours paid to Chriff, andinfpir'd 
 by Demons with malice- againft him, the Priefts 
 and Leaders of the city repair by night to the 
 Temple, to deliberate how to oppofe and deftroy 
 the Lord. Mean time Satan afluming the garb 
 and mien of Joras, endeavours to withdraw Judas 
 from Chrifl's party, and betray him to his foes, 
 
 Nicodemus. one of the Fathers of the Council 
 
 * 
 
 harangues in favour of Chrift, for which he is. 
 bammed. Then Caiphas riles and animates the 
 people againft the Redeemer. The tribes are 
 enumerated , who come to Jerufakm at this 
 time, to attend and participate of the PASCHAL 
 Feaft. Chrift alfo comes with the fame intent, 
 and after having performed the rites of the fea- 
 fbn, he inftitutes the Lord's fupper, wafhes 
 his Difciple's feet, and foretells the treafon of 
 Judas, and the denial of Peter. Retiring to 
 mount Olivet, he is bath'd in a bloody fwcat 5 
 and here, Judas betrays hin>,, and delivers him to 
 a ruffian-band, who conduct him to Caiphas,, in 
 whofe houfe Peter denies his Mafter, In the 
 moming he is brought to Pilate, who confines 
 him as a prifbiser in hrs palace, to fave him from 
 the infults of the rabble. 
 
 THE
 
 I 43 1 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 BUT blind with fear, and anxious for the flate, 
 The Sages and the Flamens fleeplefs wafte 
 The live-long night; their heart- corroding care 
 Forbids their eyes the balm of reft to fhare. 
 For on their minds, in lading colours fhone 5 
 The Hero's entry in the joyful town : 
 The feftive honours, paid by youthful choirs 5 
 The growing rev'rence, which his name acquires ; 
 The climes, which fame o'erfhadows with her wings. 
 And where the wonders of his actions fings. to 
 What can they do ? each hour, more clear the lays 
 Unfold, once fung by bards in ancient days : 
 " A Kiag, fliou'd come, who boafts in heav'n his 
 
 birth, 
 
 *' And dwells a man, among the fons of earth ;" 
 At whofe approach, the Temple's facred wall, 15 
 And proud Judea's regal ftate fhou'd fall ; 
 Her altars broke, the Temple fhou'd deplore* 
 Her rites extinct, and off'rings brought no more. 
 With fuch thoughts gloomy, and with fear o'ercomc, 
 Each lurks, obfcurely fad, in his clos'd dome. 20 
 
 The
 
 44 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 The Bees, thus wont to range the fields in fhow'rs, 
 And fip the country, kindled wide with flow'rs j 
 When winter's rage, Ether's offus'd plains 
 With mifts diftends, and wat'ry Orion reigns : 
 A tedious leafure pafs, deep plung'd in hives, 25 
 Hum their concern and fluggifh wafte their lives. 
 
 The time when fieep bedews the limbs with reft, 
 And foft oblivion lulls the torturM breaft : 
 Ghaftly to view, black forms from hell's deep made 
 Emerge, and in dread troops the town invade. 30 
 Some the high tow'rs with footy wings imbrown ; 
 And fome the temple's airy fummit crown : 
 Whole troops thro' ftreets and domes their prefencc 
 
 wing, 
 
 And from the roofs in clufter'd Myriads cling. 
 In Spring, the Birds thus, o'er a length of fea, 35 
 To fair Italia bend their airy way ; 
 Perch on Ibme ifland, which repofe firft brings, 
 Fill the wide fhore, and reft their weary wings. 
 Secret, they drop a poifon in the breaft, 
 Then breath a vip'rous fpirit in the gueft: 
 Hence hate engenders, furies headlong roll, 40 
 And to all vices, mold the faihion'd foul. 
 Some ftalk abroad, belied in human form, 
 With various fame 3$ the raging town alarm, 
 The houfes fill* and of a direful kind, 
 Bid dreams ftart up, and haunt the drowfy mind : 45 
 Some to the rnanfions of the nobles go, 
 And fummon all their force to hurt the foe ; 
 
 Spread
 
 Book It The CHRISTIAD. 45 
 
 Spread true and falfe reports with fraudful ikili 
 And their ftun'd minds with drear ideas fill : 50 
 ThatChrift (lands threat'ning on the holy place, 
 And that in fire the mrines and temples blaze. 
 Others in prieftly robes the fathers call, 
 To meet in council in the temple's wall j 
 While the fell tyrant of th' infernal ftate, 
 Difcloles broad the brazen founding gate. 
 Ifho* fcatter'd in the town, each leaders dome, 
 Yet they, thro' night's obfcure, fpontaneous roam, 
 From various parts purfue their gloomy way, 
 And to the Temple rum without delay. 60 
 
 Shou'd fleeplefs fame, thus, in the night arife, 
 And fing the city enter'd by furprize, 
 Within the walls the foe their armies pour, 
 Burn down the houfes, and invade thctowV; 
 Soon fwells the mob ; the road with tumult glows j 
 
 65 
 
 Nor know the throng* from what the tumult rofe : 
 Terrifick furies from their eye-balls gleam, 
 And from the domes the tapers faintly beam. 
 Rage leads the rout ; while torches pour a ray, 
 To mew the ghaftly horrors of difmay : 70 
 
 Still fecret rolls the fprings whence flows the fray, 
 Their minds to rage, their breafts to hate a prey. 
 
 Mean while, twelve fprites are order'd to efiay, 
 To draw Chrift's twelve difciples from his fway ; 
 But thefe, (forewarn'd, by his prefcient care, 7 
 Of the falfe project, and deftroying fnare :) 
 
 Their
 
 46 The CHRISTJAD. Book H. 
 
 Their minds maintain, by error's fcheme unaw*d, 
 
 And their breads bar'd to all the wiles of fraud ; 
 
 The foes aflame an hundred fhapes in vain, 
 
 O'er the difciples' captive minds to reign. 80 
 
 Yet one devoted to the bonds, they wave, 
 
 Ifcariot Judas finks into their Have. 
 
 This peft and fcandalof the chofen band, 
 
 Once rang'd with them, to acl: the God's command ; 
 
 His fortune left, his friends, and native foil, 85- 
 
 To fhare his exile, and his travelling toil j 
 
 Ready from ev'ry vein his blood to draw, 
 
 To promulgate the fupremc Sovereign's law. 
 
 But foon grown weary of his holy care, 
 
 His enterprize feem'd hard, his toil fevere, 90 
 
 And raging, that no fruits his toil attend, 
 
 In filence waftes whole days, to put an end 
 
 To the fubmiffion, which the ftarutes charge, 
 
 And then indulge his priftine life at large ; 
 
 Impatient of fatigue, and loth to bear 95 
 
 The joylefs lot of poverty fevere, 
 
 To drop his province, he low'rs now in fchemes, 
 
 Now flight delights, now other projects frames. 
 
 Thus wreck'd with cares, and tott'ring now in 
 
 thought, 
 
 Him the black leader of the cohort fought, 100 
 With no kfs joy ; than when the lion fpies, 
 (His jaws with hunger dry, and wild his eyes) 
 Not far a deer, along the mountains fid e, 
 Seeking the pafture, where the vales fubfide. 
 
 Now
 
 Book II. The CHRISTI AD, 
 
 47 
 
 Now clad in Gallilean Joras' air, 105 
 
 (By blood was Joras to falfe Judas dear) 
 He thus accofts him as he fleeplefs lay ; 
 Ah ! fay, unhappy, why you nightly ftray 
 The mountains drear, why in loud tempefts chill 
 And wafte your manhood at a matter's will, 1 10 
 Who (how great's the frenzy, which your mind ex- 
 cites) 
 
 Dares boldly to fruftrate our holy rites : 
 Whom none attend, but outcafts of the land, 
 A female mob, and femiviral band. 
 Our nobles with concordant anger rife, 1 15 
 
 Devoting him to death a facrifice : 
 He, foon, for all his holy rage mail pay, 
 And all his boafted courage fume away ; 
 Then his feign'd glory of rewards mall fade, 
 And his thick clouds of cunning drop no aid : 220 
 While his fine arts expiring round him lye. 
 Rife then, and from th' impending carnage flic. 
 
 This faid, his borrowed figure melts in air, 
 Transfixing Judas' breaft with rage and fear : 
 Hence in his mind infernal thoughts prefide, 125 
 And his pulfe beats convulfive with its tide ; 
 Now he revolves, the labours which he bore, 
 And of his dangers paft the frightful ftore ; 
 With fin's polluted love now frantick glows, 
 Fix'd to betray the Sov'reign to his foes. 
 Ah Wretch ! deaf to the Godhead's moving gale, 
 His prefcnce nor your eyes nor ears inhale ! 
 
 Yet
 
 4 S The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Yet view yourfelf, how chang'd, befet with woe ; 
 How high, your eminence ! your fall, how low ! 
 "What error in vile fchemes your mind employs -,135 
 And feel your heart, corrupt with worldly joys. 
 The lot you forfeit, future men (hall prize, 
 When thoufand fec'lar funs mall gild the Ikies. 
 The wifh, you cherifh, and the hope, you feed ; 
 The joy, which fparkles, of your future deed, 140 
 Into diibrder foen mail hurl your mind, 
 And fleeting vanim like a guft of wind. 
 While time permits, then, caft thefe pefts away, 
 Which deep corroding on your vitals prey. 
 
 And now the Priefts and Fathers of theftate,i45 
 Retir'd to the Temple's inmoft feat : 
 When Caiphas prime prieft (around whofe head 
 Their myftic rites the facred fillets fpread) 
 Afcends the throne in blazing colours dreft : 
 According to their rank, fat down the reft. 150 
 Unbodied ghofts, impervious to the eye, 
 On ardent wings around the Senate fly, 
 Breathe horrid fury through the panting foul, 
 And in confufion bid the pafiion's roll. 
 Some voices were, thatChrift mould fuflfer death, 155 
 Either by publick force, or fraudful flealth : 
 Others for fanflion cali'd, the youth to flay, 
 Whom lately Chrift had rais'd, to vifit day, 
 From the dark grave ; of which the great renown 
 Soon for him cull'd the rev'rence of the town. 1 60 
 Yet ftill they fear'd the mob mould Chrift fuftain, 
 Won by his merit, or his gentle mien, 
 
 Hecc
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 49 
 
 Here Nicodemus took his ancient place, 
 Not the laft noble of the noble race : 
 Who folely free from the infernal peft 1 6^ 
 
 Which gnaw'd infectious ev'ry other breaft ; 
 Yet loth alone the Senate to oppofe, 
 Tho' better maxims in his bofom rofe ; 
 Still once like them, contemning Heav'n's decree, 
 He drove on Chrift to vent his enmity : 170 
 
 But when he found his works a God declare, 
 Like one, cali'd forth from night to breathe the air, 
 His vows in fecret to the Godhead pays, 
 Fearful by public homage to difpleaie. 
 But now Chrift's blood and life are in debate, 175 
 And ev'ry fpeech is pregnant with his fate ; 
 Deep pain'd to hear the innocent condemn'd, 
 He drop'd the mafk, and fpokethe public friend. 
 Fathers, the caufe of the debate, this night, 
 Lies not obfcure, for want of proper light : 1 80 
 Toferve my country then, I will difclofe 
 The real truth, mould torments 'round me clofe : 
 You muft all fee, his actions greater rife 
 Than a mere man's, fupported by the Ikies : 
 That, by his deeds, he proves himfelf to be, 185 
 (If truth can win us) God's own progeny j 
 The very God, by bards in former days, 
 (Big with the Godhead, which infpir'd their lays) 
 So ofc foretold, who fhould for man expire, 
 And reconcile him to his mighty Sire. 190 
 
 So far, we, guided by the Prophets, fay ; 
 Malice can't find a weaknefs in this plea. 
 
 E On
 
 50 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 On numbers, vvhofe dull eyes fuffus'd with night, 
 
 He fpread the lucid fparks of vifual light : 
 
 On fome,whofe ears were from their birth-day bound, 
 
 195 
 He gave to drink, and pour'd the charms of found ; 
 
 The nervelefs limbs, o'erfpread with livid ftains, 
 The bodies, languid with relentlefs pains; 
 To thefe, he gave the luftineis of ftrength ; 
 To thofe, the fmiles of unexpected health. 200 
 Three has he rais'd (the wonders fame has fpread) 
 To breathe the ikies, once number' d with the dead: 
 The late raas'd Laz'rus was the people's theme, 
 And thro' the city, ftill vibrates his name ; 
 Weak then the mind is, and obfcure the heart, 205 
 .That would fuch virtue try to draw from art; 
 Su'chwonders fl ow not from mechanic laws ; 
 Behold a God ! a God alone's the caufc. 
 As oft as he pronounc'd an heav'nly ftrain, 
 So oft with cunning fraught our words prov'd vain : 
 
 2 10 
 
 Combin'd, he mould in death our fury fcelj 
 Our (tones we pointed, and we edged our fteel > 
 Wrapt in a cloud, he fudden mounts the fky, 
 And hofts of guardian fpirits round him fly : 
 So fliines the God; who can his vows refute ? 215 
 Tho' met for ill, let's rife for public ufe ; 
 Approach whom Heav'n had lent, to fave by Grace, 
 '. Our faults confefs, and fuppliant lue for peace. 
 
 Wh'.lethushefpcaks, and warm rehears'd the fame, 
 He adds a frefher violence to their flame, 220 
 
 Strikes
 
 Book IL The CHRISTIAD. 5 i 
 
 Strikes out intenfer furies in the foul, 
 
 And tides of anger thro' their fenfes roll. 
 
 At length the rage, which inward boiling lay, 
 
 Obfcuring reafon's intellectual ray, 
 
 Suffufmg on the mind a heavy cloud, 22^ 
 
 Againfl him burfls, in exclamations loud, 
 
 Thus in a brazen tube a ball glows red, t 
 
 And burns the fiercer, as with fulphur fed ; 
 
 Confin'd too much, it rolls on ev'ry fide, 
 
 And finds no flight but through a flaming tide : 230 
 
 At laft the fulphur melts into a flame, 
 
 And the wing'd ball flies in a fmoaky fleam 
 
 With fuch a crack, as if jieav'n's axis broke ; 
 
 The domes and turrets tumble at its ftroke ; 
 
 Its flight the ball with death and carnage ftrows,23$ 
 
 And opes an ample paflfage through the foes. 
 
 So on him they with furious anger frown, 
 
 ExpelPd their temple, and exil'd the town. 
 
 Then CaiphaSj while rage was mute confin'd, 
 Arofe, and fpoke the dictates of his mind : 240 
 By artful wiles allur'd, no doubt (he faid) 
 This Nicodemus to the foe has fled ; 
 Who often fufFer'd in his country's caufe^ 
 And dar'd maintain the fanction of her laws : 
 Who late in all the pomp of language rofe, 245 
 To flop the rapid progrefs of our foes. 
 But fuch's the magic of the hoftile tongue, 
 That, they, who hear, arc by the found undone : 
 
 E ?, Shall
 
 52 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Shall we believe him come from heav'n's high choir 
 
 To fave, who impious boafts our God his Sire : 250 
 
 Who in the havock of our law delights, 
 
 And toils to fix a new parade of rites : 
 
 Whofe advent, he aflcrts, mail fatal be 
 
 To this great Temple, which, by God's decree, 
 
 Our anceftors had built, with ib much toil, 255 
 
 And decorated with barbarian fpoil ? 
 
 What's the religion which nov'lty can frame ? 
 
 Can morals pure from fuch religion ftream ? 
 
 Still he, left any crime mould lye untried, 
 
 The guilty joins, and deals his pardons wide : 260 
 
 To their bafe doors his ftcps impure conveys, 
 
 And fcorns our antient rite of feftal days. 
 
 As he deferves, the vile feducer treat, 
 
 Hafte, fpread your fnares, and drag him to his fate. 
 
 Extinguifh, citizens, his growing fire, 265 
 
 Left flames victorious to your domes afpire, 
 
 Wind round your columns in a lambent train, 
 
 And o'er the airy fummit blazing reign; 
 
 Elfc mail he gain the city with his arts, 2 70 
 
 And with fedition warp the people's hearts : 
 
 Elfe foon the country round fhall be the prize, 
 
 Of his falfe wonders, and prodigious lies : 
 
 Religion elfe, which many ages fway'd, 
 
 Shall into nothing, with her altars, fade : 275 
 
 I fear that Rome, the infult to repay, 
 
 The priv'lege we enjoy, fhall take away ; 
 
 By her dejected, foon compell'd to roam 
 
 Far from our country and our native home. 
 
 Let
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 53 
 
 Let ONE die then for all, and expiate 
 The fins of many, and fecure from fate : 2 80 
 
 Such be the gen'ral voice, and thus (hall we 
 The homage pay due to his Deity. 
 
 This faid, the Fathers own'd the penal choice, 
 And each approv'd it with a furious voice. 
 But on the means while roll'd the deep debate,285 
 In fecretto allure him to his fate: 
 Amaz'd, they fee, before them Judas fland 
 Withdrawn unnotic'd from the chofen band : 
 Aw'd they receive him looking fiercely great, 
 And 'mid their Nobles offer him a feat j 290 
 
 Ardent demand of his approach the caufe, 
 And then to hear, in throbbing filence paufe. 
 
 Then Judas, throwing round his glaring eyes, 
 Fathers, I know, you dread the rage (thus cries) 
 Of our Galilean, who fpurns your laws, 295 
 
 And is of your fage council now the caufe : 
 But, tell the price, and I'll afiume the pain, 
 (Which now employs your tortur'd thoughts in vain) 
 To give him to your rage an eafy prey, 
 Before the fetting of this new-born day. 300 
 
 Twice fifteen filver coins, with joyful fpced, 
 They count, a huge reward for fuch a deed ! 
 Gladly attend his egrefs from the fane ; 
 He feeks the mountain, and rejoins the train. 
 
 E 3 Religious
 
 54 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Kept facred in the town, and on the plains, 305 
 A folemn feaft about this fcafon reigns : 
 Sev'n funs their holy joy and leifure fee, 
 According to Religion's old decree : 
 Sev'n funs behold their feftive tables fpread, 
 (But yet forbid the ufe of leaven'd bread j 3 10 
 
 With the fheep's offspring, and with hafty cakes, 
 And all the herbal pomp of rural feafts. 
 This day, with joy memorial, they relate, 
 Their ancient Sires had left th'Egyptian (late ; 
 Had pafs'd fecure, thro' the fea's biuming tide,3i5 
 Enrich'd with many fporls, and Heav'n their guide. 
 To view the regal town, vaft numbers rife 
 From ev'ry part, and (hare the facrifice : 
 Nor in confufion they the highway trod, 
 But each tribe march'd beneath their Leader's nod. 
 
 320 
 
 Tho' 'mong the Ifra'lites, their blood's the fame, 
 The fame their laws, and from one (lock they came, 
 The nation frill into twelve tribes divide, 
 And fpread o ? er Paleftine their numbers wide : 
 A nation in the caufe of freedom bold, 325 
 
 Their towns in numbers ftrong, and rich in gold : 
 But at this time, their country foil expell'd, 
 Werediftant far, andCafpia's mountains held. 
 Amid the tribes fcarce one with freedom reigns ; 
 For tho' the Benjamites pofiefs their plains ; 330 
 Tho' the great offspring of fam'd Judah's race, 
 In wealth and arms fupport the higheil place ; 
 Still both, fubdued by Rome's victorious bands, 
 Enlarge her empire by their conqucr'd lands ; 
 
 Their
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 55 
 
 Their arms and fceptre render as her prize ; 335 
 
 Their laws preferving and their facrifice : 
 
 Now weeps the land, where lofty turrets rofe; 
 
 And peopled cities dreadful to their foe?, 
 
 Are now in afhes laid by hoftile rage, 
 
 Or noding by the mould'ring hand of age. 340 
 
 Jehovah thus againfb them flafh'd his ire, 
 
 Nor faw, without revenge, his Son expire. 
 
 But fnall I fee the land inglorious lye, 
 
 Without a fong, to foothc their mifery *j 
 
 Behold the nation and her name forgot, 345 
 
 Unknown to after ages ev'n in thought ? 
 
 The verie is due, as Chrift his infant-cries 
 
 Amid them rais'd, and walk'd beneath their fkies. 
 
 Wherefore ye Myriads of the cryftal round, 
 Who o'er th'Olympic azure lightly bound ; 350 
 Who often gliding thro' the fields of air, 
 Cur country vifit, and our tables fhare ; 
 Defcend propitious, and vouchfafe to guide 
 My fteps, that wander o'er the country wide : 
 Let's bring to light the ancient names that fade 3^5 
 Beneath the horrors of oblivion's made , 
 BA! fame preferve alive their wither'd bow'rs, 
 Their towns demolim'd, and their nodding tow'rs. 
 Then foaring with you on a rapid wing, 
 This earth I'll leave, and fcenes immortal fmg: 360 
 With you thro' pathlefs ether mail I fly, 
 And tread the lucid pavement of the fky. 
 Thron'd in my chariot, I mail pour a fong, 
 To chafe the clouds, and charm the ftarry throng , 
 E 4 Thro*
 
 56 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Thro' walks untrod by mortals, largely breathe, 3 65 
 And pluck'd from Ether's brow, bear back a wreath. 
 But firft, before this glorious height we gain, 
 Let's tell the numbers thronging to the fane. 
 
 Before this time, fuch throngs ne'er ufed to wait, 
 On thefe great rites, nor crowd the temple's gate ; 
 
 37 
 Nor facrifice alone fuch numbers drew, 
 
 But a fond impulfe urg'd them Chrift to view. 
 Great Judah's offspring firft the temple grace, 
 For ancient monarchs an illuftrious race ! 
 This tribe, above the reft, fuperior ftood, 375 
 
 In arms and men, as ruler of the wood ; 
 The lion fierce his fellow-beafts exceeds 
 In energy of ftrength and valiant deeds. 
 Crowds pour from Saba, and from Gaza's fhore, 
 Engada's left with her vindemial (lore. 380 
 
 The towns Andulis, Lyde, Raphan low, 
 Selis, Jamnia, where fierce tempefts blow ; 
 Hippa, Afcalon, with Azotus' tow'rs, 
 Acharon, Sachon, and where Joppa low'rs 
 With waves tempeftuous rolling to her bay, 385 
 And with her rocks rough-rifing o'er the fea j 
 Are all deferted by their num'rous train. 
 Marching in holy fquadrons to the fane. 
 
 Next with Damafcus' fons glows warm the way, 
 Where (fo fame reports) of prolific clay, 390 
 
 The
 
 Book II. the CHRISTIAD. 57 
 
 The firft man form'd, and in exiftence new, 
 With frame erect, the vernal Zephyrs drew. 
 Sad fits Emaus, deferred by her crowds ; 
 And filence blank the front of Nepfe clouds : 
 Anthedon bord'ring on th'Egyptian reign, 395 
 And Bethlem,Chrill's birth-place, attend their train. 
 Galgala with Bcfilira fadly low'rs, 
 And Marathon Hands fad with Erme's tow'rs. 
 As mute in all her houfes Sigor's grown, 
 As the unhappy woman chang'd to Hone -, 400 
 Who, turning back to view Gomorrah glow, 
 Stands ftiffinfalt, a monument of woe. 
 'The neighb'ring villas fend away their band, 
 Where burns Afphaltus o'er a length of land ; 
 Spouts tow'ring to the fkies a lambent flame, 405 
 And the air charges with a fulphureous fteam. 
 Here corn once fmil'd and rofes early born, 
 Now fleeps the pool, and ragged grows the thorn : 
 This fatal change by monftrous love was wrought, 
 For by the angels' youth and beauty caught, 410 
 The natives thought by force to make them, flay, 
 And to devote them to their luft a prey ; 
 Slaves they might be, had they not wing'd their flight, 
 And with their plumage gain'd the fields of light : 
 But in loud thunder flam'd thefupreme SIRE, 415 
 And delug'd all their plains in floods of fire : 
 With afhes fqualid, barren lye their feats, 
 Fruitk-fs their lawns, and pathlefs their retreats. 
 The trees here crown'd withfiow'rybloflbms reign, 
 By fwains defir'd, and by the virgin train 5 420 
 
 But
 
 5$ The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 But when the fouth pours out its floods of air, 
 And the ripe buds in fruitage difappear ; 
 Apples with iliaggy rinds the branches {lore, 
 The fwains dcfire, and virgins long no more : 
 Yet found and folid fwell they on the eye, 425 
 But touch'd burft ufelef, and in afht-s lye : 
 Ev'n the ripe (heaves I wept o'er by blafting gales, 
 Drop on their ftalks and the whole harvefl fails. 
 
 .The tribe , who follow, Simeon's lineage boaft, 
 Ancl dwell in Saro, and Moloda's coaft , 430 
 
 Knjoy the crops which Sicelegis yields, 
 And the fat moifture of Sipabota's fields. 
 All whom the brow of Afanes confines, 
 And Atharis* alcent bedew'd with wines : 
 Whom Remmon feeds, andAin's cultur'd hills 5435 
 Where fair Idume with its towns diftills 
 Her frankincenfc, and where the plains around 
 Breathe the fweet gales, that fkim Arabia's ground. 
 The race of If; ichar with ardour loud, 
 The temple enter, and the altar crowd ; 440 
 
 Content with meals fprcad thin by nature's hand, 
 And with the circle of their narrow land. 
 Next come, whom the Hermonian mountains feed, 
 Of bees the nurs'ry, and the neighing fteed : 
 An^ who the Hoping fide of Tabor tread, 445 
 And breathe where Carmel points his rocky head. 
 Here in a fiery chariot thron'd on high, 
 The Prophet role, and reach'd the purer fky. 
 Now Senfrna void of her children fiands, 
 And on the road Hennad pours forth her bands; 450 
 
 White
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD, 59 
 
 While noble Affia all her fons unlocks, 
 Once thirfry cities, built fublime on rocks ; 
 Senus with Rebotes their train refign, 
 And Remetes infpers'd with fruit and wine. 
 
 The tribe of Dan flow move the town along,455 
 And fadly feck the temple with the throng; 
 Thus when ftern Winter fharpens Autumn's breeze, 
 And threats to make the verdure of the trees, 
 The fnake begins his flight to meditate, 
 And glide with filent lapfe to his retreat. 460 
 
 No hifs betrays him, while he foft retires, 
 Nor o'er the rocks erects his tail in fpires. 
 They feem in pain, fad with the Prophets fong, 
 That one fhould monftrous rife among their throng, 
 Who (hould the character of Chrift profane, 465 
 And mark with crimes and blood his impious reign : 
 This terror of mankind Ihall then arrive, 
 When man fhall be to ev'ry crime alive ; 
 When fhortly after, the laft fire fhall prey, 
 On nature's frame, and melt it quite away. 470 
 But God's true offspring, to confirm his reign, 
 Shall rife vindictive with an heav'nly train, 
 Tofs the vain boafler in a whirlwind round, 
 And plunge him deep into the yawning ground. 
 
 To thefe fucceed a troop in graces young, 475 
 From the illuftrious blood of Afher fprung : 
 pach taught by cuflom, a wheat'n chaplet wears, 
 And on their temples nod the bearded ears, 
 
 Thefe
 
 6e The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Thefe Balagus and Horma drew with grain, 
 And Aphega's high domes thofe entertain , 480 
 A part Roboea fends and A ma's fields, 
 Nor Aziba in fwarms, nor Laban yields. 
 
 Next come with gifts Zabulon's feftive hoft, 
 Who dwell befidefair Pontus' fea-girt coaft ; 
 Thefc fet the more on fire with myrtle light, 485 
 And fheets of flame ftream on the face of night. 
 A part proceed from Jeptha's rural feat, 
 And crowds from Jedaba's high ftructures hafte. 
 Then Cana came, which wond'ring faw the ftream, 
 It's nature change, and with wine's blufhcs flame. 
 
 49 
 
 Their natal Naz'reth fome with joy recite, 
 And lofty Sembros handed fome to light : 
 Nairn her thoufands pours, where once from death 
 The youth arofe, and breath'd a vital breath : 
 Dotha with Natole in numbers flrong, 495 
 
 And high Cathetia mourn their wand'ring throng. 
 
 But who can tell Naphthali's num'rous tribe, 
 Their crowds of cities and their tow'rs defcribe ? 
 Which on the rugged hills of cedar rife, 
 Or holy Lebanus tip'd with the fkies : 500 
 
 Who in great Naphthali and Nafon dwell, 
 Blefs'd with the love of truth and fpeaking well. 
 Who live upon the banks of Jordan's courfe, 
 His ftreams frefli bubbling from a double fource. 
 All Galilee of fight infatiate comes, 505 
 
 And all Samaria guardlefs leaves her domes : 
 
 Jehovah's
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 6f 
 
 Jehovah's offspring often here delay'd, 
 
 And oft his Godhead by his works difplay'd ; 
 
 Afleda with Caperna found their fame, 
 
 And the old town which Greeks Sebafte name. 510 
 
 Crowds Bethel leave, and Befla's fublime tow'rs, 
 
 And wher? Genefara her waters pours. 
 
 The race ofLevi mix with ev'ryband, 
 Nor are confin'd to any tract of land, 
 But by the Legiflator giv'n to ftray, 5 1 5 
 
 Among the people, and their victims flay, 
 To load their altars with the bloody fpoil, 
 And call down plenty on their cukur'd foil. 
 
 Manafles not content with the domain, 
 Which o'er the river's bank enjoy his train, 52* 
 Reigns wide, where Nepheca expanded lyes, 
 And Berfa ringing with the hunter's cries ; 
 For him fpreads Tenachos her lowing fields, 
 To him her favage beafts fierce Dora yields: 
 The town of Magedos her bands refigns, 525 
 
 And all the fparkling treafures of her mines : 
 Jebla for him imbrowns his front with woods, 
 And for him Taphua rolls her filver floods ; 
 Where lafting fpring her balmy dew diftills, 
 And meadows live refrefh'd with gurgling rills. 530 
 Then they, who dwell beyond clear Jordan's flood, 
 Their veins vibrating with Manafles blood, 
 Succeed ; the toilfome dreflrrs of the plain, 
 Thelib'ral fowers of the fruitful grain. 
 
 Coil's
 
 62 The CHRISTIAD. Book IL 
 
 God's offspring alfo the parade increafe, 535 
 Conjoin'd with hoary Reuben's num'rous race. 
 (Reuben once famous for the warrior's rage, 
 And of his father's fons the firftin age) 
 As once, they wilh'd their country were the fame, 
 Beyond the river's far tranflucent ftream, 540 
 
 (Fields once, by men of monftrous ftature, trod, 
 And trembling under their tyrannic nod) 
 So now their tribes combin'd in one appear, 
 The fame their entry, and the fame their pray'r. 
 To them belong, who drefs Argobia's land, 545 
 And they, who dwell befide Befania's ftrand : 
 Or whom, thy (hade, O Galadine, imbrowns, 
 Or live in Ogg's twice thirty conquer'd towns -, 
 Or whom Galatia in her towns contains 
 Jabis, Sebama, built on level plains : 550 
 
 Balme, Romatha, Selca, and Nabe, 
 Efdren with half demoliih'd Cariathe ; 
 Thefe names unknown are now fupplied with new, 
 Tho* on fame's plumage, once they diflant flew. 
 His train Arimene fends with cedars crown'd, 555 
 Their brows with leaves, with arms their fhoulders 
 
 found, 
 
 Whom Gaulis, Rabath, Boforis contain : 
 Who till with oxen rich Balthakis plain, 
 On whom high Arnon pours his waters down, 
 And whom Abilla's meads with herbage crown.56* 
 Nor fhall you. mow unfung green Elcale's turf, 
 Aferot, Elebon with huge rocks rough, 
 
 Nor
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 63 
 
 Nor you, who make Efonia's fields your care, 
 And Cade's wilds, fhall want of fame your fhare. 
 WhomPhafga*s bounds inclofe, approach the hand, 
 
 565 
 
 With ail the town fpread thin, o'er Hermus* land. 
 Abaris comes next, from whofe lofty fide 
 The fhepherds Jordan faw his ftreams divide, 
 On either bank; in air erect his wave, 
 And a dry channel for the Ifr'lites leave, 570 
 
 When to the promis'd land they bent their courfe, 
 Calling his headlong tide back to its fource. 
 
 Laft come the Benjamites who ftudious toil 
 The neighb'ring villas fruitful in their foil, 
 Where fair Jerufalem, Queen of the land, 575 
 Jarephila and Luza's turrets fland . 
 And Bethany, who faw her King, in death 
 Four days compreft, inhale his vital breath : 
 Samar and Sarcla, the number fwell, 
 And who in Gabaoth crown'd with maftic dwell, 
 
 580 
 
 To the wild rage of favage beads a prey, 
 For which her youth advance in rough array, 
 Drefs'd in the fhaggy wolves' victorious fpoils, 
 Torn by the hounds or captives in the toils : 
 Her lufty fons rife with the pearly dawn, 585 
 
 Break thro' the wood, or pour along the lawn ; 
 And when the evening veils the heav'ns blue fpace, 
 They eale their (boulders and divide the chafe, 
 
 And
 
 4 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 And fcatter'd gladful o'er their native fields, 
 
 Revel in feafts, on what their labour yields : 590 
 
 They join the tribe who breathe in Mafpha's town, 
 
 And Hem en's rocky hills which threat'ning frown j 
 
 Whom Recen and Berathis tow'rs contain, 
 
 And Shy la's holy with her humble fane. 
 
 Nor Avin, Amafa refufe their throng, 595 
 
 Nor Sela, nor expanded Helephon. 
 
 Crowds flow from Rhama pierced with Rachel's 
 
 cries, 
 
 Myriads from Jericho and Gabeon rife, 
 Whofe natives faw, 'tis fung, the fun ftand (till, 
 (Submiflive to their Leader's mighty will) 6co 
 And ling'ring long, forgetful of his way, 
 Slow from their hemifphere withdraw the day. 
 Among this band, fuperior to the reft, 
 A youth appears in crimfon beauty dreft, 
 From venerable Saul he draws his name, 605 
 
 And with the fage's blood his veins rich ftream : 
 In language potent and in action bold, 
 Him hoary bards unanimous foretold. 
 But while bcwilder'd in dark error's maze, 
 Againft the truth what furies mail he raife ! 610 
 But when the God (hall glide into his breaft, 
 Repel the darknefs and remain his gueft, 
 Then (hall the youth with an illumin'd mind, 
 Ardent diffufe his lectures on mankind, 
 Waft through the world religion on his breath,6i5 
 And deeply tinge her beauty with his death. 
 
 The
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 5 
 
 The town now full of IfraePs twice fix tribes, 
 To pay the homage which the time prefcribcs, 
 And confecrate the days with feilive praife, 
 To his difciples Chrift thus gently fays. 620 
 
 Soon will the light begin to ftreak the Eaft, 
 When ev'ry houfe fhall brighten with a feaft : 
 Among you who mall to the town firil tend, 
 In fearch of fome rich one, the poor man's friend; 
 Who may, before my fate, with us delight 625 
 To fliare the banquet, and the annual rite ? 
 Nor long your fearch : you'll fee a boy return 
 From the clear fountain with a brimful urn ; 
 Obferve his motions, keep him ftill in view, 
 And to the houfe he tends, his fteps purfue : 639 
 Afk, in my name, the matter to afford 
 A chapel facred to the feftive board. 
 A fpacious hall, on fire with liquid gold, 
 And hung with tapeftry, he'll foon unfold ; 
 There on the tables fpread the facred meat, 63 
 There my companions' and my prefence wait. 
 
 He faid ; Peter and John the word obey, 
 And to the city bend without delay ; 
 Along the city they uncertain roam ; 
 But quickly fpy a boy returning home, 640* 
 
 With a full urn from a neigb'ring fource : 
 Soon after him, they bend their haft'ning courfe, 
 Thro' various windings, clofe his footfleps trace, 
 And with him enter to his manfion -place. 
 
 F Hither,
 
 66 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Hither, illuftrious for his ancient race, 645 
 And for his feven fons of manly grace, 
 Simon repair'd, join'd by his filial train, 
 When for the town he left the verdant plain. 
 Beyond the honours, which the city yields, 
 His joy was ftill to breathe his native fields , 650 
 To lye at large beneath his wood-land fhades , 
 To fee the waters purling thro* his meads ; 
 To view his farm productive as his vows, 
 Drefs'd by the labour of an hundred ploughs. 
 Tho' old, he pour'd the verfe, and touch'd the 
 firing, 655 
 
 Befide a river or a flow'ry fpring ; 
 And vers'd in all blue Ether's various ways, 
 Into hereafter rapt, he told in lays 
 The figns, which might the hufbandman inform 
 Of heat approaching, or the chilling ftorm : 660 
 Provide againfl the blazing Sun's defigns, 
 And all the labours, which the Moon divines. 
 He gain'd the town, religious in parade, 
 To pafs the days by cuftom folemn made : 
 And while the rites, the fervants 1 care require, 665 
 He wakes the infpiration of the lyre : 
 The cords beneath his fingers foftly thrill, 
 Or fwell harmonious to his ivory quill, 
 And in bold founds refponfive to the wires 
 He fmgs the actions of his glorious Sires : 670 
 But chiefly from the origin he draws 
 Of all thefe banquets and their rites the caufej 
 
 And
 
 Book IL the CMRtSTIAD. 67 
 
 But as his numbers gently glide along 
 
 Peter arrives and interrupts the fong : 
 
 We have a King, fays he, called Chrift by name,675 
 
 To none inferior in a pious fame, 
 
 Who bade us come, and alk an humble feat, 
 
 Sacred to rites and decent for a feaft. 
 
 When Simon heard, new joys dilate his breaft, 
 And all his doors flic open to his gueft. 680 
 
 Without delay, he orders to illume, 
 With wood Arabian, ev'ry ample room ; 
 Then in the mid* he Ihcws a vaulted hall, 
 Where pictur'd tapeftry informs the wall ; 
 Where the floor blumes with luxurious dyes, 685 
 And ivory beds on filver bed-fteads rife ; 
 Of gold each dim is fram'd, and ev'ry vafe ; 
 And thro' the manfion gold and filver blaze. 
 Then thus he fpoke ; let him our manfion mare i 
 Before this time his name has reach'd our ear, 690 
 Yet tho' his virtue on fame's plumage flies, 
 His voice ne'er blefs'd my ears, nor mien my eyes : 
 But here his coming and his prefence waitj 
 I'll order fome to guide him to this feat i 
 And I could wifh, he*d fix his dwelling here^ 695 
 And all th'indulgence of this palace mare ; 
 Then might I boaft the honour to my race, 
 And they point out with joy the facred place. 
 But let the verfe, by your approach untold, 
 Thejuftapplaufesof our Sires unfold, 700 
 
 F 2 While
 
 68 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 While earth with night's foft dew-drops humid lies, 
 And darknefs fheds her fable from the fkies. 
 
 He faid ; his voice accordant to the firings, 
 From the foft concert rapture melting brings ; 
 Thro' all his ftrains fuch vivid colours bloom, 705 
 As paint can boaft, or texture of the loom. 
 Forlo! his numbers lead from Pharaoh's reign 
 Thro' various realms the banifh'd Hebrew-train : 
 Wave high in air the wandering Leader's wand, 
 Obedient to whofe touch the billows ftand ; 710 
 Their rigid waters roll on either fide, 
 And in the mid ft the tribes attend their guide ; 
 From moifture free his daring footfleps tread, 
 And without failing pafs thro' Ocean's bed, 
 Behind them Egypt fends her fons in fwarms, 715 
 Elate in chariots and illumed with arms : 
 The further more obtained, they view the foe, 
 And feek the woods, that on the margin grow. 
 Again their Hero waves his wand around, 
 And with its holy point light wounds the ground : 
 
 720 
 
 Sudden the waters lofe their rigid force, 
 Diflblve and fwallow up the trodden courfe. 
 The foe, furrounded with the rapid tide, 
 Sees fvvift deftruflion on each billow ride ; 
 Before the fi^ht, the bodies of mendrownM 725 
 Float for a while, then feek the fea's profound. 
 Horfes with arms, chariots in eddies toil, 
 In circles reel and fink for ever loft. 
 
 The
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD." 69 
 
 The fupreme Being next becomes his theme, 
 The great Creator of the world's huge frame : 730 
 Who touched with pity, for the hungry bands, 
 Wandering diftrefs'd along a wade of fands, 
 From the deep concave of his azure tow'rs, 
 A heav'nly banquet to the wretched pours. 
 Like feather'd fnow the food feems in his fong 735 
 To lapfe from Heav'n to earth amid the throng, 
 Which fpread at large along the level fields, 
 Enjoy the Manna, which Heav'n bounteous yields. 
 Again, the Herofendsto Heav'n his eyes, 
 And to a rock's huge height his wand applies : 740 
 The rock relents, as confcious of the blow, 
 And floods of water from its bofom flow ; 
 Struck with the novel font, each thirfty tribe, 
 Scoop the frelh waves, and breathlefs draughts im- 
 bibe. 
 
 To Him, the Lyrift next his numbers pours, 745 
 Who firft had rear'd Jerus'lem's fpiry tow'rs ; 
 Paid the firft offerings of the cultur'd feed, 
 And bade the new invented vine to bleed j 
 Whorais'd the pomp of altars in the glade, 
 Built of freih turf beneath a wild am-fhade. 750 
 
 While all drank deep the mufick of the 1 yie 
 Tho' confcious of the Hebrews' mortal ire, 
 Still Chrift the mountain's airy brow defcends, 
 And to the city's hateful portals tends : 
 And now the fun mot down the azure plain, .755 
 When he had gain'd the palace with his train , 
 
 F 3 Where
 
 70 The CHRISTJAD. Book IT. 
 
 Where all things fparkle with a regal taftf , 
 
 And the board glows odorous with the feaft. 
 
 Amid the guefts, with well diflembled face, 
 
 Breathing fcign'd love, Judas aflumes his place. 760 
 
 And now the Hero takes into his hand 
 
 The pureft bread and breaks it 'mong his band. 
 
 The wine then blending with the recent ftream, 
 
 He confecrates it to the Pow'r fupreme. 
 
 And as he dealt the holy cakes, he laid, 765 
 
 My Body's real Image is this bread : 
 
 Then cried, diftributing the purple flood, 
 
 This cup's the real Image of my Blood, 
 
 Which to my Sire I'll pour a victim ilain, 
 
 To warn away mankind's infectious ftain : 770 
 
 When you fhali drain this cup or tafte this meat, 
 
 The feries of my death commemorate. 
 
 Such honours to my torments fhall be paid, 
 
 And their fad memory mall never fade. 
 
 He ceas'd to utter more : and from that day,775 
 Mankind, fubmifllve to the mandate, pay 
 The holy homage : and jnftead of beafts, 
 By ancients (lain for facrifical feafts, 
 On altars confecrate, with rites divine, 
 The bread myfterious and the facred wine. 780 
 By the prieft's words the God deicends the fkies 
 And veil'd beneath th'Euchariftic form lies : 
 God's body hence is orTer'd with his gore, 
 And men the vidim religioufly adore. 
 
 Hunger
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 71 
 
 Hunger appeas'd, the Hero lays afide 785 
 
 His ample robe, and ftudious to provide 
 The implements of lotion, he firft difplays 
 The towels white j next, fills a caldron's fpace 
 With floods of water which vehement afpire 
 Above the margin by the fubject fire -, 790 
 
 Then fcoops the frigid ftreams, which foon afluage 
 The turgid eddies of the boiling rage. 
 Peter, with his companions in amaze, 
 Exhorts the Hero from the deed to ceafe : 
 But he, defirous to his train to mew 795 
 
 The glory of fubmiflion, bending low, 
 Wafhes their feet, and with the towels dries ; 
 Then pours this fad addrefs in heavy fighs. 
 
 The night, which I foretold, now mantles earth, 
 And the day haftes to fummon me to death. 800 
 I'll leave you, friends, and in my death fulfill 
 The rigid orders of my Father's will : 
 There's mid you one, believe what I relate, 
 Who, fraudful, mall betray me to my fate : 
 The traytor's bread the furies now inflame, 805 
 And his mind labours with the murd'rous fcheme. 
 Can love like mine, be crown'd with fuch bafe fpoils? 
 Is treafon the reward of all my toils ? 
 But let the wretch this fatal truth imbibe, 
 He (hall not long enjoy his bloody bribe ; 810 
 
 Soon fhall he wim he ne'er had drank the day, 
 Or with his foot-fteps mark'd life's flow'ry way. 
 For you, who would my low example try, 
 In due fubmiffion with each other vie y 
 
 F 4 And
 
 72 The CHRIS HAD. Book 11. 
 
 And while obedience o'er your minds prefide, 8 1 5 
 Look down fuperior on the pomp of pride, 
 Nor mall the crew of hell defift this hour 
 A trembling panic in your breads to pour ; 
 The courage, vow'd fo often, dare to mew j 
 Now bid your ardor flam againft your foe : 820 
 With watchful care provide againft their peft i 
 One night at.leaft forbid your eye-lids reft. 
 
 Amaz'd the Hero's prophecy to hear, 
 One genial figh betrays their common fear ; 
 And while, the wretch to know, they feel diftrefs, 
 
 825 
 Devoutly Peter offers this addrefs, 
 
 Thou, brighteft fplendor of the blue ferene ; 
 Can human breafts fuch bafenefs entertain? 
 But, where's the man, who dares the crime eflay ? 
 For, tho' old age has clad my head with grey, 830 
 With manly vigour full my blood is warm, 
 With lufty finews ftillis brac'd my arm, 
 Tp take the vengeance to the treafon due ^ 
 He faid ; and from the (heath his weapon drew. 
 
 Tho' with fure figns, the tray tor was reveal M ; 
 
 S35 
 
 .The Hero ftill their minds with deep night feal'u, 
 Nor would divulge him lill his acts betray: 
 But thus replied to Peter's fuppliant pie*. 
 This night fupreme, I mall alone remain, 
 Relin juiili'd, ftiun'd by all my faithlefs train. 40 
 5 Ev'n
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 73 
 
 Ev'n you, who now in pomp of language rife, 
 Your verbofe courage fwelling to the Ikies ; 
 Beneath this roof provoking ftorms to blow, 
 And fafely ruihing on the diftant foe : 
 When you fhall fee me 'mid the hoftile train, 845 
 Inglorious mackl'd with the fervile chain -, 
 Then fhall you lurk beneath a lying tongue, 
 And with a trembling flight the danger fhun : 
 And when, bedrop'd with dew, the fable night 
 Shall o'er the world obtain her middle height, 850 
 Thrice, me, your Lord, you mall deny, afraid 
 To ftand the queftions of an armlefs maid. 
 
 Touch'd with the fpeech, more zealous Peter glows, 
 And boafts a courage fearlefs of the foes. 
 Me to proclaim, laid he, a coward, fpare, 855 
 'Till from your foe I bafe recede thro' fear. 
 Let others place their fafety in their flight, 
 I fhall be always prefent to your fight ; 
 Your fmiling fortune or difafters fhare, 
 Nor force compel me to forfake your care. 860 
 
 The rites pcrform'd Chrift rifes from the feaft, 
 And from the town retires with eager hafte : 
 With darknefs fhrouded, feeks the lonefome plain, 
 And climbs the Olive mountain with his train -, 
 There bids them the noclurnal vigil keep , 865 
 But their eyes clofe, beneath the weight of fleep; 
 They drew their limbs along the rocky way, 
 Spent with the labours of the bufy day. 
 
 But
 
 74 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 But lulling reft the mournful Hero flies, 
 Who Teeming thoughtlefs of his natal ikies, 870 
 To fancy gives his forrowing mind to gloom 
 With the fad picture of his future doom. 
 His nature fhudders at the ghaftly view, 
 Which, as a man, he from his mother drew, 
 For tho' the ills that Pnake the human heart, 875 
 He feels terrifick in his mortal part, 
 Still his foul ftands fuperior to the woes, 
 And with unconquer'd zeal his virtue glows, 
 And now before his Sire he proftrate falls, 
 And on him oft, with hands erect thus calls. 880 
 Muil I, O Father, undergo this fate, 
 And others' faults feverely expiate ? 
 Snatch me from death -, ibften your hard decree, 
 And mift this flore of forrow far from me ! 
 Yet if your mind to no new change will yield; 885 
 And to fubdue your wrath, your SON muft bleed ; 
 I ftand a victim for the public good, 
 That man may draw luftration from my blood. 
 He faid : to more complaints fupprefs'd the way, 
 And to reflection gave his heart a prey : 890 
 
 And lo ! his frame is purpled with his gore, 
 The bloody fweat frefh bubbling from each pore. 
 Struck with the fight, a feather'd Angel flies, 
 Charg'd with a (lore of comforts, from the ikies, 
 Tolbothe his cares, his fpiritsto renew, 
 And ti'om his body wipe the bloody dew. 895 
 
 Mean
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD, 75 
 
 Mean time the chief of traytors, Judas goes, 
 And from the mountain calls the lurking foes ; 
 Who ready at their Leader's fignal rife, 
 To feizc at once, and lead in chains, their prize f 
 
 900 
 
 Their arms fhed wide the panting lunar beam, 
 Shrill found their Ihields, and harm their weapons 
 
 fcream -, 
 
 They cleave the wood, and taper to a point, 
 And with an unctuous juice the fticks anoint : 
 They move in long proceflion with the light, 905 
 The greafy flames wide ftreaming on the night. 
 The din of weapons and the ruffian cries 
 Shake the firm mountain and bid echo rife. 
 The Lord advancing pour'd thefe accents bold, 
 Stop here your march : me, whom you feek, behold. 
 
 910 
 
 .But why thefe arms, thefe burning torches, why ; 
 In the full town, amid your Peers, have I 
 Announc'd my Supreme Father's great decree ; 
 And none, though armlefs, prefum'd to harm me. 
 Why now do weapons glitter on the night ? 915 
 But if my orient glory burns fo bright, 
 That only death your envy can appeafe ; 
 Let flow my blamelefs blood, and envy ceafe : 
 But fure my friends may go, from vengeance free ; 
 They only act, what I alone decree. 920 
 
 He fpoke : and twice himfelf their prey confefs'd ; 
 And falling twice, ftrange fight ! the ground they 
 prefs'd: 
 
 Dafh'd
 
 76 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Dam'd to the ground, the mafTy armour rung, 
 And a denfe darknefs on their eye-lids hung : 
 They rife : but ftare quite loft in their defign, 925 
 As one, who lay difiblv'd in deep and wine. 
 But Judas foon, who fpurn'd the balm of reft, 
 By fignals chas'd oblivion from their bread : 
 For veiling treafon under friendfhip's fmile, 
 He fawn'd and kifs'd his Lord with graceful guile. 
 
 93 
 
 Tho' in the deed he knew himfelf betray'd, 
 Yet the Lord whifp'ring to the traytor, faid : 
 Are kifies then the fruit of all my love, 
 And can rewards to fuch a crime you move ? 
 For other ends, than golden tram to gain, 935 
 I have receiv'd you votarift of my train. 
 
 Scarce had he fpoke ; when on him rufh'd the 
 
 band, 
 
 And rolling in denfe orbs around him (land. 
 As when fome Pcately itag or foaming boar, 
 Fierce with fork'd tufks, caught in a trammel roar , 
 
 940 
 
 A mob of (hepherds gather round the fnare, 
 And their (harp fpears againft the favage rear. 
 So the fierce youths the captive Hero fcize, 
 And burnifh'd arms around him armlefs blaze. 
 Some bind his hands ; fome wreath his neck with 
 cord ; 945 
 
 Some lead him this, and fome another road, 
 
 Malchus
 
 Book II. The CHRISTIAD. 77 
 
 Malchus a rage fuperior yet can boaft ; 
 (Malchus, a bond-man from Idume's coafl) 
 Who help'd no friend, no foe in war withitood ; 
 In limbs no frrength, no valour in his blood : 950 
 That Caiphas (for Malchus was his (lave) 
 Might range him in the number of the brave, 
 Affbr'd, no danger could from infult flow, 
 He bafely treats the felf-devotecl foe. 
 And tho' he bellows out with tongue fevere, 955 
 Still fafety, fcarce, fecures his heart from fear. 
 Fir'd with the outrage Peter could not bear , 
 But with his fword cut off the coward's ear. ^ 
 The God, regarding the inglorious wound, 
 Rais'd the diffected member from the ground, 960 
 Applied with healing finger to its place, 
 And of the wound effac'd the niceit trace: 
 With gentle touch he footh'd away the pain 
 And purg'd the ear from duft and fanguine ftain, 
 Then reprimanding Peter, who had glow'd 965 
 To crop the growth of violence with his fword, 
 Commands him ftraight his hoflilc arms to hide, 
 And not in ileel, which Heav'n forbids, confide. 
 Had not his ardor, timely been fupprefs'd, 
 Ke'd foon had lodg'd it in the boafter's bread. 970 
 Cn other weapons, the Redeemer faid, 
 Cn other valour we rciie for aid : 
 My Sire fupreme (if he had dcign'd to fave, 
 Or fnatch me from the difappointed grave ; 
 Or pardon man, by his own mercy won, 975 
 
 Without the blood- atonement of his Son.) 
 
 Could
 
 7 5 The CHRISTIAD. Book 11. 
 
 Could bid a thoufand guards around me flic* 
 And by their arms this band before me die. 
 Say, know you not the Militia and Pow*rs 
 The battles fought and fame of heavVs bright 
 
 tow'rs ? 980 
 
 Now urge my Sire's commands, which heave thefe 
 
 fighs , 
 For mortal force and weapons I defpile. 
 
 Tho' thus reprov'd, his pafllon fcarce fubfides : 
 So when a hunter thro' a city rides v 
 If in the flreets, chance offers to his hound 985 
 A (lag bred docile to his owner's found - r 
 With rapid jaws the hound the flag purfues, 
 And fcarce the hunter's threat his rage fubdues, 
 And now the Lord, felf-conquer'd and refign'd, 
 O fight indignant ! all infult unkind ! 990 
 
 Tho' weak of frame, they chide him of delay -, 
 And often falling, urge him on the way. 
 Thou, King of Hofts, this treat behold, and rife 5 
 Is hell not blended with the falling fkies ? 
 When mail your hand the rattling thunder roll ?995 
 Can nature now reft cloudlefs in each pole ? 
 All fair proportion loft, let ruin hurl'd, 
 Deflroy the beauteous fabrick of this world. 
 Why Qeeps your hand ? let heav'n difiblve in gloom, 
 And hiding earth with three-fork'd thunder fume. 
 
 1000 
 
 Tho' fmittea with the love of human race ; . 
 Tho' glory burns in your heav'n's blue fpace ; 
 
 Whcr-
 
 Book II. The CHRJSTIAD. 79 
 
 Where fpirits, dreft in plumage, form the choir, 
 
 And pour the fong of rapture you infpire ; 
 
 Tho' here an age of gold mail foon arife, 1005 
 
 Which on Religion's wings mall mount the fides -, 
 
 With thefe lov'd objects be not ftill fo won, 
 
 As to behold your fole begotten Son 
 
 With groupes of illsbefieg'd without redrefs, 
 
 Infulted, poor, and finking with diftrefs. 1010 
 
 His friends all pallid to the woods are fied, 
 
 As at the rufhing of a boar, half- dead ; 
 
 Their flight obferving fwift purf ue the foes "J 
 
 One, feizedand lapfing, leaves behind his cloaths, i- 
 
 And up an arduous mountain panting glows, 1015} 
 
 Along deep thickets foft another fteals, *V 
 
 And in a concave-rock himfelf conceals. ^* 
 
 The devious grove glows fervent with their courfe, 
 
 And with their fhouts the unfhorn hills turn hoarfe. 
 
 Arriv'd they enter at the highPrieft's gates, 1020 
 Where peers and citizens afiume their feats. 
 All with ftern looks the Captive-Hero eye, 
 And their fierce threats inform him, he fliall die. 
 Then Caiphas, fuperior to the reft, 
 The full aflcmbly with his thoughts addrefs'd, 1025 
 Patriots! at length, fuccefs has crown'd our cares, 
 A chain infrangible now the pris'ner wears. 
 But o'er in mind, what ftill remains, let's run, 
 Wifdom ought crown, what glowing zeal begun. 
 The day draws near, when glory's liquid rays 1630 
 Shall on us ilied a purple flood of blaze. 
 
 Awful
 
 80 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Awful attend, and folemnly prepare, 
 My fentiments religioufly to hear. 
 You know, our laws forbid, feverely great, 
 To breathe on man the dreadful words of fate : 1 03 5 
 To Rome alone is giv'n that awful breath, 
 Which either pardons or pronounces death : 
 /"^Tis our's to trace a crime, that's big with fate, 
 And on the Roman with the procefs wait: 
 'Tis his to hear, and nerve the dreadful blow, 1040 
 That numbers with the dead the friendlefs foe. 
 
 He fpoke, and turning to the Captive, fays, 
 I charge you by the God whom heav'n obeys, 
 To dc^p deceitful fiction from your heart, 
 And cloudkfs as the fun, your thoughts impart : 
 
 1045 
 
 Left led by error, darkfome we decline 
 Your God-head to confefs by rites divine. 
 Attend ; and fimply anfwer, are you he, 
 The omnipotent God's true Progeny ; 
 A God yourfelf, whom ancient bards foretold, 1050 
 Should, gliding foftfrom heav'n, the world behold r 
 He finifh'd, the Captive armlefs and weak, 
 With eyes half- lifted, thus began to fpeak : 
 
 He, whom you fay, am I ; drop then the veil, 
 Which would the malice of your words conceal : 
 
 1055 
 
 I own my God- head ; and without delay, 
 Heav'n to my reign {hall ope a lucid way. 
 
 Soon,
 
 Book H. The CHRISTIAD. * 
 
 Soon, in the ftarry dome, my Sire fupreme 
 Shall twine around me with a Father's flame. 
 Me, vifidng the earth, you fhall behold 1060 
 CJoath'd with the drap'ry of a blazing cloud ; 
 Celeftials without number in my train, 
 Brufhing with golden wings th'etherial plain. 
 
 He faid : when by the rites the H ; gh-Prieft tore 
 The robe which flowing down his back he wore. 
 
 1065 
 
 Glows not the proof with light, he thus exclaims, 
 Behold, his crime before us he proclaims ? 
 Do not our laws condemn to bitter death 
 The man, who dares aflert from God his birth ? 
 Hafte, drag him to the Roman Conful's gate ^070 
 Inftant obey : and give him up to fate. 
 
 Peter, mean time, ftruck with the penfive cafe, 
 At diftance fighing, eyes his Lord's difgrace. 
 Approaching now the Temple's facred wall, 
 Where rofe in pride the Flamen's fpacious hall : 
 
 1075 
 
 Lonefome he fat, befide an open door, 
 With forrow heavy and in fpirit poor. 
 A female flave, the Pontif's portrefs, eyes 
 Th'unhappy man, and inftantly thus cries ; 
 Say, (hare you not the Captive's crimes and flight, 
 
 1080 
 
 Why roam you elfe, when all rcpofe, by night ? 
 G Peter
 
 -S The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Peter unmann'd chills with a ghaftly fear 
 
 At the flave's fpeech, (to life fuch love we bear !) 
 
 He (lands confus'd, in ftorms of horror toft, 
 
 Or what to aft, or how to fiie quite loft, 1085 
 
 Composed in fleep, fo when a virgin -child, 
 
 Left by the mother in a defert wild, 
 
 (The mother anxious homeward to repair, 
 
 "With fetting day, forgets her filial care) 
 
 Awakes, and cafting round her tearful eyes, 1090 
 
 Nor mother dear, nor fond companion fpies : 
 
 The way unknown, (he views the black'ning night, 
 
 The defert drear, and dies away with fright. 
 
 So he confus'd and impotent with fear, 
 
 With abject mind, abjur'd a friend fo dear, 1095 
 
 For whom, while o'er him reafon held her lore, 
 
 He would have ardent fpilt his vital gore. 
 
 He feeks concealment in the hoftile place, 
 
 And madly mixes with the fervile race , 
 
 But foon lufpecled of the Captive's train, 1 1 09 
 
 The more they urge, the more.he ftrives to feign. 
 
 Thrice they upbraid him with his Matter's name ; 
 
 And thrice his Mailer's country was their theme : 
 
 His mind thrice ftartled at the rifing lye ; 
 
 But thrice his. words, at length, his friend deny. 1105 
 
 Sudden the crefted bird with matin-hymns 
 
 The full departure of the midnight fmgs, 
 
 Wont from his vocal breaft to pour the fhrills, 
 
 That bid Aurora mount the eaftern hills : 
 
 The lays prophetick, which the Hero fung, me 
 
 Guflj'd on his fpirits and intenfely ftung. 
 
 Corrofive
 
 Book II The CHRISTIAD. $3 
 
 Corrofive grief pervading faft his frame, 
 And fell remorfe ringing his coward fhame, 
 He Heals unfeen and thro' the city drays, 
 Pallid with vigils and the moon's cold rays. 1 1 1 5 
 With fighs he views the bafenefs of the fin, 
 Tearing the filver honours of his chin. 
 'Tis fung by fame, that at each night's return, 
 He ufed, thro' life, the perjur'd hour to mourn. 
 Aurora often liften'd to his pains, 1120 
 
 When fhe difclos'd to view th'ethereal plains : 
 And Vefper often ey'd his bread to heave, 
 With grief luxurious in a lonefome cave. 
 Of forrow fond, and to preclude relief, 
 He tells the drains of his deferted Chief : 1125 
 And fancy always paints his daftard-fhame, 
 When a maid's tongue congeal'd with fear his 
 frame. 
 
 As yet Aurora, with returning day, 
 Streak'd not with blaze Olympus' concave way ; 
 When Chrift was led, his hands with fetters bound, 
 
 1130 
 
 To Pilate's palace 'mid a ruffian found. 
 Who, when thron'd high on his judicial feat, 
 The maze of crimes purfu'd and iffu'd fate. 
 Pilate, whofe veins ftream'd rich with Roman gore, 
 Judea fway'd beneath Tiberius' lore: * J 35 
 
 Whom thus the band addrefs'd with furious breath; 
 Jkhold a culprit, give him infta'm death. 
 
 G 2 Potent
 
 S 4 The CHRISTIAD. Book II. 
 
 Potent in fraud fufpend him high in air, 
 And the fhame let him of the gibbet fharc. 
 The waves of people overflow the gate 1 14* 
 
 And the hoarfc walls their fanguine cries repeat. 
 
 Pontius the Captive youth with ardor ey'd, 
 (For fcarce youth's bloflfom in his form had dy'd) 
 Infatiate view'd his frame of graceful fize, 
 T'un wonted beauties of his face and eyes. 1 145 
 Then flood confirm'd, he had deriv'd his birth, 
 Either from Gods above, or Kings on earth. 
 And now his breaft with foft indulgence flows, 
 And melts with pity at the Captive's woes ; 
 Silent he ftudies to avert his pains, 1 150 
 
 And break afunder his inglorious chains : 
 And thus accofts him : fay, unhappy, tell, 
 With what black crimes your fad difafters fwell ? 
 "Whence fudden rife thefe ftorms that round you 
 
 blow ; 
 
 What ills thus plunge you in a fea of woe ? 1 155 
 Whence is your birth, what blood contains your 
 
 vein : 
 What fceptre waits your hand, or realm your reign ? 
 
 To his demand, Chrift fhortly thus replied ; 
 Nor crime to this tribunal was my guide : 
 Nor, in dread fhape, arifes to my thought, u6 
 The leaft commiflion of a venial fault : 
 Unlefs it is a fault, that I obey 
 My Sire, who o'er Olympus fpreads his fway : 
 
 Nor,
 
 Book II. *The CHRISTIAD. $$ 
 
 Nor am I anxious for a mortal throne ; 
 
 Tho* of a regal race, myfelf I own. x 1 65 
 
 He ceafed : Pilate again begins to trace 
 The wond'rous beauties of his noble face : 
 His wretched cafe, with various fpeech to try 5 
 But, mers'd, in woe, the Lord deign'd no reply. 
 Pontius, at length, the rabble's rage to fall, 
 Confines him pris'ner, in his inmoft hall. 1171 
 
 End of the Second Book,
 
 ARGUMENT of the Third Book. 
 
 The rumour of Chrift'simprifonment having reach- 
 ed the town of Nazareth, Jofeph, to know the 
 truth, comes without delay to Jerufalem where 
 he accidentally meets John pale and penfivc 
 from the difafters of his Mafter. They both repair 
 to Pilate, who defires Jofeph to inform him of 
 the parentage and birth of Chrift the prifoner. 
 Jofeph to be clear in his narrative gives a cur- 
 fory account of the Hebrew nation down to the 
 birth of the Virgin Mary. She arrived at the 
 age of woman-hood, an Angel orders her pa- 
 rents to choofe for her a fpoufe among their own 
 tribe ; which being convened for that purpofe, 
 Jofeph is felefted for her hufband, who, finding 
 her pregnant, refolves to divorce her, but is foon 
 convinced of her fidelity by the appearance of 
 an Angel, relating to him the manner of her 
 conception, and the greatnefs of the fruit of her 
 -womb. Thus fatisfied, he and his Virgin-bride 
 pay a vifitof three months to her coufin Elifabeth, 
 wife to Zacharias the Prieft, and mother of John 
 the Baptid. Caefar (Auguftus) regiftering his 
 fubje&s, Mary repaired with her fpoufe to Beth- 
 Jehem to be enrolled, and is delivered of the child 
 Jefus in a ftable.The Shepherds falute him with 
 hymns, the Eaftern Kings with gifts. Then he 
 relates her purification with Simeon's prophecy 
 concerning the child : their flight into Egypt, 
 to fhun the mafTacre of Herod ; their return 
 after Herod's death : and concludes with a 
 defcription of finding Chrift in the Temple, dif- 
 puting with the Doctors, and of his changing 
 water into wine. THE
 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 PLUM'D Fame, now thro* the vicine towns 
 had ftray'd, 
 
 And fung the Hero, by his train betray 'd. 
 But, asobfcure, the rumour ftill appears, 
 Nor yet had eccho'd in his Mother's ears. 
 Yet her prefaging mind was rack'd with pain, 5 
 Chill'd always with the Prophet's awful ftrain : 
 To free the faithful from their Captive- date, 
 Her Son fhould feel the agonies of fate. 
 
 But when Jofephus (to whofe fpoufal care, 
 The Mother was confign'd, by heav'ns blue fpherej 
 
 10 
 
 The tidings heard, he, from fair Naz'reth's vales, 
 To Solyma, with aged foot-fteps, fleals. 
 His entrance is faluted with dread cries, 
 Which wound, thro' night, the twilight of the 
 
 fkies: 
 
 Swarming along the walls the people low'r, 15 
 And thro' the town in dreadful tumults pour. 
 
 G 4 Lo!
 
 88 The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 Lo ! faithful to his Hero, John appears -, 
 Pallid, and juft elaps'd the Cohorts fpears -, 
 Mers'd in the dangers, which his Lord attend, 
 With pain difccrns the prefence of his friend. 20 
 
 To whom the Sage : flop, whither do you hafte ? 
 What colour paints the vifage of our ftate ? 
 Where can Jehovah-born without you be ; 
 Or in the town, whence roars this mutiny ? 
 Alas ! the pangs, which prophecies impart, 25 
 Wound not, in vain, the troubled Mother's heart. 
 
 The youth his pain with mute embraces tells, 
 With grief that trickles, and the figh that fwells j 
 Then briefly thus : alas ! our hope is dead, 
 And all our fafcty is for ever fled : 30 
 
 Our Chief, feiz'd bafely, in a prifon lies ; 
 The Tribunes of the town again ft him rife ; 
 Fervent, confpire to rivet fad his chains, 
 And glow to quench their envy in his veins. 
 His very train, diffolv'd with ghaftly fear, 3% 
 Forfake his perfon, and daftard difappear. 
 But where's the Mother, fay ? has fable fame 
 Announc'd the tidings to the wretched Dame ? 
 If me was here, perhaps the parent-grief 
 Might Pontius melt, to give her fon relief, 4 q 
 Suppliants for peace before him let us go, 
 And the dire envy of the people fhew. 
 
 Thus having faid, join'd by his hoary friend, 
 They both to Pilate's palace penfive tend. 
 
 S
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. * 9 
 
 So a poor peafant, when the hand of war 45 
 
 The country fpoil'd, and drove his cattle far, 
 
 In queft of them, a tedious journey goes, 
 
 His eldeflfon, companion of his woes ; 
 
 Thro' various unknown fields, they bend their way, 
 
 To fee, if herds like their's, by chance fhould flray : 
 
 5 
 
 Stopping, they roll, in vain, their weepful eyes, 
 And fill the devious valleys with their cries. 
 And now arrived at Pontius Pilate's gate, 
 Of Monarchs once the venerable feat; 
 While Syria was with regal power bleft, 55 
 
 But now by Syria's Roman-chief poffeft : 
 Confufion glowing thro' all ranks they fee ; 
 Before the hall, the Rabbins difagree : 
 The Priefts, receding from the Redtor's door, 
 Againft him bellow, and their hatred pour. 60 
 
 Flufh'd with the fcene, they foftly foothe their 
 
 care ; 
 
 And hope her influence mcds on their affair. 
 Then thus fpeaks John i difmifs your fear, my 
 
 friend ; 
 
 Hope dawns ; now, for thy Son, the Chief attend: 
 But veil the birth, which from the fkies he draws -,65 
 And for your prefence, plead a Father's caufe. 
 
 Admitted now, both on the Rector wait ; 
 "Who with his Council held in a high debate 
 
 About
 
 '90 The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 About the Captive's caufc ; when, lo ! he fees 
 A hoary Sage bend low, and clafp his knees. 70 
 
 Thou bed of Romans, thus Jofephus cries, 
 To tame proud Syria, ftation'd by the fkics. 
 To curb the nation's hate, your pow'r engage, 
 Which reafon guides not, andwhofeftrengthisrage. 
 His Sire am I, 'gain ft whom their Chiefs confpire, 
 
 (75 
 
 And on him ihed, in fictious crimes, their ire : 
 Before you brought, as bafeft of the bafe, 
 To feel a fanguine undeferv'd difgrace. 
 But virtue only is his mighty ill, 
 And deeds, that bleflings on the world diftill : 80 
 The peals of praife their blafting envy claim, 
 And all the honours paid his tow'ring fame. 
 
 Anguifli, in copious dreams of tears, bedew'd 
 The hoary vifage, while the fuppliant fued. 
 Pontius, with foothing words, and placid brows, 85 
 Confoles them both, and hears the old man's vows : 
 Gives him to reft, on a foft couch reclin'd, 
 And thus relieves the tortures of his mind. 
 How welcome is your prefence at this hour ! 
 You'll not, perhaps, lament its want of pow'r. 90 
 Say then, (who better than a Father can ?) 
 A fhort relation of the Captive-man. 
 Fe-ar not your thoughts with liberty to fpeak j 
 To guard you harmlefs, I my honour Hake. 
 
 for
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. 9 , 
 
 For I atteft the {tars of yon blue fphere, 95 
 
 How much your Son employs my tender care : 
 What fchemes I form'd to fave him from his foes; 
 To calm this nation's rage, that madly glows. 
 Detail, (for oft his fame has reach'd my ears) 
 His race, his fortune, and the blood he fliares: 100 
 His mother's progeny, and your own rehearfe j 
 For my mind colours him of no low race. 
 His mien how {lately, and his frame how fine ! 
 And from his vifage flows an air divine : 
 What awful beams of honour dart his eyes *, $05 
 And when he moves, the Monarch items to rile. 
 Then in his breaft 1 felt the Godhead fwell ; 
 For on his tongue, more charms than mortal dwell. 
 That's he's a God, his actions loudly fay ; 
 And nothing of an earthly birth betray. 1 10 
 
 Then fatisfy ; for he averts my pray'r, 
 And deigns no anfwef to my friendfhip's care. 
 His mind regardlefs of the air he draws -, 
 And of the aid, I proffer to his caufe. 
 
 The Sage, thefe accents utter'd, doubtful {lands. 
 
 ["5 
 
 To fpeak evafive of the Chief's demands ; 
 
 Or, void of fraud, ingenuoufly proclaim 
 The birth ctleftial, and the Father's name. 
 When John, advancing, in foft whifpers faid ; 
 Offspring of Kings, fam'd for the virgin's bed; 1 20 
 Whence this blank paufe, or why this long delay ? 
 The truth expand, and lay afide dilmay : 
 
 Safety
 
 ? 2 The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 Safety reigns here ; with fortitude confide. 
 Ke faid, the Sage embolden'd thus reply 'd. 
 
 Rector of Syria, I will now unveil 125 
 
 The myftic annals of a mighty tale. 
 But to indulge your wifh, I'll fimply trace 
 Firft the fam'd lineage of our Hebrew race. 
 Know then, tho' poverty my hands confine 
 To fabric-tools, I boaft a regal line ; 130 
 
 A line, illuftrious in the roll of fame, 
 And to of Orbs advanc'd celeftial flame. 
 Of many nations the primeval Sire, 
 (A theme, you heard, oft eccho'd in our choir) 
 Abraham, guardian of the Hebrew line, 135 
 
 "Who firft enacted laws and rites divine ; 
 Engendered Ifaac, who, to manhood bred 
 Enhanced with Jacob his connubial bed. 
 Jacob with twice fix Peers prolific fhone, 
 Whom founders of our t wicc fix Tribes we o wn : 14 
 Above his brothers, Judas held a place 
 For pious actions and a numerous race, 
 Enjoy'd this realm, which to his portion came, 
 jAnd ftil'd the land Judea from his name. 
 But to defcend into the mid of things, 145 
 
 Hence David fprung, the fire of Ifrael-kings, 
 From him, as from our origin, our line, 
 With blood fublim'd thro' fourteen Monarchs Ihine. 
 But your young Prisoner claims a nobler birth > 
 Tho' mortal-born, he treads this mortal-earth; 150 
 Olympus ftill he calls his natal place, 
 And from the Parent- god. a birth may trace : 
 
 That
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. 9 g 
 
 That God, his Father, whom the earth obey, 
 
 The purple ether, and the flirouded fea. 
 
 A maid, unconfcious of a man's embrace, 155 
 
 Brought forth the child, beneath the folar fpace : 
 
 Who, tho' a mother, (Bards once fung the drains) 
 
 The rofy graces of a maid retains. 
 
 For God dcfcending fill'd her with his breath, 
 
 And the creative SPIRIT gave the birth. 160 
 
 Hence, tho' efteem'd his Sire by vulgar fame, 
 
 I'm Guardian only of the holy Dame : 
 
 To foothe the pungent troubles of her bread:, 
 
 And bear the labours, that might wound her reft. 
 
 But in male honour dubious to confide, 165 
 
 And fearful to defame her virgin-pride ; 
 
 She deign'd to hear my Hymeneal vows, 
 
 And make, with rites, unworthy me herfpoufe. 
 
 This maid, the faireft of the Hebrew-fair, 
 (With my whole courfe of love to fill your ear) 1 70 
 Is call'd Maria, in Naz'reth was bred, 
 And the fole fruitage of her parents bed. 
 To win her heart, a hundred fuitors drove ; 
 But of fair chadity fmitt'n with the love, 
 The joys of Hymen, me, averfe, declin'd 175' 
 And in the fane her virgin vows enfhrin'd. 
 Her mother, Anna, venerabie dame, 
 Full of hereafter, and the Prophet's theme, 
 That from her virgin daughter foon mou'd fpring, 
 Egregious for his deeds, a future King ; iBo 
 
 Who mou'd his fway o'er many nations hold : 
 So Heav'n decreed, and fo the Bards foretold.' 
 
 Often
 
 94 The CHRISTIAD. Book IIT. 
 
 Often a voice, defcending from the fkies, 
 (While fieep its influence (howYd on her eyes) 
 Bad her the Nobles of her Tribe convene, 1 8 
 And for her daughter chufe one of the train. 
 But tho' to woman-hood arrived the maid, 
 Still no regard was to the vifion paid. 
 At laft, in the full azure of the day, 
 The voice was, to the parents, heard to fay : 190 
 <fc To bind in Hymen's bands your daughter hafte ; 
 " Nor for a diftant Son, your moments wafte ;" 
 But of your blood, by ufe, a fpoufe provide -, 
 Break off delays j and crown your maid a bride. 
 
 Thro* the fmall town flies foon the fwift report; 
 
 ['95 
 
 And foon convened, the kindred youth refort. 
 The virgin ? s manfion ecchoes with the band, 
 Each flufh'd with hope to gain the virgin's hand, 
 t'.v'n I, led by proximity of blood, 
 Amid the crowd of rival iuitors flood ; 200 
 
 That I might hail the fortune of my friend, 
 Who (hou'd the virgin's nuptial bed afccnd. 
 For, far from me, advanced in hoary age, 
 With fprightly bands a rival to engage : 
 Who equal all in manly beauty (hone, 205 
 
 And whole fair flow'r of youth was then new-blown. 
 Tho* all gaz'ci, trembling, the decifive fldes, 
 Each bofom heav'd to clafp the virgin-prize. 
 While flutter'd hope, and events roll'd in clouds, 
 We rufii'd into Joachim's hall in crowds, 210 
 
 Where
 
 Book IH. The CHRISTIAD. ^ 
 
 Where rofe an altar, awful for its age, 
 And where he us'd the Godhead toafluage : 
 Built by our race, and facred by their fears, 
 Was held in rev'rence for three hundred years : 
 Before this altar proftrate we implor'd 215 
 
 The hod Angelick and the Angel's Lord 5 
 Placid to mark, by fome fure fignal giv'n, 
 The hufband he defign'd, from his high heav'n. 
 In the miditood tearful the beauteous fair, 
 With eyes dejected and diforder'd hair : 229 
 
 A blufh fuffus'd her face with crimfon glows. 
 Like the pale lilly blended with the rofe. 
 As when the new-born moon defcending, laves 
 Her virgin-vifage in broad ocean's waves : 
 With guardian ftars afcending, bright adorns 225 
 Olympus' azure, with her (lender horns. 
 So flood the Virgin 'mid the circling train, 
 Her God invoking in a plaintive drain, 
 And much attefting God's wing'd-tow'ring choir, 
 She yielded how adverfe to her dcfirc ! 23* 
 
 Her Sire kifs'd off her fear, and dried her eyes, 
 And taught her foon the mandate of the (kies. 
 Her mother, Anna, rev'rendfor her age, 
 Full of the God, heav'd with an holy rage, 
 Kav'd through the palace, wond'rous to be feen,335 
 And her (hrill (houts roll'd through the ftarry plain -, 
 Approaching me, unworthy of fuch grace, 
 She fix'd her eyes* and liv'd upon my face. 
 Seizing my hand, for you alone, me cries, 
 The Maid is deftin'd by the (tarry fkies. 240 
 
 All
 
 96 The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 All flood amaz'd, yet none among the band, 
 
 Envy'd my honour of the Virgin's hand. 
 
 But I, ftili confcious of my hoary head, 
 
 My prefence wail'd, and fhun'd the nuptial bed, 
 
 The faithful youths againft my coynefs rife, 245 
 
 And prefs me to receive the orfer'd prize. 
 
 I yield perfuaded, and lamenting lead, 
 
 To rites connubial, the lamenting Maid. 
 
 Now, night her hoft of ftars on ether brings, 
 The world furTufmg with her fable wings : 250 
 We, fecret, enter both the nuptial door ; 
 Sad wept the bride, and lav'd with tears the floor. 
 So in the fpring when mounts theplantal juice, 
 And in the trees its fecund foul infufe : 
 The flender vine's luxurious branches feel 255 
 The pruning virtue of the peafant's fteel; 
 Should 'gainft the root, the hook imprudent found, 
 The mother-vine ftreams blamelefs by the wound. 
 Tho' willing not to crop the Virgin's pride, 
 To foothe her grief with fofreft words I tried. 260 
 When drawing from her breath the long-breath'd 
 
 fighs, 
 
 In accents fweetly -plaintive, thus me cries : 
 Within me dwells fome virtue of the fkies, 
 And pure Religion prompts me to defpife 
 The nuptial-bed, and chaftity purfue, 265 
 
 With love perpetual, to her merit due. 
 For, tho' the Prophets my refolves oppofe ; 
 With other mandates, tho' my Mother glows ; 
 
 Still
 
 Book III. The CHR1STIAD. 37 
 
 Still I poflefs an order, which defeats 
 My Mother's raptures, and the Prophet's threats. 
 
 270 
 
 Wherefore fhall Jordan fooner feek his fource, 
 And the wild ftars defift their vagrant courfe, 
 Than I fhall light the nuptial torch, to fume 
 My virgin-mind, ftain'd with its grofier gloom. 
 Shefaid : her forrow, fwelling into tears, 275 
 
 In large round drops her gen'rous cheeks befmears : 
 A creeping horror fudden feiz'd my frame ; 
 Trembled my knees, night veil'd my vifual beam ; 
 Thrice I attempted to announce my pain, , 
 And thrice my tongue eflay'dthe tafk in vain. 280 
 And lo ! a voice, defcending from the fkies, 
 In awful and majeftick accents cries : 
 " The joys connubial to indulge forbear, 
 " But guard your fpoufal vows with holy care." 
 I role and wildly gazing on rny bride, 285 
 
 At length, with painful paufes, thus replied. 
 Say, Virgin, candid fay, 'gainft Heav'n's command, 
 Why have I ftretch'd to you a bridegroom's hand ? 
 W T ho has (the nuptial joys I never fought) 
 On my pure conduct fuch difafters brought ? 290 
 A better, fate breath'd in my Father's ftrain, 
 At once a bard, and flamen of the Fane : 
 " Or you, he lung, no Hymeneals wait ; 
 " Or honour fhall attend your bridal ftate." 
 Now fmce the fkies have tied our fpoufal band, 2 95 
 But with dread figns the fpoufal joys withftand j 
 
 H To
 
 98 The CHRISTIAN. Book III- 
 
 To my refolve a due attention give, 
 
 As now, with Virgin honour always live : 
 
 Nor fhall I dare the facred union break, 
 
 Nor with volatile Heps your dome forfake : 300 
 
 But gaze upon you, with a parent's eye ; 
 
 And you, with filial love, on me rely. 
 
 9 Tis my department, now, to bear your cares ; 
 
 So wills your ardor, and my riper years. 
 
 Pleas'd with the plan, the wedded Virgin rofe,3O5 
 
 And in a lonefome chamber fought repofe. 
 
 Untold, I'll pafs my fufFerings thro' that night ^ 
 
 The fleeplefs horror, and my imag'd fright. 
 
 Now darknefs fled before the blum of day, 
 And Sol extinguifli'd fliadows in his ray. 3 ? > 
 
 My couch I leave, with fofteft ftlence tread, 
 And vifit, fmoothly flow, the virgin -bed. 
 Scarce had the portal on the hinges roll'd, 
 When on my eyes flam'd lights of beamy gold ; 
 Which veft- the walls, and to the roof afpire, 315 
 And radiant fcem to let the room on fire. 
 Entranc'd and luftred with a melting beam, 
 On the loft bed reclin'd the Virgin-Dame. 
 Nor deign'd to anfwer my repeated prayers r 
 Nor feem'd dillreftor melted with my cares ; 329 
 But like Aurora, blufhing in the eaft, 
 With hands and eyes erecl:, fhc Heav'n addrefs'd. 
 What better change improv'd her beauteous form I 
 Her eyes how bright ! with grace her looks how 
 warm ! 
 
 The
 
 Book III, The CHRISTIAN 99 
 
 The artift thus to grace fome temple's fhrine, 325 
 
 And call forth rev'rence to his fine defign ; 
 
 A maple falls, of it a ftatue forms, 
 
 And bids it breathe with all the chiflTel's charms : 
 
 With graces ftor'd and polim'd to behold, 
 
 It's beauties he fublimes with blazing gold. 330 
 
 Guming with floods of radiance, fo a cloud 
 
 Around the raptur'd Maid a luftre roll'd. 
 
 A crown of ftars feem'd on her head to beam, 
 
 And veft hrfr temples with a lambent flame. 
 
 With pureft light replete, a filver moon 335 
 
 Beneath the Virgin's feetfcrenely (hone. 
 
 Such wond'rous fcenes my mind with horror fill'd, 
 
 And while I fpoke, my bread with fear was chill'd. 
 
 O, from this maze of wonders, fet me free, 
 
 Almighty Sire ! they own your Deity : 340 
 
 Your hand in all thefe prodigies I find ; 
 
 Then placid breathe your Spirit on my mind, 
 
 That I, no longer in fufpence^ may fee, 
 
 How to purfue, and acl your juft decree. 
 
 1 ceafed to pray : at length the beauteous Dame 
 
 [343 
 
 Woke from her trance, as from a broken dream. 
 Her fighs heave fadly, and her eyes befmear 
 Her fnow-like bofom with a burfting tear. 
 Aw'd I approach, and bending low, demand, 
 By the new union of our bridal band ; 350 
 
 And by that Veftal love, whofe flames refine, 
 And ail her zeal to chaftity confine ; 
 
 H 2 Pearled
 
 ioo The CHRISTJ AD. Book III. 
 
 Fearlefs to ope the fcene of this affair, 
 And make me focial in her anxious care. 
 
 Bright, as the roe, furcharg'd with matin dew, 
 
 355 
 
 Her eyes, about the floor, a luftre threw ; 
 Then ftarting from her paufe, me thus reply'd : 
 My joy, from thee, no longer mail I hide : 
 Attend but where mail I commence the tale, 
 Or who'll believe the wonders I'll reveal ? 360 
 But I conjure you, by thele gladfome tears 
 To guard in filence, what mall reach your ears *, 
 Nor let it roll abroad, a vulgar theme, 
 'TillHeav'n configns it to the trump of Fame. 
 What time, Aurora man to labour wakes, 365 
 And new-born day the earth with luftre ftreaks ; 
 The ftrange events, in Prophets' fongs foretold, 
 Pour'd on my mind, and o'er my fenfes roll'd : 
 But chief the fong, it's conftant influence med r 
 (And to my mind the God, the piflure led)] 370 
 Which hymn'd the Virgin, of a regal race, 
 Who mould bring forth, without a man's embrace 
 (Strange to relate; theRe&or of the ikies, 
 Whofe birth mould on a golden world arife. 
 I thought her blei's'd,on whom, the Supreme Pow r r 
 
 375 
 
 Should, fmiling, fuch illuftrious honour fhow'r, . 
 And tacit in my mind, began to hymn 
 The future Mother of our heav'nly King , 
 
 Prepar'd
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. i t 
 
 Prepar'd with gifts the Infant-god to praife, 
 
 If in our city born, or in our days. 380 
 
 Dark in events, whilft I revolv'd this theme ; 
 
 Before my eyes expands a meet of flame ; 
 
 Soft gales of air in cloudlefs brightnefs glide, 
 
 And (wond'rous to relate) the fkies divide : 
 
 Whence Heav'n's bleft hoft, incumbent on the wing, 
 
 [385 
 The poles mount joyful and applaud their King. 
 
 Thro' portals barr'd and walls with marble lin'd, 
 The ftars effulg'd, and all Olympus fhin'd. 
 When lo ! a Boy, defcends at God's command, 
 Heav'n in his fmiles, a lilly in his hand ; 390 
 
 Sparkling the chamber with his rofy wings, 
 To me this falutation raptur'd fings. 
 O, Thou more happy, than the happieft fair ; 
 Than other mothers, Heav'n's more pleafing care ! 
 Olympus' King, to dwell with you, prepares, 395 
 Collects his God- head, and forfakes the fpheres. 
 
 'Thefe words fcarcc heard |( the maid continu'd) 
 
 med, 
 
 On my admiring frame, a chilling dread : 
 But, he to foothe me with a pledge divine, 
 Inftant replied, O maid, your fear refign ; 4O 
 E^ you the God, above your fex, more won, 
 Is pleas'd to make you mother of his Son : 
 A Son, you then mail bear, who fam'd fhall be, 
 And ages own him God's own progeny. 
 Him born a Saviour to the faithful train, 405 
 
 YOU (hall call Jefus, in your native ftrain ; 
 H
 
 102 The CHRISTIAD. Book III, 
 
 A name, already hell begins to fear, 
 And from its center draws an iron tear. 
 His foaring fame, and wond'rous adls, (hall rife 
 Above the natives of this earth and fkies. 410 
 The Ikies ordain, he fhall the pow'r embrace, 
 And mount the throne of his illuftrious race. 
 Nor time nor limits mail confine his reign, 
 -And everlatling fhall his fvvay remain. 
 
 He faid : my fear receding by degrees, 415 
 I fpoke : my reafon ftarts at your decrees : 
 For, I, refolv'd, the virgin-blufh to guard, 
 Have, always, free from man, my heart preferv'd. 
 
 Finifh'd my fpeech, the-Angel his refum'd : 
 With great Jehovah's breath divine pcrfum'd, 420 
 Without man's commerce pregnant you mall be, 
 And indue time bring forth your progeny : 
 A God all nations fhall your offspring call, 
 And Son to him, who rules this world's great ball. 
 Of this ftrange truth, to make all doubt fubfide, 425 
 Eliza, know, to you by blood allied, 
 Who fterile pin'd, when purpl'd with youth's glow. 
 JSfow ag'd defpairs to feel a mother's throe : 
 Yet the fixth moon with luftre circles earth, 
 Since me fwell'd pregnant with a future birth. 43* 
 So great's his pow'r, on whole commands I flie, 
 The King and author of the itarry fky. 
 
 This
 
 Book III The CHRISTIAD. 103 
 
 This having faid, he wings the ether blue ; 
 Whom thus with eyes and language I purfue : 
 Say, winged beauty of the azure plains, 435 
 
 I gladly yield to what your King ordains. 
 Flying to earth, mean time, a crimfon cloud 
 Involves my body in a fheet of gold 
 Fretted with ftars of varied luftre, glows 
 The ample concave, and with rays o'erflows. 440 
 Fair Iris emulates fuch chequer'd dyes, 
 (Her pictur'd veft winding oblong the fides) 
 When adverfe Sol his melting radiance pours, 
 Full on her bow diftent with rainy ihow'rs. 
 Soon as the Sire fupremc breath'd on this cloud 445 
 From the bright ftars burfts forth a fpirit loud : 
 Its fpreading progrefs darts a length of ray, 
 And golden fiaflies vibrate on the day, 
 Wrapt in the whirl-wind, all my limbs inhale , 
 
 The potent virtue of the facred GALE : 450 
 
 Th J ethereal vigour, thrilling thro' my frame, 
 DifTolves my heart, with an impafllon'd flame. 
 By nature's inftinct fo the fecund earth 
 Conceives, and pours to day her various birth, 
 When Ether to her parent- lap -repairs, 455 
 
 And Zephyr fans her with his genial airs. 
 This fcene concluded, bright Olympus' throng 
 Clap their glad wings, and burft in varied fong : 
 Hoarfe thunders o'er blue ether's fummit roll, 
 And op'ning fkies flam fire from pole to pole. 460 
 
 While thus the maid the wond'rous tale purfu'd, 
 The fmiling tears her rofeat cheeks bedew'd. 
 
 H 4 Of
 
 i<$4 The CHRISTIAD. Book II L 
 
 Of little faith, yet full of pray'r I ftand, 
 
 The ftars addrefiing with a fupine hand : 
 
 (For fo incred'lous was my ftupid mind) 465 
 
 Such prodigies to credit I dcclin'd ; 
 
 Perfuaded well, that youths, with ftudious care, 
 
 Weave the fine fraud, frail virgins to enfnare : 
 
 That maids of eafy faith, ah, too foon won ! 
 
 Imbibe man's pois'nous words and are undone. 470 
 
 And now I meditate, oh direful fharne ! 
 
 My virgin- wife for ever to difclaim ; 
 
 When on my deep an angel-form arofe* 
 
 The fame in looks, the fame his fky-fpun cloths. 
 
 Which to my bride his ftarry vifit paid, 475 
 
 And bore the meflage, which I now difplay'd. 
 
 Naked his rofy (boulders (land confeft , 
 
 Save from the left depends a golden veft, 
 
 Which three-folds clafps compos'd of fufile gold 
 
 The floating plaits about his loins infold. 480 
 
 His girdle blufhing with a purple dye 
 
 Thick fetts of golden finds around him rye. 
 
 His waift's fine down, which fcarce the eye- ball fees, 
 
 Steals, mounting, on the fight by flow degrees, 
 
 Scaling his fhoulders, more luxurious fprings, 483 
 
 Then ftarts at once into a fliade of wings. 
 
 A diamond-chaplet round his calves he wears , 
 
 Thence, to the knees undreft, the Form appears : 
 
 His beauteous looks, his mien's fwcet-breathing 
 
 grace 
 
 Proclaim the boy of no terreftrial race , 490 
 
 But fome fair offspring of Olympus high j 
 Nurs'd in the region of the Harry (ky. 
 
 Noy
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAN 105 
 
 Nor was his tunic of lefs wond'rous art ; 
 With jewels fpotted, mines the upper part ; 
 The low'r borders meander'd twice with gold, 495 
 Within their orbs, a texture tale infold j 
 Three pictur'd boys walk, harmlefs, thro* a blaze, 
 And hymn, with looks creel, Jehovah's praife- 
 CircJing the furnace roof, fierce glows the fire, 
 And head-long, from the youths, the flames retire. 
 
 [500 
 
 While I in filence gaz'd, Heav'n's beauteous gueft,. 
 To me, with fear congeal'd, thefe words addrefs'd. 
 Offspring of Kings, what crime o'ercafts your foul ; 
 Can you, thefe figns, that fpeak the God, controul ? 
 Sufped no fraud to drop from her pure tongue ; 
 
 [505 
 Truth tunes the ftrain, the facred virgin fung : 
 
 She has conceived, ilranger to human aid , 
 By God's eternal SPIRIT pregnant made. 
 When Gcd breath'd on her from his lucid dorne; 
 The Godhead fled from Ether to her womb. 510 
 Boldly afient : For on our azure plains, 
 Pleas'd with our homage, truth eternal reigns. 
 Your Prophets, once, thefe miracles foretold, 
 Their lays obfcurely vefted with a cloud : 
 This maid is figur'd by the cryftal gate, 515 
 
 That binds eternal, Ether's deep retreat j 
 When human traces never print the road, 
 Frequented folely by the fupreme God, 
 Whofe ingrefs and regrefs ne'er violate, 
 With motion's noife, the portal's dormant ftate. 520 
 
 To
 
 io6 The CHRISTIAD. Book III; 
 
 To you this maid he yields, who rules the fky, 
 But bound by Hymen, Hymen's freedom file : 
 Let her thro' life, your fage prote&ion fhare, 
 Tho* fafe beneath God's tutelary care. 
 
 He faid, and winging ether, fades away, 53 
 But glancing thro* the cloud ilrews realms of day, 
 A iudden love my breads pervading, fills 
 With foothing rapture, and exflatic thrills. 
 As iron drops its rigour in the fire, 
 So melts my flubborn foul with love's defire : 530 
 Owning my mad'ning folly, I arife, 
 And call down meek-ey'd Mercy from the fkies. 
 Now reafon to my mind reftoring light, 
 The SUPREME'S deep decrees expand more bright, 
 Which he infus'd into the Prophets' breaft, 535 
 The truth in (hades of ancient phrafes dreft. 
 This virgin is the bnfh, which he, (whofe head 
 Sharp-pointed rays of ftreaming glory med) 
 Beheld, aftonifh'd, on the mountain's brow, 
 Burning with crackling flames at diftance glow. 540 
 Thro' harmlefs fires twinkl'd the untouch'd leaves 
 For ever verdant 'mid the lambent blaze. 
 She is the fleece, (unlefs the Bards are vain) 
 Which kept its dryncfs 'mid a flood of rain : 
 Impervious to the Ihow'rs, on whofe broad tide, 
 
 [545 
 Earth's humid furface, lucent feem'd to glide. 
 
 Before fuch thoughts my night of error flies, 
 Our feene moves faith to own fuch prodigies. 
 
 Spread
 
 Book HI. The CHRISTJAD. 107 
 
 Spread thro' the towns of Galilee, now Fame, 
 Sings, wond'rous to tell, a venerable Dame, 550 
 Who lives as reclufe, on a mountain's height, 
 And hoary bends, beneath old age's weight, 
 How with firft offspring pregnant fwells her womb, 
 Defam'd as fterile, in her youthful bloom. 
 The winged Nuncio of the tow'ring fkies 555 
 Foretold this event, thus the virgin cries -, 
 Eliza is her name, the fame our line, 
 And on her pregnancy, twice three moons fhine. 
 Pleas'd with the thought, we rife without delay, 
 And to our Kindred- dame direct eur way : 560 
 Thro' arduous mountains, and fatiguing pain, 
 The Flarren Zachariah's houfe we gain. 
 Scarce we, arriv'd, had touch'd the manfion-gate, 
 When nodding comes the Dame, ftrange to relate, 
 With fond embrace hangs on her welcome gueft, 
 
 1 565 
 
 And in the ac~b, God rufhes to her breaft : 
 A fudden heat fuffufes thro' her frame, 
 And this the language of the hoary Dame. 
 
 Above all other Parents, Parent bleft ! 
 JJleft is the burden of your ut'rine Gueft ! 570 
 Whence thefe unwonted heav'nly graces fhow'r, 
 Why on my filver head fo fmiles this hour, 
 Which gives me to behold with ardent eyes, 
 And fpeak to her, felected by the fkies, 
 'Mid many, parent of the fupreme Lord, 575 
 
 Gracing my manfion ? of Jjer own accord ? 
 
 At 
 
 i
 
 loS The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 At your approach, with rapture throb'd my bread, 
 And my womb's Babe his joy with bounds exprefs'd. 
 Hail, facred Mother, to the Ikies moft dear ; 
 For faith confpicuous and to truth fmcere ; 580 
 Who with glad faith held what the Angel faid, 
 Unconfcious of %ffi being the Mother-maid. 
 Hear, Ether's Queen, and touch'd with human 
 
 cares, 
 Smoothe life's misfortunes by your potent pray'rs. 
 
 She faid : with blumes, as the rofe, replete, 585 
 And mildly humble in an high eftate, 
 The holy Maid, bedew'd with crimfon rays, 
 Rais'd to the {tarry King her fong of praife j 
 "Who eyed her, gracious, from Olympus' throne, 
 Poor, lonefome, humble, and to praife unknown. 
 
 [59 
 
 Then of hereafter full, me fung the Fame, 
 So often prefag'd, that mould crown her name. 
 
 To you, too tedious, would appear the tale, 
 Should I the portents and the figns reveal, 
 That on the trembling world diftill'd a fear, 595 
 Soon as the mighty Infant breath'd this air : 
 The Cafpian kingdom heard the bards with dread, 
 And Nile's rich waves roll'd to their fecret head, 
 Egypt receiv'd the oracle with frowns, 
 And eaftern realms were fhock'd thro' all their towns. 
 
 [600 
 If
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. t^ 
 
 If fame is true, your own Aufonian plains 
 Reibunded horrid with the Prophets' ftrains : 
 That foon a King mould drink the blaze of day, 
 And o'er the fubject world extend his fway, 
 Strong in his own, and Father's virtue rife, 605 
 And all his people tranflate to the fkies. 
 
 Firm'd by thefe figns, fpontaneous I obey 
 My pregnant Spoufe, and God-like rev'rence pay. 
 When the plum'd youth (the fame I often ey'd 
 Vifit, by day, the chamber of my Bride) 610 
 Her pregnant ferv'd, defcending ether's pole, 
 Charg'd with rich food and nectar's facred bowl. 
 Oft have I panted for the natal day, 
 But oft my hope was dam'd with dull delay : 
 Thefe wilhes I revolv'd within my bread. 615 
 
 O may the Babe celeftial ftand confefs'd 
 Before my death ; fmce evident appear 
 The portents which befel the beauteous fair. 
 
 Crop then without delay your purple fiow'rs, 
 Your lucent lillies med in copious fhow'rs, 620 
 To God new-born your balmy prefents bring, 
 And awfully approach your Infant-king, 
 And could I wifh to my old age more days, 
 It would be, Infant, on your deeds to gaze; 
 Then fear expell'd, peace on the world mall rife,62^ 
 And you, a God, reign in your native flues. 
 Truth, join'd with piety, this earth mail tread, 
 And nodding now, Religion raife her head. 
 
 Juftice
 
 M Tjie CHRISTIAD. Book llL 
 
 Juflice the fcenes of life at large will range, 
 
 And earth furpriz'd admire its better change; 630 
 
 Into the fcythe the favage fword be roll'd, 
 
 And nature brighten with an age of gold-, 
 
 To foothe delay, my fancy pour'd fuch hues, 
 
 And hope was nourifh'd with fuch diftant views. 
 
 Casfar (Auguftus filled) who that time reign'dj 
 
 [635 
 
 To regifter his fubject world ordain'd. 
 My fbeps to Bethlehem's ancient walls infift, 
 To have our names rang'd in the civil lift. 
 The Virgin following leaves her manfion-feat, 
 The town of Naz'reth gave the fafe retreat. 64.9 
 To Bethlehem come, with houfes thinly fpread, 
 What time the fkies, wrap'd in night's fhadow, 
 
 fled: 
 
 A lonefome houie the city's walls fucceeds, 
 The roof imbrown'd with turf and marfliy reeds : 
 Apt for thepeafant, whom nocturnal gloom 645 
 In town detains far from his ruftic home. 
 We feck this cot to weary travellers free, 
 Led on by chance, or rather God's decree, 
 Who not content his only Son ihotild groan, 
 And feel thro' life misfortunes not his own, 650 
 But in a liable will'd, he fhould be born, 
 With want diftrefs'd and of relief forlorn. 
 The afs I feed, whole help made fhort our road, 
 And whole fatigue made light our houihold load. 
 
 Next
 
 Book III, The CHRISTIAD. m 
 
 Next whom, her ftraw j ftrew'dbed the Virgin prefs'd, 
 
 [656 
 
 The houfe top throng'd, to number her a gucft. 
 An ox flieds, 9n her left, his tepid breath, 
 Whom a poor plowman work'd to till his earth, 
 Catting with crooked plough the fide-laid clay, 
 Nor ceas'd the toil, till ceafed the live-long day. 666 
 He cultures with fuch pains his rented field, 
 Himfelf from famine and his babes to fhield. 
 
 Now midnight from her fummit had declined, 
 When fleep (on a bare flone my head rcclin'd) 
 Receding foftly from my waking frame, 66 
 
 Op'd on the ambient gloom my vifual beam, 
 A flood of radiance thro* the ftable flows, 
 And the brown draw with golden tincture glows. 
 I rife ; and lo ! an Infant naked lies, 
 Bedrw'd with rays, and ether's richeft dyes ; 67* 
 Whom on her poor ftraw- couch the mother maid 
 Brought forth, exempt from anguifh and of aid. 
 The Afs and Ox on either fide admire, 
 Forget their food, and with their heads afpire. 
 The Mother felf with brightnefs glad appears, 675 
 Her knees bend low, her eyes diflblve in tears 
 With hands directed to the fufFus'd fkies, 
 Her new-born babe of drap'ry bare (he eyes, 
 Like to the ftars appears the Virgin's form, 
 Their luftre pallid with a gufhing ilorm, 68 
 
 When the dark ether roaring Boreas fhrouds, 
 Expanding vwde the rain-diftended clouds. 
 
 Sheep's
 
 iU The CHRIST! AD. Book lit. 
 
 She^pVfk'ins I ftrew for cloths of purple dye, 
 And forks invers'd a cradle's place fupply ; 
 More ufcful things and want the night withold, 685 
 The birth demanding fcenes fuperb with gold. 
 
 Nor yet night's gloom had chas'd the blazing day, 
 When thronging ihepherds urge their rapid way ; 
 The door with flow'rs and varied chaplet glows, 
 And the wild pipe with ruftic numbers flows. 6g9 
 With down-caft eyes they feek the facred ftall, 
 And prone to earth before the Godhead fall. 
 Struck with amaze I queflion'd how cou'd fame, 
 Along the fields, the birth fo foon proclaim. 
 When one thus quickly anfwers my demand ; 693 
 Shepherds are we, and graze the woody land ; 
 Our ufual vigils we nocturnal keep, 
 To guard from beads of prey our folded flieep. 
 What time the world was wrap'd in mid-night 
 
 made, 
 
 Around our heads a gufhing luftre play'd, 700 
 And as we tott'ring flood unnerv'd with fear 
 This voice was wafted from the void of air : 
 Mortals, fear not, glad tidings 1 difplay, 
 In your confines a God is born this day, 
 W 7 ho mail reftore (as prophecies relate) 705 
 
 Mankind from darkne.s to his priftine ftate. 
 In yonder town, you may behold him laid 
 His place a ftabie, and of ftraw his bed. 
 The voice our guide, our eyes we throw around, 
 And view die town flow rifing from the ground, 710 
 
 An
 
 Book III. The CHRiSTIAD. ti 3 
 
 An heav'nly band, with wings of various dyes, 
 
 On clouds incumbent float along the fkies , 
 
 And when they rang'd the fkies in thrice three 
 
 throngs, 
 
 And thrice they harped fweet their feflive fongs, 
 In a full chorus, fwift the poles they wing, 7 1 5 
 And ether's plains with their appjaufes ring. 
 This laid : nmaz'd, they gaze the Infant's face, 
 And his bright charms with eyes and fouls embrace. 
 Such floods of beams gum from the Infant's frame^ 
 That overflow the flable with a flame. 720 
 
 So when the role unfolds her crimfon leaves, 
 The fun burns brighter with her new-bo; n blaze 
 Or when the vernal day burfts from the eaft, 
 Of melting light it (beds a rofeat wafte. 
 
 Tho' we the Godhead in the Babe confefs'd 72^ 
 And without food and aid a God is bleft; 
 Yet, as an offspring of a mortal Dame, 
 He breath'd the mortal in a mortal frame ; 
 Inhal'd the moifture of his mother's breaft, 
 And me his Infant-limbs with drap'ry dreft : 730 
 More, to fulfil the rires our law prefcribes, 
 He bore the circumcifion of our tribes ; 
 We call him JESUS, mindful of the name, 
 An angel bore, wing'd by the Sire fupreme. 
 To mark his priefthood and his regal race, 735 
 The nations name him CHRIST in Grecian phrafe, 
 And tho* no male embrace his mother ftain'd j 
 Beneath her roof, (he forty funs remained. 
 
 I The
 
 114 The CHRIS II AD. Book III, 
 
 The royal Maid to her luftration haftes, 
 And with her Infant tends to Salem's gates ; 74* 
 We bring a pair of turtles to be {lain 
 (Our rites fo order) in the facred Fane. 
 The prieft by cuflom at the altar waits, 
 His fnowy robe defcends in flowing plaits, 
 A mitre of two horns his temples fhrouds 745 
 
 And the watch'd fire meanders high in clouds. 
 A crown of children round the altar flood, 
 And from a chalice pour'd the heifer's blood, 
 Which to the God fuprcme the Flamen flew, 
 To ftop the vengeance to the people due. 750 
 
 With hanes the fages of the nation prels'd 
 The heifer's front, with holy fillets drefs'd. 
 Their ringers, blufiiing with the vidlim (lain, 
 The priefts the altar lightly thrice difcain : 
 The altar's flames imbibe a deeper hue, 75/7 
 
 And ruddy drops the k-ven lamps bedew. 
 Sprinkled with blood flafties the ample veil, 
 Whole ambient folds myfterious rites conceal. 
 Finim'd the rites, the prieft prepares to tafte, 
 Join'd with his ions, the facriikal feaft. 760 
 
 And ROW proceeds the Virgin humbly mild ; 
 Her right hand holds the birds, the left her child : 
 Shall I rehearie, what figns the heav'nly King 
 Struck out, that fpoke the Child hi.s true offspring ? 
 How chill'd the prieft, when he the Infant gaz'd, 
 
 765 
 And what new light about the altar blaz'd ? 
 
 He
 
 Book lit. The CHRISTIAN. 115 
 
 He aw'd thrice heapMwith frankincenfe the flames, 
 
 And thrice the fire above the vefTel ftreams : 
 
 Yet ftill according to his country's laws 
 
 From the flain birds the vital gore he draws, 770 
 
 Scatters the plumes and o'er the entrails ftrays, 
 
 His face converted to the eaftern blaze ; 
 
 Then breaks the wings, and on the fubjecl: fire 
 
 The crackling entrails into fume expire : 
 
 From the burn'd vifirim grateful vapours rife, 773 
 
 And Pancheari' odours fcent the balmy fkies. 
 
 Another fcene infpir'd the breaft with fears ; 
 And awe feiz'd Simeon bent with hoary years, 
 Than whom, no man among the city's crowd, 
 With fairer homage, to ftrict juftice bow'd : 780 
 Th' Almighty SPIRIT of the bending iky 
 Into hereafter granted him to pry, 
 And faid, he mould not ceafe to drink the day, 
 *Till he the promised Saviour fhould furvey. 
 For worn with age, he would confign to death, 785 
 Life's painful labours, and his panting breath ; 
 But the fond hope, to view the fource of life, 
 Gave him to live, and fecond nature's ftrife, 
 With holy inftincl: now diftends his breaft, 
 And feels, that God now dwells the temple's giieft. 
 
 So, when his mafcer's fteps attends a hound, 
 His fenfe of fmelling o'er a length of ground. 
 A hare detects : with ears erecl he (lands, 
 And fnuffs the gales that brum the fcented Jands. 
 i 2 then
 
 n6 The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 Then ftarting from the path, he devious ftrays,795 
 And traces with his eyes the hare's wild maze. 
 Along this path, and now o'er that he flies, 
 And the wide meadows vibrate with his cries. 
 So, in the fane, exults the rev'rend fage, 
 And clafps the Infant, with an holy rage : 800 
 With liquid eyes, big with the pearly tears, 
 He in thefe words his joyful fenfe declares. 
 
 Jehovah- born, almighty Infant, hail, 
 The fplendid author of this world's great weal ! 
 Thou com'ft to warn away the people's (tains, 805 
 With the rich fluid of thy precious veins, 
 And to their manes ope a liquid way 
 To the bright realms of eternal day : 
 Welcome to earth ; now to your words comply, 
 Father Supreme ! 'tis granted me to die, 810 
 
 Now from this body's clofe confinement free, 
 In peace difmifs me from life's mifery, 
 Since on me ftreams the Gentiles' light divine, 
 And the new glory of the Hebrew-line ! 
 Now to the Dame this fond addrefs he pays : 815 
 Who can thy mien aflame or ling thy praiie ? 
 To thee what thanks can pour the fickly earth, 
 "Who brought lalvation by this happy birth ? 
 Yet ftillthis fruitage of ethereal love 
 To many Hebrews mall deftructive prove. 820 
 The time approaches, when your heart (hall feel, 
 Oh lad and joylefs time ! the dolorous (led : 
 
 When
 
 Book III. The CHR1STIAD. 1,7 
 
 When you, unhappy, fhall be join'd to woe, 
 And Jordan's troubled wave retorted flow, 
 Then late and heavy fhall arife the day, 825 
 
 And meafure with fick looks its pallid way . 
 The earth herfelf {hall joy to leave her pole ; 
 And thro* the void, her weight rejecting roll. 
 This faid, as mers'd in fudden fleep and tir'd, 
 He clos'd his eyes, and fmiling foft expir'd. 830 
 All flare aghaft ; but from amazement free, 
 We fland lerene vers'd in the Ikies decree : 
 Yet painful we revolve the fage's word, 
 That to the mother points the naked fword : 
 Anxious to know to whom the child mould be 835 
 The fatal origin of mifery. 
 But time too foon the dubious truth reveals 
 The prefent fcene the menac'd woes details : 
 Unlefs for us fome deeper wounds remain, 
 And ills are pointing with acuter pain. 840 
 
 About that time, three Kings forfook their ftate, 
 And hither bent their fteps from extreme eaft. 
 And to the Infant ample prefents bore, 
 Myrrh, breathing frankincenfe, and golden ore : 
 Thefphere revolving thro' its ftarry figns, 845 
 Proclaim'd a Monarch born in our confines ; 
 Whofe fceptre fhould the Ikies and earth obey, 
 And whom to fee they march'd a tedious way. 
 A ftar hung in the fkies, a faithful guide, 
 Jllum'd their paftage with a blazing tide. 850 
 
 I 3 So,
 
 u8 The CHRISTIAD. Book III, 
 
 3o, when our Sires abandon'd Egypt's toil, 
 And fought, thro' dreary wilds, the promis'd foil j 
 A fiery globe preceded them by night, 
 And en them gufh'd a liquid w^fte of light. 
 The town obtain'd, they bent, without delay, 855 
 To Tetrarch-Herod's gate their glowing way : 
 Their meffage told, thinking, as he was King, 
 The royal Babe to be his own offspring. 
 Struck with amaze, with chilling fear unman'd, 
 Left this ftrange royal heir mould feize the land, 
 Kerod difpatch'd a nuncio in hafte, 86 f 
 
 To bid the bards the royal prel'cnce wait; 
 Of the new-born Infant the time, the place, 
 Ke curious aflc'd, his country, and his race. 
 Beth'lem, they cried, the birth by fame fhould boaft, 
 
 865 
 
 Whofe crown and deeds fhould fway theftarry hoft. 
 Now more confounded in the maze of cares, 
 Pie ftrove to fmoothe his brows and veil his fears ; 
 And to ciifmjls the eafl-rn Kings with grace, 
 He thus reply'd with well difiembled face. 870 
 
 Monarchs, the caufe which hither urg'd your way 
 Has always on us ftream'd hope's fmiling ray. 
 No dearer objecl: than this child can rife, 
 Whom prophets promis'd, infpir'd by the fkies. 
 The city Beth'lem borders on this phce, 875 
 
 Of ftrudture old, and peopled by our race. 
 Thither, to feek the royal Babe, contend, 
 And when confefs'd, to us a nuncio fend, 
 5
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD, 1 1 9 
 
 That to the Child our homage we may pay, 
 And in our gifts our regal fenfe difplay ; 880 
 
 Such joyful words dropt from the Tyrants tongue, 
 While round his heart a dreary envy clung : 
 Mad, that Heav'n's Monarch,whom the ftars obey, 
 Sould dwell on earth and bear a regal fway. 
 
 The fear beheld, theEafterns feck the town, 885 
 Of Ifraelites environ'd with a crown. 
 Now on the roof the liar's long travels ceafe, 
 And all the cot flreams dimpling with a blaze. 
 So, when the death of kings, or wars dread rage, 
 Fierce comets from the wrathful Ikies prefage ; 
 
 890 
 
 Behind them, flows a length of livid beams, 
 Which on the frighted globe with horror gleams. 
 Of pomp exempt, and flor'd with want's parade, 
 Into the low-roof'd cot the Monarchs lead, 
 Who rob'd in textur'd gold and crimfon veft, 895 
 Proftrateon earth the Infant-God confefs'd. 
 W T hile next the Dame thus bow'd the royal band, 
 Each pour'd his treafures with a lib'ral hand. 
 Before the door, in long procdfion, wait 
 A courtier train, who fvvell the pomp of flate : 900 
 While Heeds with coverings glowing to behold, 
 Paw the rent earth, and champ the poliih'd gold. 
 
 Their homage paid, exulting they purfue 
 The ftar, its progrds itain'd with blazing hue. 
 
 I 4. Advis'd
 
 120 The CHRIST! AD. Book III. 
 
 Advis'd to file the regal city's gate, 905 
 
 Far on the right they roam from Herod's feat ; 
 Who, furious with the fraud, an army calls, 
 And fecret fends to Bethlem's hated walls, 
 To feize by night when all creation refts, 
 And flay the babes that fuck their mothers breafls i 
 
 910 
 
 That in the infant-crowd the royal heir 
 Might fall a victim, and the carnage ihare. 
 But o'er my fleep, hover'd a voice by night, 
 To fhun the bloody fcene and hafte my flight. 
 The Dame and child convey, (the voice exclaims) 
 
 9'5 
 
 And fcek the Nile which parts in fourteen ftreams; 
 
 There dwell, (nor is that land remote from thee) 
 Nor thence remove, until recali'd by me : 
 For Tetrach-Herod with ambition wild, 
 Now meditates the (laughter of the child. 920 
 
 I rife, and to the Dame the fpeech reveal : 
 Her limbs grow languid, and her vifage pale ; 
 Runs here and there while hafte retards her flight 
 And fcarce can truft the fliadow of the night. 
 There fhe, unhappy, felt the fword of woe 925 
 And all the pain that can from torments flow. 
 
 We go and ibon depart the trait'rous town, 
 And plunge in devious paths with horror brown. 
 Thro' palmy woods and old Elufa t-nd, 
 And high Idume's. panting brow afcend. 93? 
 
 Map fa
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD, u< 
 
 Mapfa riceives us famous for her oil 
 
 Which pkrts the Afian from the Libyan foil ; 
 
 We enter now great Pharaoh's large domain, 
 
 On whofe fpread fields defcends no foft'ring rain ; 
 
 Whofe natives found the ether's vivid force, 935 
 
 The ftars, the lunar orb, and folar courfe. 
 
 Along ftrange floods we glide, ftrange mountains 
 
 fcale, 
 
 And near to towns with turrets pointed fail. 
 Anthedon's banks we trace, whole gentle waves 
 Smoothly reflect Papyrus' mrubby leaves. 940 
 We flart with horror at each whifp'ripg air, 
 Fearful and anxious for our infant-care. 
 The groves bend to the child their boughs of bays, 
 And zephyrs figh with balmy breath his praife ; 
 The rocks and mountains, to exprefs their love, 945 
 Their craggy brows with feftive lightnefs move. 
 A vocal fignal of their joy to raife, 
 The floods fatigue their ftreams in varied maze ; 
 With gentle lapfe they tinkle down their bed, 
 Now over rocks their roaring water fpread. 950 
 To caft a deeper azure on the ftream 
 The rocks with moffy veflure verdant gleam. 
 Chiefly the birds, who dwell the banks along, 
 Inrich the ambient gales with liquid fong : 
 Of fuch foft notes pleas'd with the theme and cnufe, 
 
 [955 
 
 With founding wings they lengthen their applaufe j 
 Rejoicing at her God's approach, the earth 
 Expands her lap, and pours a verdant birth, 
 
 Th?
 
 1 22 The CHRISTIAD. Book III. 
 
 The herbs wide med abroad their rich perfume 
 And nods Amaracus its fhady gloom. 960 
 
 The Nile, whofe head retires with fecret pride, 
 Proclaims God's prefence with exulting tide ; 
 Riding on waves, he fpouts fublime in air 
 His fecret fprings, and all his fands appear -, 
 Where channels meet, or ways confront to ways 965 
 Unknown to chufe, loft in the doubtful maze : 
 A winged Beauty, from his bright abode, 
 With fword and fhield, illumes the proper road ; 
 Left, ftraying, into devious paths we run, 
 Into the murd'rous hands, we toil ta Ihun. 970 
 His flaming back blum'd with cerulean dyes, 
 The fame his form, who left his native fkies, 
 Forbad the divorce, that I once defign'd, 
 And chas'd the jealous darknefs of my mind. 
 Our journey, others in the air purfue, 975 
 
 The child protecting from nocturnal dew : 
 Above his head, they cluftcr into rings, 
 And form a canopy with out-fpread wings. 
 Thro' perplex'd travels bold we coaft the fhore, 
 Whofe vicine fields with cymbals wildly roar. 980 
 Tho now the Babe inhales a foreign air, 
 We yet to Egypt's fartheft part repair , 
 Fearful we dread, where fafety largely reigns, 
 And think no place too far, from Herod's plains. 
 Pifpleas'd we flie Hermopolis' proud feats, 985 
 And Thebes feems dang'rous with her hundred 
 
 gates. 
 
 Our travels Memphis to a period brings, 
 lUuilrious for the tombs of Egypt's Kings : 
 
 A friend
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. 
 
 A friend receives us in his cottage- feat, 
 Indeed, an humble, but a fafe retreat. 
 Along the coafts, where Nile expands his ftream, 
 In fadly-folemn dirge, fmgs mournful fame, 
 That Bethlehem's town deplores her babe-offspring, 
 (Slain by the mandate of Paleftine's King) 
 Who innocent in vain, with tender cries, 995 
 
 Ceafe with their lives to breathe the luftred fkies. 
 PrefTing her child, the mother-maid turns pale, 
 Jrler mind ftruck with the image of the tale; 
 For fancy brings the bloody fcene to view ; 
 The tears, the (laughter from the nation drew : 10.00 
 The matron's ihrieks, that pierce the pitying air, 
 While thro* the town, they roam'd in wild defpair : 
 The earth, with vital purple, that abounds ; 
 And houfes, dreaming with infantile wounds. 
 So when a ftorm o ? er heedlefs fhepherds reigns, 1005 
 JLow'rs on the woods and fweeps along the plains ; 
 Struck with the rattling tempeit, expire the lambs, 
 And the fame fate attends their bleating dams. 
 So infant -carnage on the pavement ftrew'd, 
 The forum ftain'd and chok'd the ghaftly road. 1010 
 Hence fadly true appears the Prophet's ftrain, 
 Of many fhou'd the infant prove the bane : 
 The flaught'ring day gleams yet in fancy's eye, 
 And from the childlefs mothers draws the figh. 
 Nor long, the author of the barb'rous deed, 1015 
 Surviv'd the children he ordain'd to bleed ; 
 For foon his limbs with foul corrofion feiz'd, 
 jHe died unpity'd, as he Jiv'd unprais'd. 
 
 Soft
 
 J24 The CHRISTJAD. Book III. 
 
 Soft o'er my fleep again the image glides 
 
 And bids me leave Nile's monfter-bearing tides. 1021 
 
 Back to their country, mindful of the way, 
 
 The mother and her infant I convey. 
 
 You may defire to know his tender cares ; 
 
 Or did his wifdom far excell his years . 
 
 Or did he, rip'ning into rofy bloom, 1025 
 
 In infant fports, his infant days confume ? 
 
 But fhou'd I, to the wonders fketch'd, engage 
 
 To draw the portrait of his buding age, 
 
 Unequal to the tafk my voice wou'd fail 
 
 And mrouding night the day from Ether fteal. 
 
 How oft* did we, unnerv'd vvich chilling fear 1030 
 
 Words, more than mortal, from the infant hear : 
 
 In flaring horror loft, how oft have view'd 
 
 His tender frame, with facred fire bedew'd : 
 
 While from his hair drop'd fparks of liquid blaze 
 
 1035 
 
 And to fublime his mien, Heav'n fhower'd its rays. 
 When to his Sire he pour'd his private pray'r, 
 How glow'd his words, how blaz'd his raptur'd air ! 
 His tender mother, as me piied the loom, 
 Oft faw celeftials foft invade the room , 1040 
 
 To foothe the child, appear in human forms, 
 Improve with ftudious labour all his charms 
 In wild rotations revel on the wing, 
 And made him with the product of the fpring. 
 Yet fweetly mild he yielded to our fway, 1045 
 
 And all our words was ready to obey. 
 
 Till
 
 3ooklil. the CHRIST! Aft 125 
 
 Till rip'ning time his vigour iliou'd improve, 
 To fpread his Father's glory and his love. 
 
 No figns divulg'd him to the public ear, 
 Till he of life attained the twice fixth year. 1050 
 His virtue then impatient to fubfide, 
 Spreads o'er Judea's town a radiant tide. 
 Religious to our tribes mines out a day, 
 Therefore to this great town I bend my way ; 
 The royal maid departs her iweet abode, 1055 
 
 Her child attends, companion of her road. 
 The homage paid, our travels we repeat, 
 Fond of retiring to our humble feat -, 
 Our wearied fteps the folar beams illume, 
 And o'er the fides night cafts a pitchy gloom, 1060 
 Before the abfence of the child we fpy, 
 Who filent fled his mother's guardian eye. 
 'Mid friends we trace the fugitive with pain, 
 And the road's vocal, with his name, in vain. 
 From the fad mother gufhes faft the tear, 1065 
 And down her iv'ry neck wild flows her hair : 
 The confus'd locks her neck's pure whitenefs grace, 
 And tears fublime the beauties of her face. 
 Thus foft Amaracus in its Veftal urn 
 Whom rains deform, and raging tempefts fpurn, 
 
 1070 
 
 Hangs down its flow'ry head, but foon regains 
 Its tow'ring pride and frem with odours reigns. 
 With me reluctant, the fad mother ftrays 
 And thjo' the town, we fought the boy three days ; 
 
 The
 
 12(5 The CHRISTIAD. fiook III. 
 
 The fourth day mines, at laft in fervent pray'r 1075 
 Our hopes we fix, and to the Fane repair, 
 The portal trod, when we the child iurvey, 
 (Of all his future pow'r the firft eflay) 
 Rehearfing fervent, 'mid the prieflly throng, 
 Of each infpir'd Bard the raptur'd fong. 108* 
 
 Afking the page's obfcure fenfe, in vain 5 
 And fheding luftre on each myftic ftrain. 
 The vaulted temple with applaufes rung, 
 To hear fuch language from an infant's tongue, 
 By art untaught, without experience fage, io8j 
 A man in wifdom, and a child in age. 
 Nor lefs enchanting was his youthful frame j 
 To view him, crowds, of fight infatiate, came; 
 His rofy looks exhal'd an hcav'nly air 
 Mild bcam'd his eyes, and golden flow'd his hair 5 
 
 1090 
 
 His budding childhood had fuch pleafmg pow'r 
 Nor yet unfolded blufh'd his youthful flow'r. 
 Frefh drops of light gufh'd from his rolling eyes, 
 Bright as a ftar new rifing in the fides ; 
 Caught, with his beauty nature fmil'd ferene, 109^; 
 For breathing loves refulted from his mien. 
 Thus fliines NarcifTus fweet, above the flow'rs, 
 "Which an uncultured field promifcuous pours, 
 When thro* his op'ning foliage he difplays 
 His purple head, and mines with crimfon blaze. I io 
 So jseams an ern'rald, azure to behold, 
 Inchas'd with filver, or in burnifli'd gold.
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD. 12,7 
 
 From this fir ft fcene fparks of envy rofr, 
 And for the boy (truck out a train of woes j 
 For malice feiz'd the Sages' hearts that hour, 1 1 05 
 Who rag'd to view, and fear'd his growing pow'r. 
 Hence now the wrath, that thro' the town proceeds, 
 And hence the flames, that urge to bloody deeds. 
 Of omens full, the youth I oft implor'd, 
 Frugal of life, to fly the hofcile fword ; 1 1 1 
 
 But mountain tow'rs lye veii'd as foon by light, 
 And blazing fummits burn obfcur'd by night, 
 As virtue can, forgetful of a name, 
 Evade the plaufive voice of plumy fame. 
 
 Of all his actions, none more rous'd their rage, 
 Then when fix luftres had matur'd his age. 1116 
 The ftream obedient to his pow'r divine, 
 Deep blufh'd, transfigur'd into rofy wine. 
 About that time a friend, by blood allied, 
 In holy marriage gave his virgin-child ; i I2d 
 
 With us the youth was call'd, a welcome gueft, 
 To mare at once and grace the nuptial feait. 
 While round the genial board the Nobles lay, 
 And with the feaft indulg'd the bridal day, 
 The menial train in wild confnfion roam, 1 125 
 And whifp'ring murmurs eccho thro' the dome : 
 That the broad cafks an empty fpacc confine, 
 Void of the caufe of mirth, the gen'rous wine. 
 Touch'd with the fortune of the wedded fair, 
 My fpoufe implor'd her fon the wants to hear, 1 1 ?o 
 
 lie
 
 128 The CHRISTIAD. fiook llf, 
 
 He feem'd difturb'd, but foon inclin'd to aid* 
 Won by his mother's vows, the bridal maid. 
 The train he orders fix large urns to fill, 
 With v/ater flowing from a gurgling rill. 
 Soon as the ftream was offer'd to his view^ 1 135 
 Into a blulh it chang'd its pallid hue. 
 Bewilder'd with the change, our eyes we roll, 
 And quaff for water pure the purple bowl. 
 
 Lo ! of his infancy a flight portrait, 
 And of his Deity the firft efTay, 1 140 
 
 Nor is there caufe his other deeds to name ; 
 By them this country is extoll'd by fame. 
 But, if you wifh to hear a fuller ftafe, 
 He can the beft (regarding John) relate, 
 Who prefent view'd each glorious wonder blaze% 
 A true attendant on his Matter's ways. 1 1 46 
 
 While a lefs glorious, but a pleating care, 
 My fteps confin'd to wait my wedded fair. 
 
 Jofephus tir*d,infilencefeeks a feat. 
 Your Hero's tales, thus Pontius cries, complete : 
 
 1150 
 
 What's his Religion , for if truth I hear -, 
 The Syrian tribes one God alone revere : 
 Eternal, fpringing from no human caufe -, 
 Nor houlhold Gods find altars by their laws, 
 Th' unfinifh'd feries of your God detail, '555 
 And all his portents, known to you, unveil. 
 
 Weak
 
 Book III. The CHRISTIAD, i a g 
 
 Weak for the tafk, the Sage's ftrength retires, 
 And you, his fubftitute, his wilh requires. 
 Thus Pontius faid : while o'er the crowded train 
 Silence expands its mute and folemn reign : 1 560 
 
 End of the Third Book, 
 
 \ 
 
 K
 
 ARGUMENT to the Fourth Book. 
 
 John the Evangelift attempts, at the inftance of 
 Pilate, to give an idea of the nature of God, the 
 eternal birth of (Thrift, the procefllon of the HO- 
 LY GHOST from the FATHER and the SON-, the 
 TRINITY of the PERSONS , and the UNITY of 
 the God-head. He then defcends to the creation 
 of the Angels, the rebellion of fome of them, 
 and the formation of Man. Next follows an ac- 
 count of the impatience of the Souls of the Righ- 
 teous for the coming of the Redeemer to deliver 
 them from their prifon. The birth, preaching, 
 and baptifm of John the Baptift. He clofes his 
 narrative with that part of Chrift's life, which 
 fpeaks him a God, wherein, among many other 
 miracles, he recites the refufcitation of Lazarus, 
 the Widow's fon, and Ruler's daughter; the call- 
 ing and chufing of the Apoftles and Difciples, to- 
 gether with the feeding of the multitude in the 
 Defcrt, and Chrift's fading and being tempted 
 in the Wildernefs. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D, 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 f I \O none inferior in a beauteous face* 
 
 JL Where youthful revels ev'ry rofy grace, 
 The youth declines the tafk with decent pains, 
 Feigns an excufe, and filent (till remains. 
 Launching at length from this terreftrial fpace, 5 
 The man abforpt in wonders' cluft'ring mazej 
 His foul wings ether, and afcends fublime, 
 Where hofts celeftial tread the ftarry clime ; 
 There quaffs the finer air, the liquid blaze, 
 And on the God with am'rous eyes delays. 10 
 
 The queen of birds from humble earth thus fprings, 
 And winding ether foars on plaufive wings, 
 Conceals her airy paffage in the clouds, 
 And darting on, the neigb'ring fun beholds ; 
 Undazzled dares on his bright fource to gaze, 1 5 
 And with a ftedfaft eye inhale his rays. 
 Mean while his filence all the crowd admir*d, 
 And mov'd him if in death or fleep retir'd : 
 The rapture fled, he thus the Chief addrefs'd, 
 While a long figh rofe heavy from his breaft. 20 
 K 2 JQ
 
 i 3 2 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 In the beginning the Almighty Sire, 
 Nature's fole fource, held o'er all an empire, 
 Struck out no ftars, the ether to adorn , 
 Produc'd no world as yet, nor was time born : 
 The azure plains no ftreaming lights o'erflow'd, 2 5 
 Whatever then exiftence had, was God. 
 Where'er he dwelt, himfelf was his own fpace, 
 And what contain'd him, was his own embrace. 
 He had an only Son, no Goddefs born, 
 Nor new from mortal womb inhal'd the morn, 30 
 But in his Sire's eternal mind conceiv'd, 
 Th'eternal SON a wond'rous birth receiv'd j 
 No human limbs his facred form confin'd, 
 But pure and fpiritual as his Sire*s mind. 
 The WORD in the paternal breaft conceal'd, 35 
 To the foft air no voice had yet reveal'd. 
 The WORD almighty from commencement free, 
 And whole celeftial reign no end mall fee ; 
 From whom the fea and Ikies receiv'd their birth, 
 And who from nothing call'd the verdant earth. 40 
 The Sire is God, fo is his only Son ; 
 Two Go$s to hold them, yet with caution fhun, 
 As the fame Godhead in them common flows, 
 So the two Perfons but one God compofe. 
 The LOVE, proceeding from the Sire and Heir,45 
 We name the SPIRIT, and as God revere. 
 The FATHER, SON, and GHOST, as God we own ; 
 Three diftinct PERSONS, and the Godhead ONE. 
 This Holy Ghoft fans Ether, Earth and Seas, 
 And all things flourifli by his facred BREEZE. 50 
 
 What
 
 Book IV. Thfc CHRISTIAD. , ^ 
 
 "What may furprizc, the God whom we behold, 
 Tho' made a man, and human limbs infold, 
 Now rules Olympus with his Father-God ; 
 Arranging all things with his Godhead's nod ; 
 Unbounded in the narrow wilds of fpace, 55 
 
 And prefent totally in ev'ry place. 
 For God diffus'd fills all creation's plan, 
 Too fine for touch to feel, or eye to fcan. 
 So the rich luftre that on the world ftreams, 
 From the Sun gumes in full floods of beams : 60 
 Nor without Phebus glows the fcatter'd blaze, 
 Nor Phebus reigns without his crown of rays. 
 
 What mov*d the God fuch labours to fuftain, 
 And roam, to death expos'd, from pain to pain j 
 From its firftcaufe I will the theme purfue, 65 
 And ope the latent profpect to your view. 
 The heav'nly orbs and earth which you behold 
 The Lord had fcarce into exiftence roll'd ; 
 The Father made, won with eternal love, 
 The Spirits, who in his bright regions move ; yd 
 The feather'd train, with the unbodied ghofts, 
 The fwiftcekftials, and the thrice three hods, 
 To cull the pleafures, and at large to mare, 
 Which he enjoy'd, and his coeval heir. 
 Some burft at once into a grateful praife, f$ 
 
 And to their Author God inton'd the lays. 
 But luft of rule (who unreveng'd could bear ?) 
 The greater number fwell'd with regal care, 
 
 K 3 Vrgd
 
 I 3 4 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 Urg'dthem to grafp the throne with dazzl'd mind, 
 Their wifhes impotent, their fury blind. 80 
 
 But full of wrath, God bids his cohorts rife, 
 And hurl the crowd inglorious from the Ikies ; 
 JBaffl'd their fcheme, they lie in caves deprefs'd, 
 O'er which eternal night and horror reft. 
 
 Hence man's creation ; to whofe ample fway 85 
 Jehovah gave the earth and azure fea. 
 The brute creation bends to his domain, 
 The tribes that glide with fins along the main; 
 The feather'd crowcj a that wing the airy fpace, 
 And all the dreary mountains favage race ; 90- 
 To him and to his line the feats are given 
 Which once the angel-rebels held in Heav'n. 
 He faw all nature blooming for his ufe, 
 Solely prohibited one tree's produce; 
 3ut foon enamoyr'd of the fruitful boughs, 95 
 And too uxorious toward a preffing fpoufe, 
 (Herfelf the Serpent's prey) in a fad hour, 
 Jie broke the mandate of the fupreme POW'R. 
 The fruit prophan'd no fooner by his tafte, 
 Than He, who pours the ftorm .thro' Ether's wafte, 
 
 100 
 
 Thro' redd'ning clouds bids claps of thunder break, 
 And wrathful feems his vengeance to awake, 
 Which Adam bore, and all his race fhall bear, 
 That drink the luftre of thefolar fphere. 
 Soon barriers ftop'd the paffage to the flcy, 105 
 And horrid rofc an impious progeny, 
 
 A group
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 135 
 
 A group of crimes defil'd the virgin-earth j 
 Then fraud and daring luft emcrg'd to birth. 
 Hence to hard toil was human kind betray 'd, 
 Hence fprung fad care, and death his gate difplay'd. 
 
 1 10 
 
 Difcafes ghaftly ftalk'd with pining grief, 
 Bafe want and famine hopelefs of relief. 
 Was man obedient, he had felt no care, 
 But breath'd thro' many years this vital air. 
 Then man unfldlTd and thoughtlefs rang'd the fields, 
 
 U5 
 
 Untutor'd in the good, that order yields. 
 Howe'er they mov'd their God by victims (lain, 
 From ilorms to fhield their flocks, and bladcd grain. 
 Two thoufand years their ftate unvary'd ey'd : 
 At length God gave his vengeance to fubfide. 1 20 
 For in Olympus tho' they found no place, 
 Yet ftill to civilize the wand'ring race, 
 The fupreme pow'r refin'd them by advice, 
 Struck out new laws and modes of facrifice. 
 Our tribes he form'd ; the knife to mark them glow'd 
 
 125 
 
 With blood, that from the circumcifion flow'd. 
 Then with the future truth the bards diftent 
 On the rejoicing world their numbers fpent ; 
 The time was rolling, when the forbidd'n fky 
 Should to the pious wide Ipontaneous fly. 1 30 
 
 Beneath earth's circle, in a dark retreat, 
 The pious ghofts, meanwhile, devoutly wait 
 
 K The
 
 '136 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 The purple dawn of the redeeming days, 
 
 Once the fond fubjeft of prophetick lays. 
 
 With hands uprear'd, they beg the fupreme Sirei35 
 
 To put a period to his burning ire, 
 
 Nor, for the devious fault of one, deface 
 
 From the expanded earth the human race. 
 
 Spare, Almighty ! fpare, (was the gen'ral cry) 
 
 Give us at length to claim the promis'd fky, 140 
 
 From whofe bland light, thefe regions king detain j 
 
 Nor have you on us life beftow'd in vain. 
 
 But if force trace of former faults remains, 
 
 Unlock your fprir.gs, and lave benign the ftains. 
 
 Oh what celeftial Ihall Heav'n's moifture pour, 145 
 
 And kind refrefh us with the holy movv'r ? 
 
 Drop dew 1 ye orbs, that wind the blue ferene , 
 
 Aid us ye clouds, diftent with facred rain. 
 
 Come chiefly you, whom ages wifh'd to fee ; 
 
 To whom with awe hell bends the trembling knee* 
 
 150 
 
 Jehovah born -, bright as the dew defcend ; 
 And hither iwift from ftarry ether tend ; 
 Break down the gates, that block the facred way, 
 And, clotrrd with pow'r, glide from eternal day. 
 Such was the invocation of their drains ; 155 
 
 To which, the potent Sire touch'd with their pains, 
 And full the Angel*- damage to repair, 
 From high Olympus bent a fav'rite ear. 
 Tho* at his nod Heav'n's gate might open wide, 
 Orfome WingM minftrel from Olympiis glide, 160 
 Free the fad captives fr6m the gloomy plains, 
 And waft their fouls to ether's ftarry fanes; 
 
 His
 
 Cook IV. The CHRISTI AD. 37 
 
 His Godhead ftill to print on human kind, 
 And with a glorious aft, their love to bind, 
 He fent his Son from his ethereal throne, 16- 
 
 Made man, for man's tranfgreflion to atone : 
 Butunconfefs'd on earth, left he fhould ftand, 
 Or be pefl'd an exile from the land, 
 Himfeff proclaiming God's own Progeny, 
 Forbidd'n by the ftatutes of the country, 170 
 
 He fent a Bard his advent to proclaim, 
 A native of thefe regions, John by name, 
 Whom to Zacharias Eliza bore, 
 Sterile her womb, her head with old age hoar. 
 He lab'ring with a Prophet's facred throws 1 75 
 To the glad world the God incarnate fhev/s. 
 In infancy he from t lie world retired, 
 With love of woods, and brooks, and mountains fif'd: 
 His manfion are deep caves with horrors rude, 
 Uncultur'd fhrubs bear fruitage for his food ; i So 
 Or hollow trunks their honey wild diftill, 
 And for his cup clear rolls the lucid rill. 
 Religious to the fight his frame appears, 
 Rough vefted with a camel's fhaggy hairs. 
 Yet tho' a folitaire he pours his ftrains 185 
 
 To mountains, fandy fliores and defert plains ; 
 But woodland fhades can't quench fair virtue's beam, 
 The. vicine towns foon catch the Hermit's fame ; 
 On him, as wafted from the fkies, they gaze, 
 (The theme divine of Sibyl's raptur'd lays) 190 
 Who mould, from fhades o'ercaft with dreary night, 
 Tranflate the human world to fields of light. 
 
 .And
 
 j 3 5 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 And now full crowds invade his wild retreat, 
 His race demanding and bufmefs of his ftate : 
 Was he the ONE, who from the fkies mould glide 
 
 *95 
 To fuccour wretched man at once, and guide ? 
 
 He cry'd, beneath his fylvan bow'r reclin'd, 
 Hear and rejoice, you race of human kind ; 
 Long have you ftray'd imbrown'd with night's dark 
 
 hue ; 
 
 The light now dawns, you wifh'd fo oft to view -,200 
 But fpare to view me as the promis'd flame, 
 (For undeferving honours I difclaim.) 
 As Lucifer precedes, with (lender ray, 
 The matin fun, and faint announces day : 
 So I foretel your flood of radiance mines, 205 
 And God himfelf mail vifit your confines ; 
 The God mail on your mortal plains be feen, 
 Confefs'd a mortal in his frame and mien : 
 At his approach yourfeflal joy difplay, 
 With blufhing carpets ftrew his facred way ; 210 
 Your verdant fields with flow'ry chaplets drefs, 
 And in your holy pomp the God confefs. 
 Righteous, mean while, and moral be your fame, 
 And let me lave your follies in the ftream. 
 With the celeftial Spirit, he will clean 2I 5 
 
 Guilt's firft contagion, and each finful flain : 
 Then the whole world with wonder fhall behold 
 Itfelf tranfigur'd to an age of gold. 
 
 Thefc
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 139 
 
 Thefe words pronounced, the neighb'ring towns 
 
 defcend, 
 
 Where Jordan's ftreams along the vallies bend -, 220 
 The ikies imperial they for peace addrefs, 
 And all their faults fpontaneoufly confefs. 
 With hollow palm the Baptift fcoops the waves, 
 And with the dream their naked bodies laves. 
 The God in private mixes with the band, 225 
 And for luftration fecks fair Jordan's ftrand ; 
 That he might (vefted with a mortal frame) 
 The rites perform, that man's attention claim. 
 That after ages need not blufli to mare 
 The folemn duties, which employ'd his care. 230 
 Soon as the Lord had 'mid the water flione, 
 The Baptift's vifual orbs the Godhead own, 
 And while his hands are rear'd to Ether's beams, 
 His fuppliant knees comprefs the wond'ring dreams. 
 Abtbrp'd with rev'rence he declines to flied 235 
 The luftral moifture on his facred head : 
 But pafilve foon to the divine command, 
 He laves his body with a trembling handi 
 With luftre purpled, Jordan's ftreams appear, 
 And peals of thunders -rend th'ambient air : 240 
 Lo ! from the fkies a Dove directs his flight, 
 His wings with gold, his back with ftlver bright. 
 Sloping his blazing courfe, his plumage fpreads, 
 And breathes his holy influence on their heads. 
 The Father's lays along Olympus run, 245 
 
 Impafiion'd with the love he bears his Son. 
 
 Mean
 
 i 4 o The CHRISTIAP. Book IV. 
 
 Mean while a youthful band of Heav'n's bright 
 
 fphere, 
 
 On wings incumbent prefs the crowded air : 
 Are charg'd with drapery of a fnowy hue, 
 In act their Sovereign's mandate to purfue ; 250 
 Quickly to dry his darling Son's moift frame, 
 And trefles, droping with the facred ftream. 
 
 Tht God when he had fhar'd the holy rite, 
 Foriakes the tumid flood, and fleals from fight. 
 At whofe recefs the Baptift pours this ftrain, 255 
 To all the banks throng'd vvith a num'rous train : 
 The God is come, he dwells on earth, behold ; 
 By all defir'd and oft by me foretold, 
 Mild as a lamb, on incens'd altars flain, 
 \Vhoby his blood mail warn each human ftain -,260 
 A willing victim to his Father fall ; 
 Then own your God, and on your Matter call. 
 
 The Bard no longer haunts the wilds and groves ; 
 But now from town to town inceffant roves ; 
 Diftilling on the ear in raptur'd ftrains -, 265 
 
 The promised God treads earth, the Godhead reigrrf 
 But few believ'd till God, hirnfelf proclaimed 
 By deeds, above the reach of mortals, fam'd. 
 For thirty years the Lord himfelf concea-Fd 
 His deeds obfcure, his Godhead unreveal'd : 
 But firft he calls twelve friends among his train 
 To mare his fortune and laborious pain. 270 
 
 Nor think he fix'd on them of lineage great, 
 Or taught by nature, or by art deceit :
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. f 4 
 
 His choice were men, whofe veins roll'd vulgar gore, 
 
 2 75 
 Of manners fimple, and in fortune poor. 
 
 Among us five from fmall Bethefda came, 
 
 Employ 'd to lure the fifties from the ft ream 
 
 With guileful hook; or launch into the main, 
 
 Where fcaly Ihoals enrich the wat'ry plain. 280 
 
 When he defir'd, we fhould attend his lore, 
 
 I was my nets repairing on the more. 
 
 My brother James obferv'd with watchful eye, 
 
 Laming the more with panting life, the fry. 
 
 Andrew and Peter near us ploughed the ftream; 285 
 
 Brothers, the fame their thought and art the fame. 
 
 Philip likewife, by blood to me ally'd 
 
 Left at the call his nets and briny tide : 
 
 Thomas and Thaddeus next increas'd the train, 
 
 And Simon fprung from Galilean Cane, 290 
 
 With the like art, whofe bread was wont to glow, 
 
 Fond of the flood and to the fifli a foe. 
 
 For Alpheus James by blood to Simon dear, 
 
 Before this time had join'd the focial care. 
 
 Behold a lift of an inglorious race, 295 
 
 Names harm to hearing and of accent bafe ! 
 
 Nor we alone appear of horrid mien ; 
 
 Three alfo at the fummons join'd the train. 
 
 Matthew, who glories in no better line -, 
 
 Whofe hoary treflcs next to Peter's mine, 300 
 
 The lift Bartholomew and Judas fill, 
 
 Judas, the horrid inftrument of ill. 
 
 Scarce
 
 i 4 2 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV, 
 
 Scarce can I count the wonders which my eyes 
 Gaz'd on, or ears imbib'd with deep furprize, 
 In a fhort fpace^ for only three years roll'd, 305 
 Since he embrac'd me in his chofen fold. 
 Who (hall this ocean of his deeds eflay ? 
 1 will, however, your inftance to obey, 
 Tho* hard the tafk, exhibit to your view, 
 And draw, from crowds of progenies, a few. 310 
 To tell his actions therefore I'll forbear, 
 Wrought in the vicinetowns,whichreach'd your ear. 
 For all this coaft with foaring fame proceeds, 
 Illuilrious with the glory of his deeds. 
 Has not Bethania's vales with palms em l v s c'd, 315 
 Her ruler lately ey'd from death released ? 
 On whofe remains, in darkfome t9mb outfpread, 
 The fun four days his mourning influence med. 
 What numbers has he call'd from death's drear gate, 
 How many fnatch'd from all-devouring fate ? 320 
 Equal's the tafk, to tell, when Boreas roars, 
 The waves that frothe, the fands that ftrew the 
 
 mores, 
 
 As to rehearfe the throngs, with languid breath, 
 Who morbid fought him, and return'd with health. 
 What groups of blind, of deaf-born men, what 
 
 fwarms, 325 
 
 Whofe ears ne'er drunk, nor lips drop'd vocal 
 
 charms ! 
 
 The lame to feek him bend their limping way ; 
 And carriers thofe of movelefs limbs convey : 
 
 With
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 143 
 
 With ulcerous bodies fome polluted glow, 
 And putrid juices from their members flow. 330 
 Thofe guileful draughts in their fwoll'n frames inftil, 
 Whofe thirft nor ftreams can quench, nor human 
 
 (kill; 
 
 While thcfe their limbs, with trembling palfy weak, 
 Beneath the burthen of their bodies {hake. 
 In fome the fever rages thro* their veins ; 33$ 
 
 Some lie, their members torn with unknown pains. 
 In others while difturbing furies rife, 
 The mind deftroy, and redden in the eyes. 
 The fad difeafes fhun his holy fight, 
 Or from his touch wing fwift their baleful flight. 
 
 340 
 
 The patient hence exalts his healthful head, 
 And bounds rejoicing from his fickly bed. 
 And hence his walks contain a morbid train, 
 The road, the forum, and the facred Fane. 
 The dead felt not his power, 'tillSidon's land 345 
 Gave him to lofty Nairn with his band. 
 
 A range of lights in long proceflion flames, 
 And thro* the town a dewy fadnefs ftreams. 
 Now on his bier the mournful caufe appears, 
 A beauteous youth dead in his bloom of years, 35* 
 The ghaftly white fpread o'er his pallid face, 
 Blots out the crimfon of each youthful grace. 
 So prefs'd by oxen coming from the plains, 
 The Hyacinth refigns his purple ftains. 
 
 Or
 
 144 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 Or thus the rpfe, crop'd by fame virgin, lies 355 
 'JVfong ihaggy thorns obfcure, decays, and dies. 
 The wretched mother, with her forrow wild, 
 Roams thro' the city, and laments her child. 
 Sanguine with mangl'd cheeks her hands appear, 
 And down her back dimevell'd flows her hair. 360 
 Touch'd with her mien, and wounded by her cries, 
 The matrons fwarm, and fill with mrieks the fkies. 
 The men deplore by foft compaffion led 
 The childlefs mother and her widow'd bed. 
 When the God faw the corfe with palenefs fade, 
 
 3 6 5 
 
 And the foft down the youthful features made ; 
 He bids the tears to ceafe, the pomp to ftand, 
 And moving foothes the body with his hand. 
 Life moves the corfe : and wond'rous to the eyes, 
 Amid the crowd the youth is feen to rife ; 370 
 Forfakes his bier and with a foft embrace, 
 His parent clafps, and bids her forrow ceafe. 
 
 A few moons after, he from death's drear made 
 To blooming life reftores a beauteous maid ; 
 All vital heat and breath forfook the fair, 375 
 And flying vanim'd into common air. 
 Jairus the Virgin's fire the wonder ey'd, 
 Jairus rich, facund, and the people's pride. 
 ToucH'd with a friend's diftrefs he bids the dream 
 To wine tranfvers'd aflume a rofy flame. 380 
 
 The fun begun to moot his weflern rays, . 
 "When on a mountain plac'd, the Lord furveys 
 
 Of
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 145 
 
 Of males and females a promifcuous knot, 
 Themfelves forgeting, and their cares forgot ; 
 Who of his perfon fond, forfake their home, 385 
 And with him rum into the defert's gloom. 
 "With tender pity mov'd he here delays ; 
 For on their fafts three funs had fpent their blaze ; 
 No corn flood near, nor towns to purchafe meat ; 
 Nor was the fruitage then matured by heat. 390 
 By chance a boy is found, who five loaves bore, 
 And too fmall fifties, his nutricious ftore, 
 Which his fond mother, to fupport his ways, 
 Involv'd in balmy grafs and myrtle leaves. 
 But what were thefe to feed a num'rous train ? 395 
 And now his friends fad with d^fpair complain ; 
 His little fenate he to foothe them forms, 
 And into hope, their fears thus mildly charms. 
 Tho' in the fubjecl vale vaft numbers ftray, 
 None mall retire unfatisfy'd this day. 40 
 
 Then to the ground without delay he falls 
 And on his Sire fupreme thus rev'rend calls : 
 Hail mighty Parent ! by whofe funs and rains 
 All things with food the fecund earth fuftains ; 
 If once, in wilds, you fed the Hebrew -race, 405 
 By (heding banquets from the heav'nly fpace ; 
 If to no feed creation owes its birth, 
 And once were nothing ether, feas, and earth -, 
 Propitious hear, dire famine chafe away, 
 Nor let fo many thoufands be her prey. 410 
 
 He ceas'd to pray ; and on the grafly plain, 
 Outfpreads, with hunger keen, the num'rous train, 
 L Then
 
 146 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV*. 
 
 Then placid cuts the loaves with niceft care, 
 
 And ftric~lly deals to each his fcanty (hare. 
 
 Five thoufand men for food then prefs'd the green ; 
 
 4i5 
 
 When lo ! (heard with furprize, with wonder feen) 
 The little portions in their hands embrac'd, 
 Augment and fwell into a gen'rous feaft. 
 The gnawing rage of hunger now fedate, 
 With copious liquids and mirac'lous meat ; 420 
 Of ample fize twelve bafkets fcarce contain 
 The copious fcraps that of the feaft remain. 
 
 Another wonder lately was difplay'd ; 
 A tree diffufes wide a leafy made : 
 Beneath it oft the weary traveller flood 425 
 
 And drain'd the fruitage of their fparkling flood. 
 Imbrown'd with duft our Hero pafs'd that way, 
 And fought to quench his thirft, the blooming 
 
 fpray 
 
 In vain : The tree with barren branches waves, 
 And fpends its juices in luxurious leaves. 43* 
 His difappointment flames on the boughs, 
 And the tree feels the terror of his vows. 
 Inftant I faw the tree and branches die, 
 And the leaves circling in a whirlwind flic. 
 
 Nor to his pow'r lefs fubjecl: are the feas j 435 
 The waves, or fwell, or reft, as he decrees: 
 I faw fierce Boreas on the billows wild, 
 Subdue his rage, and at his word breathe mild. 
 
 Scarce
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 147 
 
 Scarce has bright Cynthia thrice her circle roll'd, 
 Since on the fea a midnight tempeft growl'd : 440 
 Smooth flow'd the waves, in whifpers blow'd the 
 
 wind, 
 
 When firft with nets we fought the fcaly kind. 
 But fuon the waves our fhatter'd bark o'erfiow'd, 
 And death on each contending billow rode. 
 When lo ! our Chief, whom on the diftant more- 
 
 445 
 We left attentive to the furges roar ; 
 
 Comes treading light the furface of the main, 
 Secure amid the wa'try hurricane. 
 Our eyes at the approaching figure fade, 
 Doubtful to judge it folid or a made. 450 
 
 So fwiftly without oars he fkim'd the main 
 Till he confefs'd himfelf in this foft ftrain : 
 Whence flow your fears, and why your hope fub- 
 
 fide ? 
 
 Hence in my words hereafter ne'er diffide. 
 He ceas'd, and mounts the bark, the finking prey, 
 
 455 
 
 To the devouring fury of the fea ; 
 Forbids by nod the raging ftorm to blow, 
 And free from threats, the furges gently flow. 
 The ftorm thus huflr d,with fwifteft oars we glide, 
 Safely to more, along the dimpling tide. 460 
 
 The harbour gain'd, an event foon befell, 
 Wond'rous te view and ftranger ftill to tell ? 
 
 L 2 The
 
 i 4 S The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 The Magiflrates, on our arrival, flood 
 On the green margin of the briny flood, 
 Claiming, by cuftom due, the yearly fee, 465 
 Impos'd on each by ancient Kings decree. 
 While they delay'd his placid fpeech to hear, 
 Chrift whifp'ring drop'd thefe words in Peter's ear. 
 Hafte hence and cad the line into the fcas, 
 And k thc firft filh the fraudful hook (hall feize, 
 
 470 
 
 DifiTec~t ; the victim foon mall drop to view 
 What mail abfolve the debt to Csefar due. 
 The Sage obeys : the prize now beats the fhore 
 Within whofe jaws fparkles the tribute ore. 
 
 A rifmg horror always writhes my mien, 475 
 As often as my mind lives o'er this fcene : 
 Culling of late fome fifh cafl by the flood, 
 A man of furious mind befide me flood. 
 His eye- balls, thrown about with wildnefs, gleam'd^ 
 And from his mouth a frothing moiflure (Iream'd: 
 
 48 
 
 If fame fings true, a lawlefs Hymen led 
 His guilty parents to the genial bed. 
 There joys to tafle forbidden by our rite, 
 What time the land to mourn the tribes invite, 
 But they enjoy'd not long their foul delight ; 485 
 The crime commenc'd and ended in one night: 
 For 'mid his joys the bafe adulterer dies, 
 And into air his wicked fpirit flies, 
 
 When
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 149 
 
 When urg'd her throes, from ether fhot a flam?, 
 And lambent round, confurn'd the lab'ring Dame, 
 
 490 
 
 And was not fnatch'dfrom her cut womb the birth, 
 Both had, at once, refign'd their lives in death. 
 Their brother's orphan child the filter nurs'd, 
 Who with the pain due to his parents curs'd, 494 
 His eyes with light, nor ears with founds were filPd ; 
 Nor human accents from his lips diftill'd ; 
 But when arriv'd to youth's vermilion age, 
 He foam'd with madnefs and infernal rage. 
 An hundred pefts from Erebus' dark made, 
 On his weak mind an hundred furies prey'd. 500 
 Thro' his deep throat (who can the tear refrain ?j 
 They pourtheirfhouts, and waketheir howling pain. 
 And when chance freed him from his guardian's 
 
 hands, 
 
 His irons broken, and his knotted bands, 
 All fhun'd the mocking and the foaming fight, 505 
 And ghaftly fought their roofs with headlong flight. 
 Thro' devious mazes now hejoy'd to roam, 
 Forgetful of his friends and native home. 
 Chofe, focial with the brutes, the fylvan gloom, 
 Lodg'd in fome rocky cave, or mould'ring tomb. 
 
 510 
 
 Thus poor he rang'd the wilds with haggard eyes, 
 And with his naked body brav'd the ikies. 
 This wretched man, his hands faft bound with 
 
 chains, 
 friends and kindred led, by cogent means, 
 
 L 3 Before
 
 The CHRISTJAD. Book IV. 
 
 Before the Lord j that touch'd with his diftrefs, 
 
 5'5 
 
 He might perhaps his mifery redrefs. 
 But fcorning aid he ftrove his bands to tear ; 
 While his fierce cries afcend the ftarry fphere ; 
 The warrior bull, with cords to altars led, 
 Thus toflfcs thro' the town his roaring head. 520 
 His dewlaps white with foaming rage appear, 
 And with his horns he wounds the yeilding air. 
 
 A fervile crowd with flicks around him glow, 
 And his back ecchoes with each frequent blow. 
 While to their gates the vulgar bend their flight-, 
 
 52 
 
 And fafe at diflance view the dang'rous fight : 
 So rag'd the youth, at length his friends with pain, 
 Before the God the captive wretch conftrain. 
 His holy aid they lowly bending fue 
 To calm his fpirit and his rage fubdue. 530 
 
 The pious Chief, with hands rear'd to the fkies, 
 Invokes his Father to his enterprize : 
 W T hen lo ! a prodigy both ftrange and foul ; 
 Dogs feem to bark and rav'nous wolves to howl. 
 The furious wretch fuch bellowing clamours pours 
 
 535 
 Loud,as from mountains rum the headlong fhow'rs. 
 
 Should Lake-Velinus burft by chance his bed, 
 And o'er the vales his flagnant waters fpread, 
 
 Towns
 
 . The CHR1STIAD. , 5 i 
 
 Towns float in waves, an ocean drowns the plains, 
 And Rome o'erwhelm'd, turns pallid for her fanes. 
 
 540 
 
 Now cracks are heard as when the fupreme King 
 His thunder rolls and ether's temples ring. 
 The noife now emulates the ocean's rage ; 
 Now feigns theclafh, when hoftile fpears engage: 
 Now rattling chains teem now the ear to wound, 
 
 545 
 And earth and heav'n return the direful found. 
 
 While the God chides the horrid fiends delay : 
 Within the wretch they trembling fue toftay. 
 Why, God's true Son, you bid us to retire, 
 From this man's body fubject to our ire ? 550 
 Grant us at lead to invade this briftl'd band ; 
 (A herd of fwine then graz'd befidc the ftrand.) 
 Nor plunge us into gulfs with fhades imbrown'd, 
 Nor into nether earth's opaque profound. 
 He nods confent : lo ! by the furies feiz'd 555 
 The fwine rove wild with madd'ning pangs difeas'd, 
 So rages keenly Iharp each inward gueft, 
 The herd ftray furious and enjoy no reft; 
 Then headlong plunge into the azure plain, 
 And in the waves extinguifh life and pain. 560 
 The youth, mean time, his captive arms unbound, 
 His -weary'd limbs diffufes on the ground, 
 Biting the earth with proftrate vifage lies, 
 And as expiring draws the painful fighs. 
 To whom God's offspring tends, and with his 
 hands 565 
 
 His eyes difclofes, and his ears expands : 
 
 i* 4 "''*
 
 J 5 2 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 His eyes drink light, lo! from his tongue words 
 
 glide, 
 
 And in his heart the frequent throbs fubfide. 
 With Chriit's applaufe, crowds wound the bright 
 
 abode ; 
 Jehovah bornconfefs him, and a God. 570 
 
 What can't his pow'r perform ? at his command 
 ^We chafe difeafcs from the morbid band ; 
 Sicknefs retires ibon from our prefent aid, 
 And many difappoint death's gloomy fhade; 
 Nor ftudious art we boaft nor mortal care 575 
 From painful beds the languid group to rear, 
 But bid fair health invade the rofy frame, 
 Py calling thrice upon our Matter's name. 
 Among the hoft that fought us to be heal'd. 
 On one alone our invocation fail'd : 58* 
 
 The more we {trove to chafe the hellifh gueft, 
 The fiercer pangs he rous'd within the breaft : 
 When God affiftance brought, by goodnefs mov'd, 
 Our little faith in him he difapprov'd -, 
 Would you from bodies caft fuch fiends ? he cries, 
 
 585 
 
 From food abftain and fupplicate the fkies. 
 Nor mall this pow'r on you alone be (lied, 
 But ev'ry one who mall my glory fpread, 
 (If his faith (taggers with no dubious air) 
 Each wond'rous action may fecurely dare. 590 
 Mountains will change their place at his command* 
 And headlong rivers with attention ftand. 
 
 Go
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. , 53 
 
 Go then refolv'd in ftable faith confide 
 And the bright feed of radiant truth fpread wide. 
 Sprinkle the night-fepulchr'd earth with rays, 595 
 And be mankind's and offus'd nature's blaze. 
 
 Thus having fpoke, feventy men he chofe, 
 To fhare our labours and to feel our woes. 
 Yet his heart throb'd with fighing grief replete, 
 So few the actors and the tafk ib great, 609 
 
 The peafant fo, who with afliduous toil, 
 And hundred ploughs tills his paternal foil : 
 When the ripe wheat nods yellow to the plain, 
 And barns wide wait to hide the copious grain, 
 With fadnefs views his fmall domeftic band, 605 
 And roams for aid o'er all the vicine land. 
 
 How oft men's thoughts and latent cares he told. 
 Which God alone could pofiibly behold. 
 Our dubious minds, our vain and tacit fears, 
 He angry echoed in our wond'ring ears. 6ixi 
 
 When his foes glow'd with direful vengeance blind, 
 And dread deftruction labour'd in their mind^ 
 He oft difplay'd their fchemes with ire replete, 
 And all the frultrate rancour of their hate. 
 
 Nor is the woman's cure unknown to fame, 615 
 Who twice fix ye^rs pin'd with a fanguine ftream. 
 Exhaufted now with her difeafe's pain, 
 She (ought by touching C hrift her health to gain ; 
 
 While
 
 154 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 \Vhile round him youths and rufhingpeople ftream, 
 She mov'd behind and touch'd his robe's extreme. 
 
 620 
 
 Lo! at her touch her old diftemper flies 
 And to retire unfeen me vainly tries ; 
 But God foon felt the trembling flying fair, 
 And with foft counfel fill'd her lift'ning ear. 
 Nor is the time long laps'd, fince I have feen 625 
 The Lord burft either from his mortal mien, 
 Or bathe his body in fuch radiant blaze, 
 As fiop'ds the Sun, when he darts down his rays. 
 
 Thefe wond'rous a6b refuhing from his nod, 
 And others, which I faw, acclaim the God. 630 
 His mortal nature yet he ne'er forgot, 
 And willing bore the woes of human lot, 
 Our model to purlue : for oft at feafts 
 He mixes chearful with the chofen guefls : 
 In council when the citizens convene, 635 
 
 He's often pleas'd to join the civil train : 
 And when the nation 'gainft him furious rife, 
 He, as a man, their hate and temple flies, 
 The caverns feeks, while impotently loud, 
 The foes afTault, fhap'd like his frame, a cloud. 640 
 But when. John's recent murder fame had told, 
 Scarce yet has Sol his annual meafure roll'd , 
 With whofe lop'd head the King diftain'd the floor, 
 His brother's ravifh'd fpoufe urg'd to reftore. 
 The Lord, I mark'd, impatient to recede, 645 
 From town and crowds fougjit quick the wood's 
 deep {hade. 
 
 Nor
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 155 
 
 Nor hell's grim King, bafe foe of human kind, 
 From right who labours to divert the mind, 
 Abftain'd his double nature to annoy, 
 The God to fcorn or manhood to deftroy. 650 
 Our Chief once fled his friends and waiting band, 
 And gain'd the fummit of a fhady land. 
 Twice twenty funs fat on him without food ; 
 Twice twenty nights their ftarry courfe renew'd. 
 The Prince of darknefs thought the prefent hour 65.-- 
 Mod apt his baleful vengeance then to pour. 
 Firft to his aid he calPd a numerous hoft 
 From the fad borders of the infernal coaft 5 
 But when he found his malice vainly fhed, 
 He fhock'd the horrors of his bea,ftly head. 660 
 His hopes of hurting now in words confide, 
 And from his lips thefe artful accents glide. 
 I own thy birth divine, thyfelf a God ; 
 And all things are obedient to thy nod, 
 Why fuffer famine o'er thy limbs to fpread ? 665 
 But fudden change thefe ambient rocks to bread. 
 The God perceives the fraud, and thus replies, 
 Nor on fole bread my mortal frame relies, 
 But on my Father, whofe repeated drains 
 Chafe food's defire,and hunger's gnawing pains. 670 
 He faid ; tho' conquer'd in his firft eflay 
 The foe defids not, and renews the fray ; 
 Infults on infults ardently repeats, 
 And, tho' repell'd, thrice urges his deceits-, 
 With luft of rule now drives his mind to fire, 675 
 And quench with love of praife his pure defire. 
 
 So
 
 156 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 So when the winds along the ocean roar, 
 The threat'ning waves laih thick the foaming fhore. 
 But on the rocks when their vain rage they fhed, 
 They glide confounded to their azure bed. 680 
 To flop the frauds forefeen, the God forbears, 
 And gives the foe to forge his fruitlefs fnares. 
 To lead him paflive to the Temple's fpire 
 And to rough rocks whofe brows in air retire. 
 Juft when the foe with hope delufive fmiles, 685 
 And thinks to reap the harveft of his wiles, 
 Our Chief begins his Godhead to difplay v 
 And drags the lurking mifchief into day. 
 The horfe, thus free from his coercive reins, 
 Ranges at large the broad expanded plains, 690 
 Joys the purfuing menials to elude, 
 Now near them moves, now crops the verdant food. 
 But when they hope the captive fteed to feize, 
 He neighs, high ftarts and fcours the graffy fpace. 
 With fchemes defeated and with anger fir'd, 695 
 The foe ftalk'd fierce, and from the God retir'd. 
 Sent from his Sire a thoufand Angels wing 
 The Ikies, and to their God refremment bring. 
 
 Would you the origin of their hatred know, 
 Whence the people 'gainfl the priloner glow, 700 
 They beft can tell -, for furehis life's not ftain'd 
 With the foul acls, of which he is arraign'd. 
 For, of mankind, than he, they muft confefs, 
 None better is, more eafy of addrefs : 
 
 To
 
 Book IV. The CHRIST! AD. 157 
 
 To all his foft indulgence he extends, 705 
 
 Beneficent to foes, as well as friends. 
 
 Some blame him fufTering thofe, who him annoy, 
 
 When, by his nod, he might his foes deftroy. 
 
 Along the coafts of Sidon once he ftray'd 
 
 A weary trav'ller, in the midnight (hade, 710 
 
 Defir'd beneath their roofs his limbs to reft, 
 
 But the barbarians heard not his requeft. 
 
 We penfive call'd the SUPREME from his feat, 
 
 Quick to revenge his SON'S inhuman treat. 
 
 On the bafe people dart celeftial fire, 715 
 
 And caufe their walls in vengeful flames expire. 
 
 With indignation at our vows he glow'd, 
 
 And for the wicked town with pity flow'd. 
 
 Tho* confcious of his foes, he deign'd refort 
 Their domes, and feek the roofs of bad report ; 720 
 If by advice he might fubdue their pride, 
 And, taught truth's walk, their pafTions might fub- 
 
 fide. 
 
 So Zaccheus, Matthew, and a thoufand more 
 Forfook their former, for a better lore. 
 Our Chief was led by error, yet who thought 725 
 This practice charg'd as a contagious fault. 
 But he to minifter his healing aid 
 In fearch of patients thro' the city ftray'd ; 
 Weeping their (lace; from minds, orTus'dwich night, 
 He chas'd the clouds, and gave celeftial light. 730 
 A talk moft pleafing to the Angel-choir-, 
 And to their God, the Angels' mighty Sire. 
 
 For
 
 .15* The CHRISTI AD. Book I VL 
 
 For this, he left Olympus' blazing vault 
 And the glad anthems of the fky he taught, 
 When any bafe immortal fon of earth, jjz 
 
 To whom the fou left crimes refer their birth, 
 Begins at juftice's fhrine, with awe to bend, 
 And virtuous deeds religioufly defend -, 
 Joy thrills thro' all the natives ofthefkies, 
 And Ether rings with their applauding cries. 740 
 The fhepherd thus rich in a thoufand fheep, 
 Before night feals his eyes in balmy fleep -, 
 Should he imprudent leave, th? number told, 
 But one behind him, of the bleating fold ! 
 Penfive returns, revifits ev'ry glade, 745 
 
 And with his eyes pervades each latent fhade. 
 At length he fpies the fleecy wand'rer fteal, 
 In queft of food, thro* a fequefter'd vale. 
 Clafp'd in his arms forbids his charge to roam 
 A fugitive, forgetful of her home. 750 
 
 His fweeteft babes to kifs their father burn, 
 And the houfe fmiles at the loft fheep's return. 
 Wherefore an ear to female tales he deigns j 
 For lately paffing o'er Samaria's plains, 
 By chance he fpies approaching him a dame 755 
 From Sichar'a ancient walls to fcoop the ftrcam j 
 He fues her fuppliantly her vafe to fill, 
 And taftes the bounty of the limpid rill, 
 Who fonorous rivers and the fea domains, 
 And the vaft globe bedews with copious rains ^760 
 At whofe command the thirfty crowd to fave, 
 Rocks liquid grew and pour'd a bounteous wave. 
 
 Mean
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. l$9 
 
 Mean while our wonder fwells, in thought conccal'd; 
 But, her admonim'd, and her faults reveal'd, 
 The Lord delivers from pro founded night, 765 
 And laves with beams of never-fading light. 
 The pious Sires full of parental care, 
 Oft brought their train of youths and virgins fair, 
 Their flowing locks with rofeat chaplets crown'd, 
 Or with foft fillets of green foliage bound ; 770 
 To have their hearts with love of virtue fir'd, 
 And their young minds with gcn'rous thoughts 
 
 infpir'd. 
 
 His infant audience placid he addrefs'd, 
 And with his touch fo purified the breaft, 
 That vice in vain might wear her magic charm, 
 
 775 
 And hell, thro' all its reign, to crufh them, arm. 
 
 By words and acts he chiefly fhew'd the hate 
 He bore to minds with tow'ring pride elate : 
 I and my 'fociates, as our Chief we fought, 
 Reclin'd our weary limbs befide a grot, 78* 
 
 O'er whofe dark gate, an awful elm high weaves 
 An arch of branches and a wafte of leaves. 
 Confuming time, we mutually demand, 
 Who mould fuperior be among our band -, 
 Who by our Hero was the moft approv'd, 785 
 The moft regarded and the bcfl belov'd : 
 Soon as he faw us at the grotto's gates 
 With knitted brows he bids us to relate 
 The fubjecl: (ftrange to tell) of our difcourfe 
 And of our clam'rous ftrife the native fource. 790 
 
 Owr
 
 160 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 Our pride fubfiding, filent we remain, 
 So warm was our dilpute, the theme fo vain. 
 Then ludden in the midft he leads a child, 
 Void of ambition, and in defires mild ; 
 None can, fays he, afcend the happy fkies, 795 
 But who fcorn pride, the love of fame defpife ; 
 For them alone, the iky its gates difplays, 
 Who like this child feel not the throbs of praifc. 
 Sooner fhall clouds dwell in the faline main, 
 And fifties live in every verdant plain ; 800 
 
 In ether's limpid clime trees fix their root, 
 And in the blueimmenfe their foliage moot. 
 S:ill at my mother's pray'r my blood pale runs 
 The chiefeft honours fuing for her fons : 
 That when the manfions of the fkies he gain'd 805 
 And with his mighty Sire coequal reign'd ; 
 Then next him we on either fide might (land. 
 One on his right, and one on his left hand 
 Not her, (a mother's fondnefs fure's no crime) 
 But us, he ludden views with looks fublime ; 810 
 Juftly reproves with better words and brows, 
 "Who prompted with vain art fuch fimple vows. 
 To crufh the proud delights the Pow'r fupreme ; 
 So hateful is the love of praife and fame. 
 Altho' our Chief is equal to his Sire, 8 1 5 
 
 Since in external acts they both confpire, 
 Still when the mufe to him her voice wou'd raife, 
 He to his Father paints the long of praife -, 
 And owns, as man, he dares no enterprife, 
 Unlefs aflifted by the lofty fkies. 820 
 
 Hence
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTI AD: 1 6 1 
 
 Hence thofe, whom from difeafes ' pain he freed, 
 He often charg'd to hide the wond'rous deed. 
 Who by his nod the lepers fores could heal, 
 From publick praife his virtue to conceal, 
 Oft fent the patients to medic'nal ftreams, 825 
 To lave the tabid ulcers from their frames. 
 Shall I relate what people and what towns, 
 That ardent wifh'd he would accept their crowns, 
 Off'ring to him the royalties of empire, 
 The robe, the fceptre, and the facred-tire ? 830 
 He was by frequent pray'rurg'd by. his band, 
 By arms to feize, and rule the Syrian land ; 
 Then all that ground the victor mould obey, 
 LauYd with the furges of the ambient fea. 
 Soon then the broad-fpread earth new laws mould 
 own, 835 
 
 And ardent pay her homage to his throne. 
 To ihun the inftancc of each fervent vow, 
 He flies and feeks the mountain's airy brow. 
 With livid envy yet and baleful hate, 
 They cruelly confpir'd our Hero's fate'; 840 
 
 You know they drag'd him 'mid fuch furious cries, 
 As if their walls were fcal'd by enemies. 
 But,' to obey his Sire, a painful (tore 
 Of bafeft infults he ferenely bore. 
 For he might 'fcape beneath night's friendly made ; 
 Yet to the fpies he twice himfelf bstray'd : 845 
 Aw'd by his voice, I faw them bending prone ; 
 And heard the ground by their proftration groan. 
 
 M No
 
 1 62 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 No honours from the temple he withdraws, 
 Nor rites defaces, nor diffolves their laws j 85* 
 Yet bids oblations ceafe of victims (lain, 
 And from all fanguine ofPrings to abftain. 
 For diff 'rent rites are in the words defign'd ; 
 Then he unveils the LegiQator's mind. 
 What may furprife, they muft confefsand fay, 855 
 A bard mould come and quaff this blaze of day, 
 Alone, who could for us unfold Heav'n's gates, 
 And waft juft fouls from night to ftarry feats. 
 For him they pant, once promis'd to their fires, 
 And in whofe praife the prophets ftrung their lyres. 
 
 860 
 
 Their ftate how wretched, how depriv'd of fight ! 
 Who fee not radiance blazing thro' the night : 
 Their third how great ! who 'mid a copious flream 
 Quench not the pafllon of their parching flame. 
 Without a perverfe will, whom can't they charm, 865 
 Such virtue, merit, and fuch beauteous form ? 
 Soon as my ears inhal'd his vocal lays, 
 And eyes the love that o'er his perfon ftrays, 
 I left my fortune, mother, country, all, 
 As many have, nor grieve I at my call. 870 
 
 As from a fpark a mighty fire grows 
 And as it waftes itfelf the fiercer glows ; 
 So as my love each hour dominion gains, 
 My heart burns brighter with the pleafing pains: 
 For wno are honour'd once his toils to mare, 875 
 In ftrongeft bands for ever bound adhere. 
 
 He
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 163 
 
 He us'd no words nor promife to deceive, 
 Nor flatter'd us by fair rewards, believe ; 
 But promis'd all things of the blackeft hue, 
 And the parade of our misfortunes drew. 8 So 
 
 Nor has his promife fail'd ; condemned to roam, 
 We wander exiles, poor, without an home. 
 Such groves of ills bud low'ring on our eyes, 
 That new difafters on dtfafters rife. 
 One mail (whoe'er he is) confign his breath 885 
 In peace, free folely from a cruel death. 
 But, for the reft of his obedient train, 
 A diverfe ftore of fanguine fates remain. 
 He bids, mean while, ourfelves and riches fcorn, 
 And aid the fick, the famidi'd and forlorn ; 890 
 Dare to be poor, and, by long cuftom bold, 
 With focial arms adverfity infold. 
 Hence many did behold our bodies ftrewn 
 Along the fields, and fleep upon a flone : 
 Or crop the teeming ears fatigu'd with toil, 895 
 And comfort hunger with the undrefs'd fpoil. 
 If any thirfty land a fountain gave, 
 We prone fcoop'd with our hands, and quaff'd the 
 
 wave. 
 
 To fpeak incefTant if an hundred tongues 
 I had, join'cl with the aid of brazen lungs, 900 
 I could not ftill, beneath our Chief, difclofe 
 What toils we calmly fuffer'd, or what woes. 
 For tho' unequal to our cares we flood, 
 Our ftrength fome time confum'd for want of food, 
 M 2 Above
 
 164 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 Above the wealth of kings our fouls Hill fhin'd, 905 
 And tho' in body poor, yet rich in mind. 
 
 Nor lefs new crowds approach you may behold, 
 Ambitious in his train to be enrolPd. 
 Matrons with hoary Sires, the fame's their will, 
 The fame their certitude, his band to fill. 910 
 
 So if a potent King a war mould wage, 
 Againft fome town, to make the battle rage, 
 Now points his weapons, now collects his hoft, 
 To ruin the town and maffacre the coaft. 
 Not fole his cohorts, and his mufter'd bands, 915 
 But all afiemble from the neighb'ring lands, 
 Who of dire wealth enamour'd have in view 
 The fpoils of war, unafk'd the camp purfue. 
 For crowds who follow of their own accord 
 "Wide fields and roads too fmall a fpace afford. 920 
 Our Hero oft the preffing crowd evades, 
 To mountains flying and fequefler'd (hades. 
 Once tr-av'lling, I record, befide a coaft, 
 The banks throng'd thick by an unufual hoft; 
 He feiz'd a boat, whofe cord loos'd from the ftrand, 
 
 9 2 5 
 He launch'd to fea, an arrow's flight from land : 
 
 There ftop'd, and ey'd the crowded more and plains, 
 
 Addrefs'd the people in celeftial ftrains, 
 
 The facred walk of righteoufnefs he fhew'd, 
 
 And fofdy pointed out fair Ethicks road. 930 
 
 The captive throng on cv'ry accent hung 
 
 And lift'ning drank the accent of his tongue. 
 
 The
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 165 
 
 The fea whofe waves, but now, wild beat the fhore, 
 Teaz'd with the winds, ceas'd, while he fpoke, to 
 
 roar. 
 Groves, the bird's green cells, without motion ftand, 
 
 935 
 
 Their branches (hading deep, the winding ftrand. 
 But hoary dames, meantime the filence break, 
 Surpriz'd fuch facred truths to hear him fpeak : 
 With clam'rous joy pronounce his Mother bleft, 
 And bleft the moifture trickling from her bread, 940 
 Blefilng the womb that gave him to our dawn 
 And the full breafls his infant lips had drawn. 
 
 For man he taught, from earth and night to rear 
 The human foul to Ether's lofty fphere -, 
 To view the dreaming radiance of the fides, 945 
 And all the fruitlefs cares of life defpife. 
 Then praifes peace -, ye men fair peace purfue 
 With gentle vows, and haughty pride fubdue ; 
 Humble of mind above the want of praife, 
 Honours contemn and riches flaming blaze. 950 
 Known to misfortune and with little blefs'd 
 Suftain a life in poverty well vers'd. 
 Of rofy pleafure fleeting is the reign ; 
 And nothing's permanent that is terrene. 
 This earth for you defigns no manfion-feat, 955 
 But plan'd for you more glorious regions wait. 
 From bodies free, your fouls mall glad afpire 
 To better worlds, illum'd by my beft Sire : 
 
 M 3 Where
 
 166 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 Where plenty overflows, peace fmiles ferene, 
 Reft undifturb'd, and pleafures ever reign. 960 
 For fuch rewards how fhort's the longed toil ? 
 For me, who wouldn't leave this earthly foil ? 
 For wealth fo true, for honours fo fublimc, 
 Contend, above the wafte of chance or time. 
 Religious be, a mutual foftnefs (hew, 965 
 
 And feel with melting hearts each other's woe. 
 Forbid, by fuffering, wrath and hate to rife, 
 And the vague rumours of the throng defpife. 
 No wound for wound , 'tis nobler to expofe 
 The check once injur'd to repeated blows. 970 
 For praife therefore let others point the flecl, 
 And beauteous death by battles purchas'd feel ; 
 To all benign, to foes foft peace proclaim, 
 So lightly hold the tranfient noife of fame. 
 But let the mind face death without affright 975 
 Nor force pervert it, obftinately right. 
 For tyrants may the mortal body flay ; 
 And the limbs mangle, to the fword a preyj 
 Yet ftill the foul immortal fafe remains, 
 And death defies, fuperior to its pains. 980 
 
 The SIRE (hall bend, to guard you, from his fphere, 
 And none, without his will, dare pluck one hair. 
 Alone him fear ; your pray'rs religious fhed, 
 And worthy of HIM your oblations fpread, 
 Whom feas obey, the land, and fields of air, 585 
 And the bright regions of Olympus fear : 
 The ground embrace in act of homage prone 
 And proftrate breathe your vows before his throne. 
 
 For,
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTIAD. 167 
 
 For, after death, your fouls, if black with ftains, 
 He can commit to hell's infernal pains. 990 
 
 Dread not, when lions, loos'd againft you, roar, 
 And herds of fpeckled panthers thirft for gore ; 
 On the protection of my name rely, 
 And rum intrepid 'mid the favage cry : 
 Soon mail the bears, in pity, ceafe their founds, 995 
 And ftrive with lam bent tongues to heal yourjwounds. 
 Of food alfo, mildly feclude the care, 
 Behold who crop the fields, and wing the air, 
 Nor arts them vex, nor future cares confound; 
 Yet they with garments and with food abound :iocx* 
 Nature's great parent o'er creation Hands, 
 Dealing his aliment with foft'ring hands ; 
 Inverts the field with grafs, with flow'rs the mead, 
 With leaves the trees and mountains brows with 
 
 made. 
 
 Impure defire expel, fraud and deceit, 1005 
 
 And view with mod'rate joy the well-fpread feaft. 
 All loit'ring leifure from your minds remove , 
 Another's bed avoid, and lawlefs love. 
 Deprefs your hopes, forbidden heights to foar ; 
 And guide your vows, with moderation's lore. 101* 
 With your own ftore of wealth content, behold, 
 Without a bafe defire, another's gold. 
 I mail not now the hateful talk purfue, 
 Or draw th' influence of other faults to view ; 
 But what mall I fay ? Mafk'd with virtue's veil, 1015 
 Foul thoughts, deceits, and fraudful hearts conceal 
 M 4 From
 
 1 68 The CHRISTIAD. Book IT. 
 
 From the polluted mind fuch pefts erafe, 
 On what's now latent, day fhall pour a blaze. 
 Forbid alfo the wand'ring eye to roll 
 Nor, by fpontaneous glances, wound the foul. 1020 
 Hence to indulge the love of fpeaking ceafe, 
 Deftruction oft fucceeds the guardlefs phrafe. 
 Hence with no falfity your lips prophane , 
 But, with new morals crown*d, a life maintain. 
 Yet, fhould a trace remain of ancient blame, 1025 
 Lave the contagion in the facred ftream ; 
 To the pure font, whence flows the plenteous rill, 
 Hafte dames and thirfty fires and drink at will ; 
 The furges of my font for all are roll'd ; 
 Drink deeply then, the wave's not bought with gold. 
 
 1030 
 
 Thus fhun death's walk, thus ether's manfion range, 
 Climes blaz'd with ftars, obnoxious to no change. 
 Thefe truths my Father told, the living fotirce, 
 Whence all my words derive their native force. 
 
 Thisfaid, to heav'n's Monarch he turns the ftrain, 
 
 1035 
 Who's pleas'd no more with blood of cattle (lain ; 
 
 By pray'rs and vows, fweet peace from ether bear j 
 And, praying thus, he mews the mode of pray'r : 
 
 FATHER SUPREME ! whofe feat's the lucid fkies-, 
 To praife your holy name, bid nature rife : 1 040 
 Let now, at length, the promis'd happy days 
 On the defiring nations dart their blaze : 
 
 Let
 
 Book IV. the CHRISTIAD. 169 
 
 Let mortals homage to thy mandates pay, 
 
 As the bright tenants of the fky obey. 
 
 Our beings to fupport, benignly fhed, 104 5 
 
 From ether's airy height, our daily bread. 
 
 O ever good ! let mercy on us flow, 
 
 As we forgive the malice of our foe. 
 
 Weak to refift, temptation from us chace, 
 
 And from all evils guard the -human race. 1050 
 
 Into hereafter rapt, he pours his lays, 
 Now fhrouded deeply with obtufive rays. 
 This fun {hall vagrant from his ftation fly, 
 And drop his mien, the fplendor of the fky. 
 When night with hofts of light (hall deck her made, 
 
 The dying moon fhall in an inftant fade ; 
 Ceafe on the world to pour her filver flood, 
 And fill her orb, diftain'd with gleaming blood. 
 The ftars, which now their deftin'd limits roll, 
 Shall then, diftracted, moot from either pole ; 1060 
 And the perpetual motion, which gives life 
 To the celeftial orbs, and hinders ftrife, 
 Ceafmg (hall from its poles this world deduce, 
 And 'mid the chaos fet confufion loofe. 
 Our Chief, like thunder rattling thro' pure fpace, 
 
 ' '065 
 
 Shall earth revifit, with an angel-race, 
 The lives of mankind ftrictly fhall review, 
 And all their crimes thro' ev'ry maze purfuc. 
 When nature rages with the ambient flame, 
 The fiery tempeft fpreading thro* earth's frame -,1070 
 3 On
 
 170 The CH&ISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 On earth new fram'd and in a recent fky, 
 The (hades defunct fhall to their bodies fly : 
 Then fhall the yawning tombs refign their dead, 
 "VVhofe pious ghofts the fubject ftars fhall tread, 
 Plac'd in Olympus thofe he lhall enthrone, 1075 
 Whom, from creation, God forefaw his own; 
 A band of winged youths with piercing cries 
 Fill the arch'd windings of the ambient fides. 
 From the four winds they wake mankind in hafte, 
 With clang'rous trumpets, to the judgment-feat. 
 
 1080 
 
 The Judge, cnthron'd fublime, with glory glows, 
 And his tremendous eyes around him throws, 
 Culls from the multitude the holy band, 
 And feats them glorified on his right hand : 
 But drives the guilty crowd, a num'rous hoft,io85 
 On his left fide without recov'ry loft. 
 So when the winter's raging florms fubfide, 
 And fields are vefted with their vernal pride, 
 The fmiling profpect bids the flock unfold, 
 And range the meadows verdant to behold. 1090 
 Firft for his fheep rich meads the fhepherd notes, 
 But at a diftance drives the fmelling goats. 
 Then mail fome men's tranfparent frames appear 
 Refulgent, fhooting thro* the liquid air ; 
 Which once obnoxious to death's cruel pains, 1 095 
 The mighty Sire fhall purify from ftains. 
 Then fhall they fiourifh in a tranquil ftate, 
 Expos'd no more, the ills of life to tafte. 
 Yet let none hope to have the human clay 
 Transfer'dtoHeav'n'simmenfe tillthelafr. day,i 10* 
 
 Except
 
 Book IV. The CHRISTI AD. 1 7 1 
 
 Except a few, whom God, when he fhall rife, 
 From the dark tomb, fhall tranflate to the fkies. 
 This fublime ftation is alone confin'd, 
 Until that period, to the human mind : 
 While night ai\d vengeance on the guilty wait, 1 105 
 Of fin the painful and eternal flate. 
 As we together the fame couch had prefs'd, 
 My drooping head reclining on his bread -, 
 Our Chief all thefe ftrange fcenes had late difplay'd, 
 What time the night expands her deepeft made ; 
 
 mo 
 
 For oft to catch his foothing words I ftrove, 
 And to him clung, the balm of penfive love. 
 
 His deeds perform'd along the Jordan's tide, 
 Or where Judea's hills in vales fubfide, 
 Shall I relate ? What crowds he oft addrefs'd ?i 1 15 
 His fpeech, now plain, and now in figures drefs'd. 
 Himfelf the firft and final caufe he (hews, 
 The path to tread, the fountain whence truth flows; 
 The vital light, that gives mankind to fee, 
 And us now born, a happy progeny. 1 1 20 
 
 Happy the age, that handed us to birth, 
 And thrice more happy is our natal earth, 
 Which grant his facred Perfon to embrace, 
 And of his tongue to drink each vocal grace. 
 This wond'rous favour, in fucceeding years, 1 125 
 Shall be the envy of our pious heirs. 
 
 Thus
 
 172 The CHRISTIAD. Book IV. 
 
 Thus John rehears'd, while the admiring throng 
 Lift'ning inhal'd the feries of the fong : 
 "When lo ! rufh in a wicked Hebrew band, 
 And of their Chief the pris'ner's death demand. 
 
 1130 
 
 Jofeph and John to the great Mother fteal, 
 But the difafters of her Son conceal. 
 
 End of the Fourth Book,
 
 ARGUMENT of the Fifth Book. 
 Pilate, to filence their clamours, defires the Jews 
 to retire and choofe a fpeaker who may inform 
 him of the crimes laid to the Prifoner's charge. 
 While the Jews are deliberating, Judas,' flung 
 with remorfe for his fin, enters the Council- 
 chamber, declares the Prifoner's innocence and 
 his own villainy, throws down before them the 
 filver-money, the reward of his treachery; de- 
 parts frantic with defpair, and hangs himfelf. On 
 the Jews' return, Pilate re-afcends his judgment- 
 feat, and harangues in favour of Chrift. He is 
 anfwered by Annas in a fpeech replete with ma- 
 lice and falfhood. All then call for the difmifiion 
 of Barabbas, the robber, and the crucifying of 
 Chrift. Pilate, hereupon, fends the Prifoner to 
 Herod, who fends him back to Pilate. Chrift is 
 whip'd to appeafe the multitude, but to no pur- 
 pofe. The wife of Pontius, frighted by a dream, 
 defires her fpoufe not to fhed the blood of that 
 innocent Man. Mean while Satan, to undo Pi- 
 late's refolution of faving the Lord, fends the De- 
 mon FEAR accompanied withSLOTH,whofe influ- 
 ence prevails on Pilate to give up Chrift to the fury 
 of his enemies. Theie, after many infults, lead him 
 to be crucified. The Angels, mocked at the 
 barbarous treatment, prepare to refcue Chrift, 
 but are hindered by the eternal Father. The Vir- 
 gin Mary, hearing of her Son's difafters, repairs to 
 Calvary where fhe fees her Son crucified between 
 two thieves. Her lamentation. At length Chrift 
 exhaufted with torments, while all nature fympa- 
 thifcs with his fate, expires in pain and agony. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D. 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 TH E Roman Chief revolves, with ftudious care, 
 The blamelefs Captive by fome means to 
 
 fpare : 
 
 His virtue, beauty, and his fame combine 
 The tale to flrengthen, and his birth divine : 
 Then cries ; (while tumults thro' the court fpread 
 
 wide) 5 
 
 Hebrews, depart, and bid your rage fubfide : 
 Among your tribes, let one in order mew 
 The Prifoner's crime, that merits mortal woe. 
 Indignant they retire, with fullen tread, 
 In mind refolv'd to torment Chrift 'till dead. 10 
 
 Judas, who to the foe his King betray'd, 
 Now owns his perjur'd crime, by fear difmay'd ; 
 How ready would the wretch the deed undo, 
 Which vengeful furies and remorfe purfue ? 
 His mind no rell, his breaft no comfort takes , 15 
 Fair hope now fleeps, and mad defpair now wakes. 
 
 The
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 
 
 The fum, that caus'd his pains, with rage he views^ 
 Trcafon's reward, once granted by the Jews ; 
 Brings to the Prieft's dire hall, then loudly cries, 
 Behold the wicked bribe, take back the prize. 20 
 O wretch undone, I fee, I bafely fold 
 God's Progeny, a God himfelf, for gold. 
 The fhades, that o'er my mind induc'd a night, 
 Fade now wide fcatter'd, and let in the light. 
 
 He faid; and cafts the coin before them wide; 25 
 But they his forrow and his tears deride. 
 Hence the unhappy, blind with fury, goes, 
 And more he thinks, the more augment his woes. 
 His heart corrodes to pining grief a prey ; 
 Nor he the Ether*s convex dares furvey. 30 
 
 Then throwing round his baleful eyes, he cried, 
 How mail unhappy I, alas ! decide ? 
 Shall ages, hid in the deep womb of time, 
 Forget to tell the horror of my crime ? 
 Shall I go fuppliant, and my fault declare ? - 35 
 But's not in mercy fuch a fin to fpare 
 Yet how addrefs, if to behold afraid, 
 Whom innocent and harmlefs I betray'd ? 
 Then lhall I go, as far as will can fly, 
 And live, unknown, beneath another Iky. 40 
 Snatch me ye rapid whirl-winds from this coaft, 
 Where fading day (its round complete) is loft. 
 What place is fafe ? the Godhead's ev'ry-where, 
 And with his thunders fhakes this terrene fphere. 
 
 Still
 
 176 The CHRISTIAD. BookV. 
 
 Still mall my guilty mind and cares attend, 45 
 
 Whether I traverfe earth, or mips afcend. 
 Yet when, and where ? but I in vain delay, 
 And on my mind let airy vifions play. 
 Then earth yawn wide; receive within thy womb 
 A wretch who feeks to hide him in thy gloom. 50 
 Poor Judas, ah ! thy crimes bring on thefe woes, 
 Which you, in feafon, might their peft oppofe. 
 Let thy fpontaneous hand revenge thy deed, 
 And, muning man and day, ignobly bleed. 
 
 Thus he exclaim'd ; refolv'd to find relief, 55 
 By drowning in his blood his mighty grief ; 
 Rafhly fuppofing, by thefe defp'rate means, 
 His toil to finifh, and corrofive pains. 
 And now he thinks the earth for him tranfpires, 
 Orhimfelf wrap'd with Heav'n's confuming fires. 60 
 So ftrongly fancy bids the Pris'ner rife, 
 In vivid paint, to his bewilder'd eyes. 
 His eyes with blood fuffus'd, his face with gloom, 
 And trembling limbs announce impending doom. 
 Now darknefs round him cafts her ebon made, 65 
 And to his vifual orbs all nature fades. 
 Mad wretch who dares not his tranfgrefllon own, 
 And call down pardon from the heav'nly throne ; 
 But thinks no vows can move the fupreme SIRE, 
 Nor weeping penance quench his kindled ire, 7* 
 But obftinately bad, and fix'd on fate, 
 He goes, and feeks a foreft's deep retreat ; 
 Which, near the royal palace, wildly waves 
 A verdant tinctur'd wafte of panting leaves. 
 
 There
 
 Book V. The CHRISTIAD. 177 
 
 There trembling hefitates, in horrid ftrife, 75 
 
 By what deftruclive means to pour his life; 
 
 The mazes of his foul or to pervade, 
 
 And crimfon in his breaft the pointed blade i 
 
 Or headlong from a mountain's brow to fly, 
 
 And transfix'd on the fubject rocks to die. 80 
 
 But the drear furies, his attendant train, 
 
 Soon guide the wretch feiz'd with the love of pain, 
 
 To his laft fcene, where quickly they entwine 
 
 A length of fp read ing boughs, which low recline; 
 
 About his fraclur'd neck they bind the wreath, 85 
 
 Which flops the pores that give the foul to breathe. 
 
 Rewarded thus, his entrails burft their way* 
 
 And foon the with'ring body blots the day. 
 
 The new-born day fcarce blum'd in ether's fpace", 
 When near the palace rufh the prieftly race ; 90 
 The porches fwell diftended with the crowd, 
 And with vociferous tumults ecchoe loud. 
 Nor is it lawful (fo by cuftom led) 
 On facred days the profane court to tread. 
 At length the Roman comes, with youths embraced, 
 
 95 
 
 With flowing robes of purple proudly grac'd ; 
 Mounts at the gate his iv'ry throne fublime, 
 While nod the/afces of his native clime: 
 Each Father then his feat in order takes ; 
 Silence enfues i and thus the Roman fpeaks: roo 
 
 N Peclare
 
 j;8 The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 Declare at length, the monftrous crime relate, 
 That fhould condemn the lovely youth to fate. 
 After ftricl fearch into his life and birth, 
 We could difcover nought, that merits death ; 
 But rather found, his won'drous deeds, the theme, 
 
 105 
 
 That burnifh'd bright the plumes of joyful fame. 
 The Prifoner fmce I faw, and heard his phrafe ; 
 The fight, how melting ! how divine the lays ! 
 His vifage, eyes, and language, all combine 
 To own him God, at leaft of race divine. 1 10 
 
 To him, therefore, your tribute- homage bring, 
 Nor, ignorantly proud, difown your King. 
 
 He faid; their lurking grief the Hebrews own, 
 By raging murmurs and a gen'ral groan. 
 Then fam'd for years, and fwect perfuafive tongue, 
 
 * J 5 
 
 In the midft rofe Annas, and thus begun : 
 
 Roman, if ev'ry other proof fhould fail, 
 The Pris'ner's guilty conduct to reveal ; 
 This great afiemblage of the city, led 
 To fee his perfon reckon'd with the dead, 120 
 At leaft might move thee, Leader, to proceed, 
 If no one elfe, to have the crim'nal bleed. 
 For this feducer, with an artful tongue, 
 Tip'd with fine words, has multitudes undone : 
 And wears, deceitful, virtue's honeft face, 125 
 While in his heart vice holds the fondeft place. 
 
 Seeft
 
 BookV. The CHR1STIAD. 179 
 
 Seeft not, what can his new religion mean, 
 
 His orgies, nightly councils, that convene ? 
 
 Thro* Juda's towns, he lights fedition's flame, 
 
 And dares the empire of this great world claim; 130 
 
 Boafts God his Sire, who rules the ftarry vault, 
 
 And like the God abfolves who owns his fault ; 
 
 Withdraws the fear of vengeance after fate -, 
 
 Which crime, the laws ordain, with death to treat. 
 
 But from our ancient cuftoms he refrains, 135 
 
 While his falfe fram'd Godhead new laws ordains j 
 
 New rites and offerings dares in towns proclaim ; 
 
 And lateft ages fliall obferve the fame. 
 
 Ev'n loudly threats, oh direful guilt ! to fpurn 
 
 Our facred altars, and our temple burn, 140 
 
 A temple by our fathers rear'd in air, 
 
 A coftly ftructure of laborious care ; 
 
 Will Ihortly quench the fun with ebon dyes, 
 
 And charm the liars from the inchanted flues. 
 
 Nor long his bread his vices latent bears j 1 45 
 
 For to nefarious roofs he oft repairs, 
 
 Tho' interdicted, there aflfumes a feat, 
 
 While his vile band indulge the genial feaft. 
 
 Is there thro' all the town a wretch profane, 
 
 The greateft ruffian, of a ruffian-train; 150 
 
 With rcftlefs joy, to him he fwiftly tends, 
 
 Nor ceafe his vifits, 'till they commence friends. 
 
 The love of vice appears to him fo fair : 
 
 And of his heart deceit holds fuch a fhare. 
 
 On feftive days alfo when labours ceafe, i5 
 
 The fick he vifits, and expells difeafe. 
 
 N 2 How
 
 i go The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 How his Difciples roam, fhall I relate, 
 
 And live, unpunifh'd, on illicit meat : 
 
 By law unwarranted^ and with fingers foul 
 
 The ftain'd bread handle, and inhale the bowl :i6 
 
 Shall for his fake the Sire iupreme withdraw 
 
 His holy rites and k>ng-exifting law ? 
 
 Or in his mind can new refolves arife, 
 
 And fickle change reign in the conftant fkies ? 
 
 Give him to death, left, with his menac'd blow, 16.5 
 
 Our incens'd altars he mould overthrow. 
 
 Give him to death, that none in future times 
 
 Shall dare effay to perpetrate fuch crimes. 
 
 Let him in pain, due to his vice, expire ; 
 
 And thus preferve our Ihrines from profane fire. 1 70 
 
 He faid ; the throng roar out the fame demands ; 
 But with their cries unmov'd the Roman {lands. 
 Nor is the charge, againft the Pris'ner, new, 
 A work by hate compil'd, the Leader knew. 
 For Chrift's bright actions rous'd the Hebrews' ire, 
 
 '75 
 
 And fet their facrilegious fouls on fire. 
 
 Fame fays, you charg'd him in thefe crimes, he 
 
 cry'd, 
 
 And he, with reafon ftrong, the charge deny'd. 
 Nor fears Jehovah's Son himfelf to own, 
 Who mould, by promife, leave the Heav'n's bright 
 
 throne ; 
 
 To help weak mortals, his Sire's wrath appeafe,iSo 
 And reconcile him to the Hebrew-race, 
 
 With
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 181 
 
 With his own pow'r to pay the parents faults, 
 So records tell, and fo your fathers taught. 
 For he, to prove the truth, through towns proceeds, 
 And the whole coafts gaze at his wond'rous deeds, 
 
 85 
 Which lie beyond the reach of human art, 
 
 Nor mortal genius can the fkill impart. 
 
 Many he call'd to drink the folar beam, 
 
 When death, pervading quite the human frame, 
 
 DifTolv'd the fprings, that granted life to roll, 190 
 
 And loos'd the body's commerce with the foul. 
 
 Ye wretched mortals, then, you r hate fupprefs, 
 
 Ceafe your vain contefts, and your God confefa. 
 
 When he had faid, more fierce their fury glows, 
 
 I 95 
 
 More loud they urge their fuit, and tear their cloaths. 
 Not lefs impetuoufly their anger raves, 
 Than when broad Atevis or Padus* waves, 
 (The meadows fattening where their furges flow, 
 While fmiles the furface with a verdant glow) 209 
 Are by fome peafant, on a fudden, bound 
 Within ftrict limits by a riling mound ; 
 The river fwells more angry by delay, 
 The barrier breaks and viftor rolls away, 
 
 Herod the King, and of a regal line, 205 
 
 Was then in town to (hare the rites divine : 
 For he part of his paternal realm fway'd, 
 And by Rome's bounty Galilee obey'd. 
 
 N 3 Of
 
 1 82 The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 Of whole arrival, when the Roman heard, 
 From his ingrateful office to be freed ; 213 
 
 The Galilean bound he fends, and prays 
 The Galilean Chief with care to trace 
 7'he captive's crime, and with matured thought 
 To deal a vengeance equal to the fault. 
 Chrift's name announc'd, joys in the Monarch wake, 
 
 215 
 
 To fee the Pris'ner and to hear him fpeak. 
 Soon to the royal fight he ftood confeis'd, 
 \Vhomfoon the King with various themes addrefs'dj 
 But to no theme he deign'd the leaft reply : 
 Nor from the lofty heav'ns cad down an eye. 220 
 Herod, admiring but a mortal born, 
 Reftor'd him to the Pretor-bands with fcorn : 
 And thus difmiis'd, tho' blamelefs, yet difgrac'd, 
 Returns to Pontius, with his charge difpleas'd. 
 
 My fainting mind fubfides, my fenfes fail 22-7 
 The treats of God's true offspring to detail : 
 Himfelf a God veil'd with a human frame, 
 And of the fkies the architect fupreme, 
 Whom neither ocean, earth, nor air's pure fpace, 
 Nor the bright tracts of ether can embrace. a 30 
 All-potent GHOST, my drooping foul pervade : 
 Quit, Ghoft, the Iky, and with thy God-head aid, 
 To paint this fcene, as oft as I eflay, 
 O'er-caft with ebon tints all things decay : 
 The fun no more with rays the world bedews, 235 
 But fad-difcplour'd fade his rofy hues ; 
 
 3 While
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 183 
 
 While fparkling ftars are quench'd in fable dyes, 
 And pitying drops fall from the penfive fkies. 
 Offspring of God, ofheav'n the light ferene, 
 Thyfelf a God, fent from Olympus' plain, 240 
 Can our difirefs fuch pitying love excite 
 To fuffer pain, to make our pain more light ^ 
 Suftain a load of evils not thy own, 
 And with the vengeance due to evils groan : 
 Oh fad reward ! for pitying much our itate 245 
 To blot our crimes, with thy fpontancous fate. 
 We cull'd the fruit of the forbidden tree : 
 Nail'd to the trunk, you bear the penal fee. 
 You, tho' a God, and God's undoubted feed, 
 Now bear the pains by mortal pow'r decreed, 250 
 Before a judgment-bench, ftand chain'd with awe, 
 Who fhall the world judge with your fupreme law. 
 
 The youth return'd in chains when Pontius faw, 
 Nor from the throne he can himfelf withdraw : 
 Toft in a fea of cares, and doubtful ftrife, 255 
 
 He tries each means to fave a Captive's life; 
 Now wears a fuppliant, now a haughty air, 
 To move their minds, and hearts, untaught to fpart : 
 But vain his threats, vain are his gentle layr, 
 The more he foothes, the more their furies blaze. 
 
 260 
 
 At length, he cries ; the days their luftre med 
 When we (by your vain fathers' cuftom led) 
 Among the numbers in your gaols confin'd, 
 May one difmifs, and his fad chains unbind : 
 
 N 4 Po
 
 1 84 The CHRISTI AD, Book V. 
 
 Do you confent, that I this Pris'ner free ? 265 
 
 The blamelefs ought enjoy their liberty. 
 
 Jn you at large a feroce nature reigns, 
 
 "While he already felt a ftore of pains ; 
 
 I'll free him then, or take him hence and flay, 
 
 Againft my will, to death a fpotlefs prey. 2 70 
 
 His fpeech is broken by the 
 Who forge new crimes and cry for vengeance loud, 
 About this time, the Priibn's gloomy round 
 Eccho'd with Barabbas, in fetters bound \ 
 Long time he waited death's eternal night, 275 
 No fafety dawning, as no hopes for flight ; 
 Than whom, none was more bafe in ev'ry crime, 
 Detefted by his Chiefs, and native clime. 
 The Roman afks, their anger to appeafe, 
 "Whether this wretch or Chrift he mould releafe ? 
 
 280 
 
 With fury blind, and monftrous in their choice, 
 For Barabbas they beg with fuppliant voice : 
 While ftrenuoufly they urge Chrift's direful fate, 
 And with their pow'r the Reclfor's care fruftrate. 
 
 The fcourge and rods (to weep whq can forbear?) 
 
 285 
 
 Chrift's facred frame by Pilate's order tear. 
 To quench their thirfl of blood, by fuch vile arts, 
 Betrays, cries he, their unrelenting hearts ; 
 Perhaps the profpecl of his mangled mien 
 Their glutted minds from gore and death will wean. 
 
 290
 
 Book V. The CHRISTI AD. i S 5 
 
 Now blood from his disfigur'd body flows, 
 His limbs are tabid, and his neck with blows, 
 Flelh from his arms and neck in pieces bounds 
 While his bare fides glare with the lames' wounds. 
 From his redlips fpouts thick a fanguine ftream,29$ 
 His naked moulders own the flagrant fhame ; 
 His naked bread with black contufion fwells, 
 And from his knees to feet a crimfon wells. 
 In gore thus weltring, (drap'ry veil'd his wafte) 
 He (hews his figure bare with wounds difgrac'd. 3* 
 Heav'n low'rs, the moon conceals her blunted light 
 Beneath the earth, and flies the bloody fight. 
 The ftars, that us'd their twinkling orbs to roll, 
 Struck with amaze, now feem'd to moot the pole. 
 Such various means to fail too fadly prove, 305 
 How hard's the tafk the Hebrews' hearts to move : 
 For bending vows can't calm their boift'rous ire, 
 Nor this blood-fcene fubdue their blood's defire. 
 But all catch fury from each other's breath 
 And low'ring urge the harmlefs fufPrer's death. 310 
 Now the court's vault is wounded with their cries, 
 _ And from profoundeft hell the Furies rife -, 
 Thefe fhapelefs phantoms hov'ring o'er the crowd, 
 New point their rage and them with darknefs fhroud. 
 
 Mean time the Roman's bride, with dreams half- 
 dead, 3 1 $ 
 Forbids her fpoufe the young man's blood to fhecf. 
 The portents of the Gods appear to threat 
 Th' hands polluted with the Pris'ner's fate. 
 
 - The
 
 156 The CHRISTIAD, Book V. 
 
 The youth's the fnowy lamb that rofe to view : 
 She cries, (for all my dreams are colour'd true) 320 
 Whofe mangled body barking dogs furround, 
 And fhepherd- throngs with ruftic weapons wound. 
 His cruel death foon all the paftures wail, 
 Each noted foreft and fequefter'd vale. 
 The Thund'rer now his vengeance fet on fire, 325 
 Again the murd'rers hurls from high his ire. 
 The heav'ns in pangs rum down on ev'ry fide, 
 And hail beats on the woods and country wide. 
 Then foon this voice glides on the ftreams of air, 
 Crufh mortal rage : The God, Q Roman, fpare. 330 
 I think this Youth (to you the marks muft mine) 
 Derives his birth from a celeilial line. 
 To doom him then to death, my Lord, abftain, 
 Nor with his facred blood your hands prophane. 
 May the mild Gods thefe omens from us chace, 335 
 Attend the Jews alone, and threat their race. 
 
 The vifion heard, the Roman fiercer glows, 
 Refolv'd the Hebrews' fury to oppofe. 
 Now threat'ning ac~b, and with contracted brows 
 Bids 'them repeat, elfewhere, their cruel vows. 340 
 Now feems intent the Pris'ner's chains to loofe, 
 And from his ftore of cares himlclf fubduce. 
 
 The gloomy Chief of Erebus' dark Hate, 
 (His bread corroded with eternal hate) 
 Views Pilate's fcheme with a fad heaving figh, 345 
 And his own plots 'gainft Chrift abortive He. 
 
 With-
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 187 
 
 Without delay, he fummons to his aid 
 
 The ghaftly monfter, FEAR, from his drear (hade 5 
 
 Than whom no greater peft all hell confines, 
 
 The foe profefs'd to human bold defigns : 350 
 
 He brings pale coldnefs, ever of his train, 
 
 And (loth, flow-moving with dejected mien. 
 
 The Tyrant bids the monfter thence repair, 
 
 And wing his flight to day's fupernal air. 
 
 Where, her wild hills Phoenicia foft elates 355 
 
 And enter Solyma's extenfive gates : 
 
 To bend the Latian's mind with humbling views, 
 
 And, to deter him, his defign offufe. 
 
 Pie foon obeys ; the footy wings aflumes 
 
 Of nightly birds, and vefts his limbs in plumes. 
 
 The obfcene bird arriv'd, before the eyes 360 
 
 Of purpled Pilate, importune oft flics , 
 
 With dreadful howls, now frequent round him rings, 
 
 Now beats his breaft, and now his face with wings, 
 
 His heart is chill'd-, his eyes with wildnefs flare, 365 
 
 His face grows pallid, and erect his hair ; 
 
 Cold damps of horror thro' his body fleal ; 
 
 His knees fink languid, and his accents fail. 
 
 When thus diftrefs'd, foon as the crowd had feen 
 
 His faded cheeks, and his diftorted mien ; 370 
 
 Without delay, they feize the prefent hour, 
 
 And their addrefs thus with wild clamours pour : 
 
 Your captive dares of King affecl: the name, 
 
 The fceptre wield, and regal honours claim. 
 
 If luch offences are not big with doom, 375 
 
 Soon fhall feditious towns revolt from Rome. 
 
 All
 
 iS8 The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 All Syria foon fhall by his arts withdraw 
 
 A due fubmiffion to the Roman law. 
 
 ]f C/ESAR then, or Rome demand your care, 
 
 Forbid the peft to breathe this vital air ; 380 
 
 Due to his many crimes, the vengeance med, 
 
 Left the contagion thro 1 the land mould fpread. 
 
 While with the flubborn Jews the roofs thus ring, 
 The Roman trembles at the name of King, 
 The monfter Fear prevailing in his bread, 385 
 Conquer'd at length he yields to their requeft ; 
 His pow*r too weak their anger to aflwage, 
 Becomes a flave to their vindictive rage. 
 So when the wind along the ocean roars, 
 Againft a fhip that fails with laboring oars ; 390 
 The pilot ftruggles, at the ftern plac'd high, 
 And fhouts his men the fervent oars to ply : 
 But when his views each element combin'd 
 His courfe to hinder, with the flormy wind ; 
 Slack work the oars, his feat the pilot leaves, 395 
 And gives the fhip a prey to winds and waves. 
 J own your conqueft : He then furly cry 'd 
 Since your bafe cruelty will nor fubfide, 
 J fhall no longer your requeft deny, 
 Condemn'd for feign'd offences let him die. 40 
 With forrow pregnant, and without delay, 
 I hope a fatal forfeit you mail pay, 
 Pains pour on you and on your race's head 
 Pue to the captive's blood unjuftly med.
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. iSj 
 
 He faid, and bids the waiters quickly bring 405 
 A bowl crewn'd with the current of a fpring -, 
 And, while he laves his hands, he pours this ftrain : 
 As I thus purify my hands from ftain, 
 So I difclaim this blood unjuftly fpilt 
 And purge my felf free of the bloody guilt ; 410 
 When he had faid, the judgment- throne defcends, 
 And to his inmoft palace fwiftly tends. 
 
 The Hebrews thus : Let God, if pains are due, 
 Shed them on us, and on our race renew. 
 
 While in the porch before the palace-gate 415 
 Before the crowd this cafe was in debate : 
 The Leader's band within the fpacious court 
 With the mute Pris'ner barbaroufly fport. 
 As cities hail'd him King, he's now difgrac'd 
 With the mock-purple, and fublimely plac'd. 420 
 For the bright diadem, and crinal gold, 
 His bleeding temples pointed thorns infold : 
 And for the fceptre, which proud Monarchs wield, 
 They offer to his hands a river-reed. 
 The gates wide op'd, with glad applaufe they bring, 
 
 425 
 
 And, in the public view, falute him King. 
 Thus in their fports the little boys felect 
 One of their comrades, and their King elect : 
 Round their proud Monarch throngthefmilingbands. 
 And with glad ftiouts perform his mock commands. 
 
 43 
 So
 
 190 The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 So in the hall the menial crew refort, 
 
 And pleas'd indulge themfelves in this bafe fport. 
 
 For with a veil they overcail his fight, 
 
 And with their hands and reeds his vifage fmite. 
 
 Some pluck his beard, concreted with his blood -, 
 
 435 
 
 Some from their filthy mouths emit a flood 
 Of falive moifture in his facred face ; 
 While fome his beauteous frame with duft difgrace. 
 All bufy on him heap a ftore of pains ; 
 Nor of the vile dimonour he complains. 440 
 
 A cruel vigil thefe barbarians keep, 
 Nor let his weary eye-lids clofe in fleep. 
 Oh heavy grief ! how fhocking to be feen 
 Appears his mangled and inglorious mien ! 
 To birds a refting- place woods give their leave*, 
 
 445 
 
 And mountains to the favage-kind their caves, 
 An hofpitable roof to reft at night, 
 And teeming bring their brute offspring to light. 
 But to Creation's Sire, whofe mighty fway, 
 The blazing manfions of the fky obey, 450 
 
 All earth denies a fpor, to reft his head, 
 And his exhaufted limbs in death tofpread. 
 
 And now the Victor- Jews, among the ftore 
 Of direful pangs, the moft acute explore. 
 That death, attended with his tort'ring train, 455 
 May on the Pris'ner rufh with fharper pain, 
 
 To
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 191 
 
 To fpread and nail him on a fatal tree, 
 
 And by flow pangs life wafte, the crowd agree ; 
 
 Of the (harp ax, the wood repeats each (Iroke, 
 
 And foon falls rufhing down the {lately oak. 46$ 
 
 A Crofs is rear'd, of the cleft timber built, 
 
 A torture fram'd, to punifh heavy guilt. 
 
 Kings once this machine us'd, by loit'ring pain, 
 
 The condemn'd wretches' dying lives to drain. 
 
 Nor did this inftrument of horrid fame 465 
 
 A fpark of glory then or honour claim : 
 
 But, fmce nail'd on the wood the Godhead lay, 
 
 A fuppliant rev'rence to the Crofs we pay : 
 
 Rear'd on our facred altars we behold 
 
 The tree inwrought with filver and with gold. 470 
 
 And the glad honours we to it decree 
 
 Relate to him, whofe death has blefs'd the tree. 
 
 The Crofs mail, like a lamp, hang in the ikies, 
 
 And tinge the world with its refulgent dyes ; 
 
 When the laft clay all creatures mail entomb, 475 
 
 And a broad blaze all nature's works confume. 
 
 Earth'fcarce was cherim'd with the morning's hue, 
 When the* town pours her youth the fcene to view. 
 With tides of rufhing crowds the ways o'erflow, 
 And with wild tumult all things fervent glow. 480 
 Now fpoil'd of his mock purple robe of Hate, 
 They (homing drag the Pris'ner to his fate : 
 Fetter'd amid the crowd, he's trembling led, 
 Ga(h'd with nodlurnal wounds and almoft dead : 
 
 On
 
 i2 The CHRISTIAD. Eook V. 
 
 On his weak fhoulders bears the Crofs's beam -, 485 
 (A knotted oak compos'd the fatal frame) 
 On which transfix'd, he leaves this nether air, 
 And by his death compleats his doFrous care. 
 Around him throng a band in denfe array, 
 Whofe arms, and fhields, and fpcars flalh on the 
 
 day , 490 
 
 Whofe helmets glow with crimfon plumagecrown'd, 
 And brazen trumps in varied clangors found. 
 On foot fome follow, fome on lofty deeds, 
 Whofe barb'rous fhouts each neighb'ring hill far 
 
 fpeeds. 
 
 Still many weep, whom rectitude enflames ; 495 
 But chiefly tender maids and pious dames ; 
 To fee him climb the rough rock's airy height, 
 And 'gainft the ftones oft wound his naked feet. 
 While up the mount he drags the pond'rous oak, 
 Cries to his mourners with a penfive look, 500 
 Ye hoary Dames, tho' woes unjuft I bear, 
 Yet ceafe for me t'indulge the pious tear ; 
 To your impending pains your tears are due, 
 And to the wrath that fhall your race purfue. 
 Thus having faid, and, moving to his fate, 505 
 He leaves with tott'ring fteps the city's gate. 
 
 Mean while to be fpectator of the firife, 
 And view his Son exhale his mortal life ; 
 The Monarch of the fky afpires fublime 
 To the moft high tow'r of his heavenly clime. 510 
 
 Befet
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 193 
 
 Befet with troops of the Celeftials bright, 
 
 The plumy hoft of Heav'n attend his flight. 
 
 On mount Olympus, lucid to behold, 
 
 A temple Hands of gems and folid gold. 
 
 A mighty fabrick, the fupreme Sire's feat, 5 1 5 
 
 Which views the fubjecl: ftars this world luftrate. 
 
 An adamantine cliff rears flowly fine, 
 
 In the mid, its head, like a taper'd pine. 
 
 On either fide the cliff, above the fldes, 
 
 Nine thrones arrang'd in various order rife. 520 
 
 Hither repair Olympus' native throng, 
 
 And round their King break forth in pomp of fong. 
 
 Thenontheirthronesreclin'djthefparklingmound, 
 
 The thrice three choirs in myftic form furround. 
 
 For each's content, tho' different is their care -,525 
 
 Their pow'r unlike, yet happy in their fliare. 
 
 For, as with greater merit beams their mind, 
 
 So they more high are awfully enfhrin'd. 
 
 Thron'd in the midft, the potent Father fways, 
 
 And all creation with a glance furveys. 330 
 
 His lucid form diffufes floods of blaze, 
 
 And all things glow with his wide flafhing rays. 
 
 At length on Juda's land he drops his eyes, 
 
 Where the mount's brows with direful afpeft rife. 
 
 The choirs view fad the mountain from their thrones, 
 
 535 
 
 Which on the town turns pale with human bones; 
 Where on offenders fatal pains attend, 
 And parch'd on trees, where livid corpfe fufj: end. 
 
 O Hither
 
 l$4 the CHRISTIAD, Book V. 
 
 Hither foon as our penfive Hero came, 
 Saw the fad tortures and the fatal beam ; 540 
 Around the hill his mournful eye he throws, 
 If he could find his friends among his foes : 
 But none could luftrate, but an hoftile band, 
 Whofe weapons flafh a fplendor o'er the land. 
 For all his friends, wham once he held fo dear, 5 45 
 Now fly him in diftrefs, difpers'd thro' fear. 
 So when the light'nings round fome fhepherd play, 
 Or in a vale he's kili'd by beaft of prey ; 
 Soon roam his fheep, affrighted with his fate, 
 And o'er thepaftures wide their forrow bleat. 550 
 
 And now he mounts the Crofs, and hangs in air} 
 Now feems his Godhead to forget, and fears 
 This bitter kind of death ; now anxious roll 
 His drear difafters in his fainting foul , 
 Sorrow fo fills his mind, that ev'ry pore 555 
 
 Emits fweat-drops deep ting'd with fable gore. 
 He now remembers oft his native ikies, 
 And, Ether viewing, thus breaks forth in fighs* 
 Why leave me, Mighty FATHER, in my woes ? 
 Where's fled the love, a Sire his offspring owes ? 
 
 *** 
 
 The fad addrefs the potent parent hears, 
 The fad addrefs ftrikcs deep the Angels' ears. 
 The caufe in his deep bread revolves the God, 
 And finds the fcene is a<5ted by his nod ; 
 The horrid pomp of tortures views ferene, 56^ 
 And ft ills himfeifenflam'd with his "Son's pain. 
 
 But
 
 fcookV. The CHRiSTIAD. i 9S 
 
 But pow'r can't check the paflions that arifc 
 In th'ambient crowd, wing'd natives of the fkies. 
 The fight thro' alia fuddcn grief diftills, 
 And indignation ev'ry breall now fills. 570 
 
 And now refolv'd their Monarch's Son to aid, 
 And ftop the murder with the vengeful blade ; 
 An Angel, not the laftof the plum'd choir, 
 Than whom none can more loud the trump infpire* 
 To the high pole with fwift afcent now bounds, 57^ 
 And in the rofy Ikies war's fignals founds : 
 Olympus ecchoes thro* his cryftal Hate, 
 And with unufual gleams the ftars vibrate. 
 If any Angel roams the lunar fphere, 
 The clangors foon afTault his remote ear : 580 
 The brazen voice floats on the curren* wind, 
 And wounds the guardian fpirits of mankind t 
 While earth, thro' all her broad expanded plains, 
 Thrills with the valleys of the trumpet's (trains. 
 Soon as the clangors reach the Angel hofts, 583 
 By ether's Monarch fent to various coafts, 
 They leave their charge imperfect, and repair 
 Above the polar heights thro* trafts of air. 
 And as the doves forfake their airy dome, 
 And love thro* meads, in fearch of food, to roam, 
 
 59 
 
 Should a loud temped on a fudden rife, 
 And with expanfive clouds furFufe the fkies* 
 On flutt'ring wings they foon fublime afpire, 
 And to their mapfions from the fields retire. 
 
 O 2 Soon
 
 ic>6 The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 Soon from Olympus' brow all glaring wheel, 595 
 
 And Heav'n fades horrid, with the flaming iteeh 
 
 Arms and chariots return a brazen found, 
 
 And groaning wheels the ftarry pavement wound : 
 
 Each pole the dreadful hurricane admires, 
 
 Ether's convulfive orbs, and flaming fires. 600 
 
 Tho' without body live thefe finer (hades, 
 
 "Whofe purer natures to our fenfes fade , 
 
 Yet dill, whether to mortal climes confign'd, 
 
 Or war> as once, againft their rebel-kind ; 
 
 Each can afiume a form of coarfer mould, 605 
 
 And their aerial limbs with wings infold. 
 
 In fidlious bodies thus the Spirits dreft, 
 
 Full to the vifual organ Hand confefs'd. 
 
 Now the celeftials, in a circling flight, 
 
 Convene ; their bodies rufhing on the fight : -610 
 
 Long ufelefs arms from Heav'n's brafs-columns 
 
 feize, 
 
 Throwing about their forms a lambent blaze. 
 Celeftial fpoils, and wars victorious boaft, 
 Gain'd o'er their brothers a defeated hoft. 
 Now a javelin this holy Angel bears, 615 
 
 While this with ardor points the oaken fpears. 
 Some grafp an arrow, fome with fire-brands glow; 
 And o'er their moulders caft the lunar bow. 
 Others a (tore of limpid whirl-bats hold, 
 And flings of temper'd tongs their hands infold *, 
 
 620 
 
 While on their thighs fuftain the plumy hoft, 
 The burniih'd fteei, in iv'ry fheaths inclos'd. 
 
 Some
 
 Book V. The CHRISTIAD. 197 
 
 Some guide the chariots thro' the blue ferene, 
 The reft on painted. wings their frames fuftain. 
 Tho' wings to all the Angel choirs belong, 625 
 Unequal is the fwiftnefs of the throng : 
 With fluttering pinions fome each moulder veil, 
 And with their plumage 'long the ether fail. 
 Some veft their feet with three-fold wings, and rear 
 Their fearing bodies to the Heav'nly air. 630 
 Their various flights with various looks are feen 
 So grac'd with diff'rent faces is their mien. 
 Nor is the painting of their plumes the fame ; 
 Some wreathe their feet with wings of rofy flame : 
 While from their fhoulders flafhing pinions rife, 
 
 635 
 
 That emulate the luftre of the fkies: 
 Thofe fpread their plumage fplendent to the view, 
 Sheding the verdure of the em'rald's hue. 
 Thefe bathe their glofly backs with faffron rays : 
 While hundreds in the pride of colours blaze. 640 
 So when the fummer leaves the fultry fphere, 
 And beauteous autumn rules the fruitful year, 
 The trees improve the luftre of the fkies, 
 Bending with fruit bedrop'd with various dyes. 
 
 And now the hoft glide thro' the cryftal fpace, 
 
 645 
 
 And, on their wings incumbent, Heav'n embrace. 
 Sv) many mortals, fince creation's birth, 
 Ne'er trpd at once the furface of the earth. 
 
 3 In
 
 i 9 S The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 In thrice three myriads rife the gen'ral band, 
 And thrice three chiefs the num'rous hoft command < 
 
 650 
 
 On Garganus' high brow, above the reft, 
 In weapons fam'd, a Leader fhipes confefs'd: 
 The fame, whom once the battles' glorious toils 
 Sublimely rais'd, crown'd with victorious fpoils : 
 He ilaiks triumphant 'mid the chiefs of fight, 655 
 With helmet, creft, and gems fuperbly bright. 
 The dragon's tawny hide he now difplays, 
 A fpoil, whole fpires emit a horrid blaze. 
 The fpear transfix'd the monfter to the ground, 
 And his prefs'd back receives the mortal wound. 
 
 660 
 
 Wide blaze his arms; his fliield with radianccgleams j 
 And a bright jafper fets his fword in flames. 
 
 Come to the flaming portals of the fkies 
 With keener wrath the warrior fpirits rife. 
 Their fouls catch ardor from the glorious fight,665 
 The famous enOgns of the former fight ; 
 From lofty tow'rs they view the pendent cars, 
 On pofts hang arms, and darts, and fhields of wars, 
 Trophies, weapons, from the rebel fpirit-train, 
 Who dar'd with finful thoughts the fkies prophane, 
 
 679 
 
 Refolv'd Olympus with their nods to make 
 h.late with impotence, and fuperbly weak ; 
 But to the hoft of purer minds they yield, 
 And, vanc^uifh'd, t leave the ikies difputed field. 
 
 Fos
 
 Book V. The CHRISTIAD. i 99 
 
 For by the fculptor's hand the gates unfold 675 
 The dreadfpl war engrav'd on polilhed gold. 
 In the pure fpace of the factitious air, 
 Each adverfe hoft in act of fight appear. 
 Now here, now there, a band of wand'rers fly 
 And with their wings obfcure the middle fky. 680 
 With blazing weapons now the troops engage : 
 Now war's confufion kindles into rage. 
 Some, wanting arms, feize by their locks the Foe, 
 And whirling round thro' the blue ether throw. 
 At length urg'd ardent by the happy choir, 685 
 The rebel hoft with fullen fteps retire, 
 Now chas'd thro' heav'n, they fly with horror pale, ' 
 Swift as the rolling clouds, or whittling gale ; 
 For the all-potent Sire feems, with his hand, 
 To dart his thunder 'gainft the routed band ; 690 
 Who urg'd with flames, and from Olympus hurPd t 
 At once plunge deep into hell's gloomy world, 
 With former fpoils and figur'd fight elate, 
 They glow to rufh thro' ether's lofty gate. 
 Then down to earth had mot the Angel hod, 695 
 And fcatter'd flames along the guilty coalt: 
 Thy towns, Judea, had, already, lay, 
 For thy mifdeeds, to vengeful fire a prey, 
 Had not the Thund'rer from his ftarry tow'rs, 
 (Rous'd with the tumult of the heavenly pow'rs) 
 
 709 
 
 The ill-tim'd battle check'd and ram eflay, 
 With mandates, harflb, and painful to obey : 
 
 * For
 
 200 The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 For mid the minftrels of the plumy bands, 
 Who ad in virgin forms, the heav'n's commands, 
 Fair CLEMENCY of placid looks he fpies, 705 
 And to the chofen Angel thus he cries : 
 
 Go, wing your chariot thro* the cryftal fphere, 
 And to your brothers thus my dictates bear : 
 To them belong neither the lore of Heav'n, 
 Nor the vaft empire of the world was giv'n, 710' 
 That they fhou'd dare both fides and earth con- 
 found, 
 
 And flame the mind, with war's definitive found r 
 Let them appeas'd their bold defign forbear, 
 Lay down their arms, and hither fwift repair. 
 
 He faid : her chariot thro* Olympus rolls, 715 
 And fhe Gcd's ire diffufes to the poles ; 
 Unlefs the hoft return, from weapons ceafe, 
 And 'their tumultuous minds fubfide in peace. 
 Fair HOPE and FAITH, on her attendant, rove, 
 And the mild parent of religious love, 720 
 
 With golden PEACE and PIETY join the band, 
 The candid olive noding in each hand. 
 Where'er they bend, thefky with weapons mines, 
 The hofc grow mild, and Ceafe from their defigns : 
 And now unarm'd, Olympus' martial band, 725 
 Before Jehovah's royal prefence (land ; 
 Obedient to his word, each takes his fear, 
 According to his rank, and refts fcdate.
 
 BookV. The CHRTSTIAD. 201 
 
 His eyes around the Thund'rer-father throws, 
 His head thrice nods, that bright with glory glows ; 
 
 730 
 
 And thrice the poles with founds terrific fhake 5 
 When thus his words the awful filence break : 
 
 Why let your rage againft my pleafure ftray, 
 Ah whither rufh ye mad Celeflials fay ? 
 On my afiiftance can't my Son rely, 73^ 
 
 Or is my pow'r grown weaker in the fky ? 
 Then calm your minds, and lay afide your cares, 
 Thefe ills, my Son, with my permifiion, bears. 
 For know, man's crimes are blotted by his fate, 
 Thus heav'n, by our decree, unfolds its gate. 740 
 Therefore he lives on earth by labours worn, 
 The firft in woes, poor, wretched, and forlorn. 
 This day, big with his pain, (hall view him fpread 
 A willing bleeding victim, mid the dead. 
 Now willing horrors thro' his art'ries roll, 745 
 And death in profpe6l quite unmans his foul. 
 As if afide he had his God-head laid, 
 The armlefs mortal feels the painful blade. 
 For 'gainft his part divine mankind might low'r 
 In vain, and mortal weapons lofe their pow'r. 750 
 If fo my will, my virtue's not fo fmall, 
 But I might fave my Son in death to fall. 
 In vain all men might 'gainft him rife with rage, 
 That ever liv'd, or dy'd in any age. 
 My ftrength felt Babel, when her giants drove, 755 
 J3y edirke, to feize my realms above : 
 
 Si
 
 402 The CHRISTIAD. BookV. 
 
 So ftrong, they could the lofty mountains tear 
 From their foundations, and whirl them in air. 
 Struck with my thunder (till the ftructures fume, 
 And the drear ruins ferve them for a tomb : ^69 
 Now reft the hofl of ftorms to nothing hurl'd, 
 Who cou'd unhinge the fabrick of this world. 
 I fhock'd the earth and ether's blue profound, 
 And all creation with the deluge drdwn'd. 
 The human race have feen my raging ire, 765 
 Now arrrfd with thunder, and now clad with fire. 
 Thro* rocking orbs I oft in tempefts roar'd, 
 And mow'd down armies with the vengeful fword. 
 But wait -, a day mail foon in ether reign 
 When that vile town mall wifli, but wifh in vain, 
 
 770 
 
 It ne'er had touch'd him, who can glorious trace 
 His origin divine from heav'n's high fpace. 
 
 This faid, the trembling world feels deep his nod, 
 And ether's fanes (hake with the thund'ring God. 
 Their wrath and rage without delay retire, 775 
 And votive friendfnip melts the gen'ral choir : 
 So on the furface of a level'd plain, 
 In mimic fight, contend a youthful train : 
 A circled band of youths with wonder gaze 
 On the warm ftruggle for the voice of praiie. 780 
 If one for toil unfit (hou'd fearful yield, 
 Or if, by cafual cadence, prefs the field : 
 Each true comrade the dire misfortune views, 
 To aid how willing ! but their laws refufe. 
 
 Around
 
 Book V. The CHRISTIAD. 20$ 
 
 Around the fallen youth all (land aghaft, 785 
 And with dire curfes the difafter blaft. 
 Without afiiftance thus the Heroftands, 
 On ev'ry fide befet with ruffian bands ; 
 And now the clam'rous crew, by furies led, 
 On a large tree his naked body fpread, 79* 
 
 Stretch'd to each margin of the tranfverfe beam, 
 His hands by fteel transfix'd withcrimfon ftream. 
 His gufhing feet the fame fharp weapons bore ; 
 While the crofs blufhes with the copious gore. 
 AH call forth their ftrength > with blows groans the 
 oak, 795 
 
 And the fupine hill ecchoes with each ftroke. 
 Words, o'er his head, in different tongues, relate 
 His country, name, and caufe of his dire fate. 
 Then, one on either hand, two crofles rear 
 Two focial fuff'rers, hanging in the air ; 800 
 
 Whom for their crimes the rig'rous laws refign 
 To awful equity and pains condign. 
 HIM, in the mid, a loftier crofs fublimes, 
 As if the firft in bafencfs and in crimes. 
 Unhappy Solyma, unhappy feat, 805 
 
 Rear'd on the faithlefs plains of Juda's flate : 
 To men of pious mind thou direful bane, 
 And even treach'rous to the Prophet-train. 
 Is this the feat, is this the royal bed, 
 And this thefeaftfor ether's King you fpread ? 810 
 Such honours and afibciates you prepare 
 For him a who left for ma,n the lucid fphere ; 
 
 Wh
 
 2C4 The CHRISTIAD, Book T. 
 
 Who dwelt fpontaneous on the globe terrene, 
 Beneath the image of a human mien. 
 Who led from Egypt's coaft your harmlefs race, 
 
 815 
 
 Thro' the wild realms of the briny fpace ; 
 Bade the rough furge to a fmooth way fubfide, 
 And flop'd the progrefs of the headlong tide: 
 Who, with your labours touch'd, thro' dreary waftes 
 From high Olympus (lied celeftial feafts : 820 
 And, when the fonts to pour their torrents fail'd, 
 The rocks with guming rills your thirft allay'd. 
 Your flate moft lov'd of all he wou'd enthrone 
 Above the ftars by merits all his o\vn. 
 Are thefe the homage-gifts your patron fhares, 825 
 And thus rewarded are his tender cares ! 
 Can't Prophets' lays, nor wonders faith impart ; 
 And with the prefent God glows not the heart ? 
 What criminal ever felt fuch dreadful woe, 
 And who prepar'd fuch tortures for a foe ? 830 
 
 Now hanging on the Crofs all filent wait, 
 To fee fome wonder in his hour .of fate : 
 W T hat hope can now the Victim entertain, 
 In what, confide deliv'rance. from his pain ? 
 But he long time unmov'd with torments hung, 
 
 835 
 
 Nor drop'd a plaintive accent from his tongue. 
 Nor from his looks yet fled each rofy grace : 
 Nor ceas'd his eyes to fhed a facred blaze. 
 
 But
 
 BookV. The CHRISTIAD. 205 
 
 But blood anddurty fweat his cheeks bedew, 
 And his teeth blufh diftain'd with finguine hue. 
 
 840 
 
 So Lucifer, bath'd in the azure waves, 
 The Harry firmament with luftre laves. 
 Shou'd o'er the world's bright fpace arife a cloud, 
 And the pale ether on a fudden fhroud ; 
 His looks are beauteous, while his glories fade ; 
 
 8.5 
 
 And his beams gum tranflucent thro' the made. 
 
 Mean while, his Mother, led by vagrant fame, 
 With hafte, to the great city lately came. 
 But now me hears her Son endures his fate, 
 (By treach'ry feiz'd) without the city-gate. 850 
 With the dire news, her looks grow fadly pale, 
 And her ftiff lips, to pour their accents, fail. 
 For tho' flie knew this fcene receiv'd the nod 
 Of her Son's God- head, and his Father God : 
 Still o'er her mindfuch floods of forrow flow, 855 
 That down me finks a victim to her woe. 
 The houfe founds plaintive with her female train, 
 Who ftrive to foothe her forrow fhed in vain. 
 And now (lie roams the town now here and there, 
 Seeking the fatal place with toilfome care : 860 
 Now ft ops, now gazes round, now opes her ear, 
 To view the tumult, or their clamours hear. 
 At eve, fo, when the doe from fertile lawns, 
 Or mountain's brow, returns to her lov'd fawns, 
 
 Her
 
 166 the CHRISTIAD. BookV. 
 
 Her tender care in their known haunts not found, 
 
 865 
 
 But ftain'd with fanguine drops the vicine ground* 
 Wildly me throws about her prying eyes, 
 And thro* the forcft roams with heaving fighs. 
 If fhe the raging lion's fteps can trace, 
 Or mark the wolfs along the woody fpace : 870 
 Thro' devious mazes me inceflant roves* 
 Marking with cloven feet the noding groves. 
 The Mother views the mount, which olives crown, 
 And which projects its fhadows o'er the town j 
 Jav'lins and fhields rum blazing on her eyes j 875 
 And copious hofls of foot and horfemen rife : 
 Thro' preffing multitudes (he cuts her way, 
 And leaves the city-walls without delay : 
 Her flight the matrons from their porches fee, 
 Or lofty windows j feel her mifery : 8 801 
 
 Now thefe, now others, me outftrips infpeed : 
 Tho often wounded by the running Heed. 
 John with his mother, virgin Martha, came ; 
 Her fitter, Salome, attends the dame ; 
 Cleophas' weak fpoufe joins the fad parade, 885 
 Their temples Ihrouded with a fable made. 
 
 Now near the hill, me views the {landing tree* 
 Ladders, and other figns of agony : 
 And, tho' their ufe was yet to her unknown, Sgdi 
 Howler their fight extunds a fearful groan. 
 Her hands thrice fmite her gen'rous breaft, and tear 
 The head's, fair ornament, her flowing hair. 
 
 Alasl
 
 Book V. The CHRlSTIAp. 207 
 
 Alas ! within her mind (he thus debates, 
 What mean thefe tools, what ills this machine 
 threats? 8^5 
 
 The raging Jews, I know, an odious foe, 
 Would on us fhed, long fince, unworthy woe. 
 This vifion, furely, hover'd o'er my head, 
 When I, one fleeplefs night, comprefs'd my bed. 
 I thought the Jews, with a lamb's ritual gore, 
 Each man befmear'd the thremold of his door,9OO 
 What time thro' labours and a long exile, 
 They ftole, admonifh'd, from the realms of Nile. 
 
 Thus having thought, fhe goes without delay, 
 Burfling thro' condens'd troops and arms her way. 
 The troops each paffage with their Ihields inclofe, 
 
 9 
 
 And her fwifr progrefs with their force oppofe. 
 On the hill's brow, the knotted Crofs appears, 
 And the huge rough engine confirms her fears. 
 But when (he fees her Son's tormenting flate, 
 Fix'd to the Crofs, convulfive with his fate ; 9 re> 
 His hands and feet pierc'd with the jav'lin's 
 
 wound j 
 
 His temples with a bleeding chaplet crown'd v 
 Bedew'd with death's fad drops, his languid eyes j 
 His beard and trefies ftain'd with fanguine dyes ; 
 Drop'd on one moulder his dejected head ; 9 1 j 
 And o'er his form death's pallid tincture fpread , 
 The wretched Mother (tifFens as the rock, 
 Which, on the Alps, contemns the tempeft's 
 {hock i
 
 <joB The CHRISTIAt). Book V. 
 
 The triple thunder's direful force defies, 
 And the perpetual deluge of the fkies : 920 
 
 Hoary with froft, it roughly ftands fublime, 
 And unchang'd triumphs o'er the wrecks of time. 
 Touch'd with her forrow each gazing mountain 
 
 mourns* 
 
 And diftant rivers pour their weeping urns : 
 The lofty cedars, on the mountain's brows 925 
 Diftill their facred grief from bending boughs. 
 
 When from the tree the Son his Mother fpy'd, 
 Her mental torments thro' his bofom glide : 
 But on her foon he refts his dying fight, 
 And from this loving glance refults delight. 930 
 To foothe her mind oppreft with her diftrefs : 
 At length he pours this fad and laft addrefs. 
 I fuffer'd mute, 'till now, without relief; 
 Nor, woman, be a prey to gnawing grief, 
 Since Heav'n's great Sire permits this group of pains 
 
 935 
 
 Who with his nod o'er boundlefs nature reigns. 
 Woman, this youth (for John ftood weeping near) 
 Behold, hereafter, as your Son moft dear ; 
 Then foon to John his words he thus applies : 
 This Woman always view with filial eyes : 940 
 Guard her abandon'd ftate, I dying fue, 
 And pay the love, to a fond Mother due. 
 
 With wounded minds the foes lament his pains, 
 And the fierce hoft grow fo-ten'd with his ftrains. 
 
 At
 
 Book V. The CHR1STIAD. 209 
 
 At length the Mother her fad filence breaks, 945 
 While a deep groan her throbbing boibrn makes. 
 Lav'd with her ibrrow, (he the Crofs contains 
 Within her clafping arms, and thus complains : 
 
 My Son, of all creation's works the pride, 
 To your fad Mother how your charms fubilde^D 
 Why can't my love forbid you undergo 
 The cruel agony of mortal woe, 
 For others' crimes the pangs of tortures feel, 
 And p erce my bofom with the bleeding fteel ? 
 But, fay, is this your face, on which I gaze, 955 
 That once mone milder than the morning blaze ? 
 Are your's thefe languid eyes ? Who dar'd pro- 
 
 phane 
 
 Their mining fluiccs with a fading (lain ? 
 Ah! how from him chang'd, whom the youthful 
 
 throng 
 
 HaiPd coming to the town, in feftive fong ! 960 
 Whofe way the choir with rofy chaplets ftrow'd ; 
 Beneath whofe feet the purple carpets glow'd. 
 All own'd you King, and all a God confefs'd : 
 Why are you with fuch gems and purple drefs'd ? 
 An Angel me, with virgin tremors chill'd, 965 
 Once with a far more pleafing promife fill'd. 
 Am I thus happier than the happieft fair ; 
 And move I thus the Queen of ether's fphere ? 
 Are thefe the glories playing round my head, 
 And thefe the honours on my ftation med ? 970 
 After my throes, their gifts why Kings bcftowM, 
 And from Ce'eftials why fofc anthems flow'd ? 
 
 F If
 
 f ic> The CHRISTIAD. Book V. 
 
 If fuch a cruel lot remain'd for me, 
 And fpun out life this bloody fcene to fee. 
 Thrice happy dames,, whofe fons the King with 
 rage 975 
 
 Deprived of life irt their foft infant age ; 
 Oh had you 'mid the deluge loft thy breath, 
 Which pannic-ftruck he Ihed to give thee death ! 
 The Sage foretold my woes, in horrid founds, 
 My breaft fliould welter by the poniard's wounds. 
 
 980 
 
 Stop, paflengers, your fteps and fee my ftate, 
 And join me to my Son, to mare his fate. 
 For ev'ry joy of life is fled away, 
 And who can be to grief a greater prey ? 
 Then to his Crofs, if pity in you reigns, 985 
 
 Transfix my body, focial of his pains. 
 At leaft ye mountains wild, whofe verdant brows 
 Are now full fated with my plaintive vows, 
 Benignly hear, and fuccour my diftrefs, 
 And hear a wretched Mother's fad addrefs. 990 
 Rum fudden now from your aerial height, 
 And end my forrows with your tumbling weight. 
 
 The weeping Maid thus pour'd the fadd'ning 
 
 ftrain : 
 
 Nor could her friends remove her from the fcene. 
 The troops their feoffs now on the SurPrer fpend, 
 
 595 
 (To a hard foe, a foe in war's a friend) 
 
 With
 
 BookV, The CHRISTIAD. 211 
 
 With laughter- noding heads the Crofs furround, 
 
 And the fky's concave with thefe infults wound. 
 
 Lo ! who our city threaten'd and our fanes ; 
 
 And faid, he (hot from Ether's cryftal plains :ioo<ai 
 
 His lineage drawing from the Sire fupreme, 
 
 And falfelydar'dhimfelfa God proclaim. 
 
 What homage now is to his Godhead paid, 
 
 Since God difowns him by refufing aid ? 
 
 Who many fnatch'd defcending to the grave, 1095 
 
 From his own groupe of woes, himfelf can't favc. 
 
 Let him now break, to fhew his Deity, 
 
 His captive-chains, and fly the gracelefs tree. 
 
 Then fhall we own, by fuch a wond'rous fign, 
 
 The fkies his manfion, and his race divine. 1010 
 
 On the fad fuff'rer in his dying hour, 
 Their bafe deriiion thus the foldiers (how'r: 
 But, with a mind unconquer'd and ferene, 
 Hepaflive bears their infolent difdain, 
 Implores with too much clemency his Sire, 1015 
 To fpare their ignorance and darkfome ire. 
 
 Mean while two youths, nail'd to a tranfverfc 
 
 beam, 
 
 The fame their theft, and punilhmentthc fame ! 
 Among themfelves are heard in warm debate, 
 Tho' writhing with the pains of inftant fate. 1020 
 One mad with ling'ring v/oes thus dares deride 
 The dying Chief, with words elate with pride : 
 
 P 2 Dcftrof
 
 212 T. he CHRISTI AD. Book V. 
 
 Deftroy our temple built with toilfome care, 
 And, in three days, the facred flructure rear. 
 If, as you fay, from Ether conies your line, 1025 
 And great Jehovah is your Sire divine : 
 To free us and yourfelf is in your pow'r, 
 From the fad train of woes, that on us low*r. 
 But torments now your race divine belie, 
 Tho' fpread thro' towns, compell'd with us to die. 
 
 1030 
 
 Who on the Chief's right hand in torment hung, 
 In reprimands employs his dying tongue. 
 \Vhatmadnefs rules your mind, ah wretch ! declare 
 The vengeance due to our offence we bear. 
 But he without offence is drag'd to fate, 1035 
 
 The harmlefs victim of outrageous hate. 
 Ought we not then our horrid deeds confefs, 
 Implore his pardon, and for peaee addrefs. 
 This having faid, to God he turns his eyes, 
 View me, you God's true offspring, thus he cries, 
 
 1040 
 
 And, fince the lofty ftars your coming wait, 
 Be gracious prefent in my dying ftate. 
 The God afTents, and thus vouchfafes to fay : 
 You mall rhypraifeand glories mare to-day : 
 The realms, which me, mail happy you receive ; 
 
 1045 
 Then, from this hour, the fkies in mind conceive. 
 
 With
 
 Book V. The CHR1STIAD. a 1 3 
 
 With pain he fpoke ; the ftream of life fubfides ; 
 While death from thepangM foul the frame divides. 
 A boiling fweat now from his body flows, 
 And his parcli'd mouth with thirfty drynefs glows. 
 
 1050 
 
 At length, he rais'd his eyes with death opprefs'd, 
 And call'd to quaff the ftream, his laft requeft. 
 Ty'd to the margin of an ofier-pole, 
 To his pale thirfty lips they move a bowl 
 Crown'd with the juice of vinegar and gall ; J55 
 Loathfome ingredients! which the tafte appall. 
 From the touch'd juice his poifon'd tongue refrains, 
 And a long time the bitter fcnfe retains. 
 
 Mean while the bands with loud diforder rife, 
 "With ardor driving to divide the prize. 1060 
 
 The SufferVs robe is the contefted fpoil, 
 Which once his Mother wove with pious toil* 
 But, as the Tunick without feam appears, 
 It can't be dealt among the bands in mares: 
 Wherefore in fortune ail their hopes confide, 106^ 
 By lot to carry what they can't divide. 
 This once, the facred Prophets told in lays, 
 Their throbbing boibms big with future days. 
 
 His middle courfe now Sol had almoft made, 
 When on a fudden clouds his radiance (hade. 1070 
 And in meridian blaze, (a fearful fight) 
 On earth incumbent broods a fable night. 
 The ikies lie wrap'd in clouds of mournful hue, 
 And cv'iy profptct flies the mortal view. 
 
 P 3 In
 
 2 4 The CHRISTI AD. Book V. 
 
 In the high Heav'ns fuch figns of grief appear, 1075 
 (If grief had place in the celeftial fphere) 
 One might believe Jehovah heav'd with fighs, 
 And turn'd from wicked earth his flarry eyes. 
 The lightnings flafh , fparkle the confcious poles, 
 And fnaking thunder thro' Olympus rolls. 1080 
 Such murmurs rattle thro* the blue profound, 
 That the world's fabrick cracks,and feems unbound. 
 Earth's centre roars, his waves vaft ocean fpreads, 
 Reel the high domes, and turrets nod their heads. 
 A chilling horror thro' the nation dreams, 1085 
 And cities ftru<5lur'd on the world's extremes. 
 The caufe unknown, tho* ftrange the fcenes appear, 
 And heav'ns and earth a night perpetual fear. 
 But browner horrors on the Hebrews frown, 
 And a pale pannic hovers o'er their town. 109$ 
 A gen'ral groan afcends the heav'nly climes ; 
 Each mind deep-wounded with its confcious crimes. 
 Chafle dames in long proceffion feek the fane, 
 With youths attended and a virgin-train : 
 With adoration at the altar fall, 1095 
 
 And on fair Peace with hofts and incenfe call. 
 A fignal threat burfts from the thund'ring Sire, 
 And on the temple fails the vengeful ire : 
 The broad expanded veil, from vulgar view, 
 Which once the facred myftic rites withdrew, 1 100 
 Gapes, a wide fciflure, while the columns nod, 
 Cracking beneath the temple of the God. 
 And now the dying Gcd's lad accents wound 
 The penfive air with vehemence of found, 
 
 Lo<
 
 Book V. The CHRISTIAN 215 
 
 Lo! all is confummated, Father deign 1105 
 
 Receive this foul without a guilty ftain : 
 Thus having faid, he faints, from life retires, 
 And, bowing down his languid h^d, expires. 
 
 End of the Fifth Book. 
 
 P 4 A R G U-
 
 ARGUMENT to the Sixth Book. 
 Jofeph of Arimathea rcquefts Pilate to grant him 
 the body of Chrift. This favour obtained, con- 
 jointly with Nicodemus, he takes it down from 
 the Crofs, and lays it in a fcpulchre he had newly 
 creeled for himfelf. Here a band of foldicrs are 
 made to watch to hinder the body being ftolen 
 by the Difciples. In the mean time the foul of 
 Chrift defcends into that part of Hell, where the 
 fouls of the righteous were. Their joy at the 
 fight of Him is defcribed, and their deliverance 
 from their prifon. Early the third morn after the 
 crucifixion, Mary Magdalen and the other Marys 
 come to embalm the body, but, inflead of it, find 
 an Angel fitting in the fepulchre, who announces 
 the Refurredtion of the Lord, and his going be- 
 fore them into Galilee. This report was regard- 
 ed by the Apoftles and others, as the work of fe- 
 male fancy , but they were foon convinced of 
 the contrary, by his many apparitions, and the 
 wonders he had wrought among them, whilft he 
 converfed with, and inftru&ed them for forty 
 days together in their feveral Apoftolical duties. 
 This Work now draws to a conclufion by (Thrift's 
 Afcejifion into Heaven, preceded by the inftru- 
 ments of his paiTion borne by Angels. Next en- 
 fues the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft ; the wonder- 
 ful change wrought in the Difciples by Hisde- 
 fcent, and the miracles performed by tliem from 
 his infpiration. Laftly is fet forth the departure of 
 the Apoftles to diverfe parts of the world for 
 preaching faith in Jefus and the blefilngs attend- 
 ing his reign. THE
 
 THE 
 
 C H R I S T I A D. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 NO W Vefper haftes to mount the gloomy fky, 
 While the dead bodies unfepulchr'd lie : 
 Remain unwept on the mount's hoary height, 
 Trees fuftaining ftill their mortal weight. 
 Jofephus, from Arimathean tow'rs, 5 
 
 On the bale treat with indignation low'rs : 
 His foul refin'd with ev'ry mental grace, 
 And beauty fmiling in. his youthful face : 
 In the contended field of battle bold ; 
 Rich in expanfe of land and copious gold. 10 
 He, by the Hero's wond'rous actions fway'd, 
 A glad attendant, his commands obey'd ; 
 While others then by fear to forefts hade, 
 Or hide in cav'rns or range fome dreary wafle ; 
 Without delay the nation's Chief he feeks, 15 
 
 And thus, endow'd with youth and courage,fpeaks : 
 Thou bed of Romans, whom, with plaufive breath, 
 Fame fings unftain'd with our dear Hero's death ; 
 Who, by your pow'r, tho 5 oft withdrawn from fate, 
 Still fell a victim to our nation's hate. 20 
 
 Stung
 
 2i 8 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 Stung with his words to their offences due, 
 
 Tho' free they feiz'd him, and tho* guiltlefs flew, 
 
 Grant then, at lead, the body to inter, 
 
 The only comfort thou canft now confer. 
 
 I mall repofe his relicks in the tomb 25 
 
 Which late I rear'd, full of my future doom. 
 
 Pontius to this replies with foften'd voice, 
 To grant him living, how wou'd I rejoice ! 
 For I atteft you, Gods, whom truth delights, 
 (And Gods and FAITH are worfhip'd with our rites) 
 
 3 
 
 How often I revolv'd in mind each fcheme, 
 From death to free him, who was free from blame. 
 But vain I footh'd the city with my pray'r, 
 Their rage dcftroying, whom I wilh'd to fpare. 
 Go then, his body honour with an urn, 35 
 
 And with due obfequies his fun'ral mourn. 
 
 This faid : Jofephus bends his ardent way, 
 And fecks the mountain's brow without delay, 
 By Ntcodemus join'd, who climbs the height, 
 His, mind deep wounded with the Hero's fate. 40 
 And now they both the mountain's brow purfae, 
 Whence the drear place full rufhes to the view j 
 When lo 1 bright weapons fiafh along the ground, 
 And cohorts arm'd the mountain's cliff furround. 
 The town forbids the trees the corfe diipiay, 4^ 
 Or wit^ the carnage blot their feftivc dajr. 
 
 THc
 
 Book VI. The CHR1STIAD. 219 
 
 The malefactors by the Scribes' commands 
 
 For burial then are loos'd by weapon'd bands : 
 
 But the tormented thieves are found alive, 
 
 Who fond of death their tortures ftill furvive. 50 
 
 Wherefore they break with iron tools their bones, 
 
 A nd the mount ecchoes with their piteous groans. 
 
 Their deaths thus haft'n'd, the bodies they depofe, ; 
 
 And fwiftly in the yawning grave inclofe: 
 
 But when they faw HIM dead, who bore our pains, 
 
 55 
 To abufe the fightlefs corfe their rage abflains j 
 
 They all admire his vitals' fudden fail, 
 His nervelefs limbs, and vifage wond'rous pale. 
 'Tis fam'd the youthful natives of the fky, 
 Their veftures bluming with a crimfon dye, 60 
 Were feen with wings to beat the airy Ipace, 
 And in a cluft'ring orb the crofs embrace, 
 Catch the blefs'dmoifture gufhing from the wound, 
 And bear the chalice to the bright profound. 
 The bafe Longinus dares alone to hide 65 
 
 His profane weapon in his facred fide ; 
 The fpear grows tepid, and imbibes the blood, 
 Which gurgles like a parti-colour'd flood ; 
 For water ftain'd with gore wells from the wound, 
 Purpling the grafs, and drenching deep the ground. 
 
 70 
 
 Jofephus rufhes thro' the guarding train, 
 jAfcends the crofs, lets down his Mailer flain ^ 
 
 Far
 
 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 Far from the din of arms the corfe conveys, 
 And with the cloth, bought for that ufe, arrays. 
 Ye heav'n's young throng, your prefence hither 
 bring, 75 
 
 Charg'd with the honours of eternal fpring ; 
 Narciffus, hyacinths, and vi'lets pour, 
 And bathe the body with the rofy fhow'r. 
 The hills and woods refound with female cries, 
 And earth laments his death in ftreaming fighs. 80 
 The wretch'd Mother, with dimevell'd hair, 
 Pines on a rock, her heart diftrefs'd with care : 
 Holds in her lap her Son, with blood deep dy'd, 
 His eye- lids kiffes, and his wounded fide. 
 And now nor tears nor fight her grief confefs \ 8f 
 Too great for utt'rance is her deep diftrefs ; 
 Chill'd with her fear, and flupid with her moan, 
 She grows as filent as the fenfelefs flone. 
 Smiting their throbbing breafts fome dames deplore ; 
 With tepid ftreams fome lave the corfe from gore : 
 
 90 
 
 Some, with thetextur'd off 'ring of afhroud, 
 The fqualid members of the corfe infold. 
 This matron bending drops the penfive tear, 
 And dries his knees with her diforder'd hair : 
 While this one kiflfes, with a fobbing breath, 95 
 His hands and feet, ftiffwith the cold of death. 
 The ftreaming forrow flows from all their eyes, 
 And the mount ecchoes with their difmal cries. 
 The men, while larger drops their cheeks diftain, 
 Scarce from the corfe remove the female train, 100 
 3 At
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAN 221 
 
 At length the matrons, footh'd, retire with pain, 
 And in his tomb the men repofe the flam. 
 The obfequies perform'd, they all recede, 
 And to her dome th* unhappy Mother lead. 
 
 Nor anxious care is from the Hebrews fled, 1 05 
 Their hearts ftill fear HIM, tho* among the dead. 
 For oft they heard HIM promile (while his train 
 Dreaded the profpect of the hoflile pain) 
 He Ihould arife the third day from the dead, 
 And facred bards the fame have loudly faid. no 
 Full of this fear, they fend, without delay,. 
 A band, to guard the buft both night and day : 
 Left any fhould, by night, withdraw the (lain, 
 And with falfe fame the city entertain ; 
 That the fepulchr'd treads this terrene fphere, 1 1 
 Inhales the folar beams and vital air. 
 
 Come Holy GHOST proceeding from the Sire, 
 Thou, ether's God, thou, joy of ether's choir, 
 Whatever veftiges of woe remain, 
 Caught from the treatment of our Hero (lain, 120 
 Blot from my mind ; and let thy God-head roll 
 A foft infufion thro' my placid ibul. 
 Such liquid gladnefs in my breaft infuie, 
 As the Wefs'd natives of the fkies bedews, 
 Where joy in copious torrents pours its tide, 125 
 And ftreaming without limits pleafures glide. 
 The fcene is fhifted : Joy begins its reign i 
 And nature now aflumcs a better mien. 
 
 An<J
 
 222 The CHRISTIAD. Booktfl. 
 
 And now the God from darknefs to translate 
 
 The holy Bards and Bands to ether's feat, 1 30 
 
 Free from his body's chain his foul invades 
 
 (The realm of filent ghofts) the deepeft fhades : 
 
 Thro' darkfome labyrinths, and craggy ways, 
 
 Impervious to the fun's tranfpiercing rays ; 
 
 A place imbofom'd in eternal gloom, 135 
 
 Of groping fear the horror-brood ing dome : 
 
 The brother ghofts, who thro' night's horror ftray, 
 
 Afiembled here, hold their imprifon'd fway ; 
 
 Whom the Supreme caft from the ftarry climes, 
 
 Shedding his wrath on their ideal crimes. 140 
 
 Plung'd in ; Tartarean gulphs the wretched train 
 
 Too late deplore their direful lull of reign. 
 
 Thefe tyrants yet torment the fhadowy hoft 
 
 Confin'd and fetter'd on the fable coaft. 
 
 The fouls, found cruel, while they breath'd this air, 
 
 145 
 
 In hell's abyfs by Styx inclos'd, repair; 
 
 Them plung'd alive, in vaults replete with fume, 
 
 Eternal fires and growing flames confume. 
 
 The Righteous feats, remote, but next in place, 
 Their turrets raife in a wide ambient fpace. 1 50 
 No burning here in flames vindictive glows, 
 But eafe inglorious and a dead repofe. 
 Confin'd, the blamelefs ghofts live in this clime, 
 Not for their own, but their firft parent's crime. 
 From pain exempt, they envy not our rays, 155 
 Bur thofe that round Olympus' tenants blaze. 
 
 Here
 
 Bo*k VI. The CHRISTIAD. 223 
 
 Here dwell the patriarchs, an ancient race j 
 Their lives by no laws fquar'd, but native grace ; 
 Thro* untill'd fields, with flocks they fpent their 
 
 time, 
 
 Obfervant of the cuftoms of their clime : 1 60 
 
 Without compulfion by ftrift juftice fway'd, 
 Their homage to pure rectitude they paid. 
 Here breathe the bards, who with the God- head 
 
 fraught, 
 
 Boldly, thro* towns, future contingents taught ; 
 Here Chiefs, who once the world with mandates 
 
 fway'd ; 165 
 
 And thofe, who freely their decrees obey'd : 
 Here fages, matrons, babes, a manfion claim, 
 The fame's their love, their wifh of Heav'n the 
 
 fame. 
 
 And now, by chance, the ghofts revolve in mind 
 The circling years, for their releafe confign'd ; 170 
 Thinking the period of their ills draws near, 
 With gladnefs thus they foothe their common care. 
 Behold, the welcome day impends on high, 
 When we may drink the light, and view the fky. 
 Jehovah once this gladfome day confds'd, 175 
 Gliding from ether's blaze into our bread, 
 Leaving to after ages to behold 
 The faving luftre we have once foretold. 
 But, foft, attend, ourlight mail quickly blaze i 
 On us (hall God's true offspring flied his rays : 1 80 
 
 The
 
 224 The CHRISTIAD. Book*?!. 
 
 The fame, who in a Lion's fierceft mien 
 Confefs'd himfelf, our eyes o'ercaft with ftain. 
 Who mould, for many, feel the pangs of woe, 
 And, for us dying, triumph o'er our foe. 
 At length the Lion conquers ; lo's (ing ; 1 85 
 
 The blood of Jinlah, David's great offspring ! 
 Ye happy mortals wide your Peans flrcam -, 
 Ye mapelefs ghofts with fhouts your joy proclaim. 
 Hark ! Heav'n now calls : For us the ftarry fpheres 
 Difplay their portals, bar'd for many years. 1 90 
 As promised in our ftrains the hour's advance, 
 When lofty mountains (hall with gladnefs dance, . 
 When hills with pleafure mall exulting bound, 
 Their beauteous brows with pampine chaplets 
 
 crown'd. 
 
 So frequent in the fields exult the rams ; 195 
 
 Hid in rich paftures play the tender lambs : 
 Or, lifb'ning to their fleecy parent's bleat, 
 Afcend with playful fteps the mountain's height; 
 With liquid honey mail the fountains glow ; 
 With liquid honey mall the rivers Mow : 200 
 
 Or fnowy milk their filver beds mall fill, 
 And from the purling rocks the nectar rill. 
 
 While thefe prophetic ftrains they raptur'd fing, 
 The vaulted roofs with their applaufcs ring. 
 Thus when the natives of a town fuftain 205 
 
 A tedious fiege watch'd by a hoftile train ; 
 With ambient trenches fare the city Hands, 
 And the bar'd gates defy the martial bands. 
 
 Who
 
 Book VI. the CHRISTIAD. 225 
 
 Who round the walls with clam'rous fury fwarm, 
 And ftrivc with mifiive bombs the town to ftorm. 
 
 210 
 
 But if from lofty towers, afar they eye 
 Auxiliar troops to their affiftance fly, 
 Their hopes revive , and with rejoicing cries 
 They pierce the convex of the itarry Ikies. 
 
 Sudden the great avenger ftands confefs'd 2 r 5 
 "Within the door, with holy radiance drefs^d. 
 A huge confronting gate remains ftill clos'd, 
 Its broad expanfe of folid brafs composed ; 
 A hundred tow'ring columns bear the frame, 
 Which mocks the force of fteel and crackling flame- 1 
 
 220 
 
 Here (tops the God, and thunders at the gate ; 
 Th' earth's foundations, ftiock'd with the blow, vi- 
 brate : 
 
 The vagrant flars roll trembling in their fpheres 5 
 And hell, thro' all its caverns groaning, fears. 
 The tribes, who hate the light, a trembling fwarm, 
 
 225 
 
 From deepefl vales emerge at the alarm : 
 They to the knees in human form appear, 
 Beneath, a dragon's hideous figure wear. 
 Loud fhrieks and direful flames fpout from their 
 
 throats, 
 
 And fumed darknefs thro' the palace floats. 230 
 Sudden the gate difplays its valves abroad, 
 And flies the hinges of its own accord.
 
 226 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 The dome's confus'd, when night begins to fade, 
 
 And from the prefence of the God recede j 
 
 Whofe eyes with holy radiance fo bedew 235 
 
 The horrible abyfs of liv'd hue, 
 
 As when a gem, bright rival of the day, 
 
 Streams thro' the fable night a living ray, 
 
 With flames victorious deluges the gloom, 
 
 Or veils with crimfon rays fome regal room. 240 
 
 But when the demons faw the God invade, 
 And own'd his prefence in their dreary {hade, 
 And with the fulgence that his form embrace, 
 And all the glories darting from his face, 
 .With tremors chill'd, they fly the hcav'nly fight 245 
 And caft themfelves into the deepeft night, 
 Licking their tails that round their bodies row], 
 And from their dens afcends an hideous howl. 
 Such roaring ftorms, when eaftern tempefls blow, 
 The half wild Alpine natives undergo ; 250 
 
 If from their cots, by chance they view the fight 
 Of Roman troops, with flaming weapons bright ; 
 Soon from their fmoaky huts, they trembling fly, 
 Seeking, along the Alps, an higher Iky : 
 There feated on fome diftant rock, admire 255 
 The marching Roman Leaders' rich attire. 
 
 Butthechafte ghofts,once lambent with his blaze, 
 Their fupine hands to high Olympus raife : 
 
 With
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 227 
 
 With joy they fhout, with joy their tears they pour, 
 And with their eyes and minds his fight devour, 
 
 260 
 
 Now round the Victor throng the airy train, 
 And all falute him in this gen'ral drain : 
 How welcome is thy prefence to our eyes ! 
 Thou fplendent glory of the ferene fkies ! 
 By thee, the gifts, (nor have we hop'd in vain) 265 
 By our firft parent loft, his feed regain, 
 In its old (late you now the world replace, 
 And ope a walk unknown to ether's fpace. 
 You come at length bright as the lamp of day, 
 Effiilging on our eyes a living ray. 270 
 
 Why worn with woe you come thro' tempefts hurl'd ? 
 (For Fame defcends into our fhady world.) 
 Who has with wounds your facred frame deform'd, 
 Or in your gufhing blood his weapon warm'd ? 
 Shall earth fuch crimes upon her furface bear, 275 
 While, ocean, you embrace with mores her fphere ? 
 Where have you loiter'd, in what cave retir'd, 
 While your Creator in fuch pain expir'd ? 
 Then all mankind mould perifh in your tide, 
 And guilty earth beneath your waves fubfide. 280 
 But fay, true offspring of the heav'nly King, 
 Could nothing, but your blood, falvation bring? 
 For our redemption, from th' infernal ftate, 
 Was once not valu'd at fo high a rate. 
 Love fix'd the price which you to mortals bear, 
 
 285 
 Dear to the human race, to Angels dear : 
 
 2 We
 
 223 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI, 
 
 We rais'd the fupreme arm with thunder red, 
 And, with the pain due to our crimes, you bled. 
 
 Such language fiow'd along the dreary coafl : 
 Now from their cells fly forth the joyous hoft; 290 
 The happy fouls the Vic~bor-god purfue 
 Thro* ether's convex op'ning on the view, 
 To live for ever on the ftarry foil, 
 Secure from danger and exempt from toil. 
 The Sire of men firft feeks the ftarry clime, 295 
 Nor rears his head as confcious of his crime. 
 The patriarchs fucceed, an hoary band, 
 Who once were rulers in their native land : 
 Next come the bards, whofe breails with future 
 
 glow, 
 
 Their temples bound with fillets white as fnow. 300 
 But thofe unhappy fhades, whofe crimes detain, 
 Condemn'd to languifh in eternal pain, 
 'Mid ambient flames in deepefl caverns dwell, 
 And madly groan to find no end of hell. 
 Bur, chief, the King of the fad realms below, 305 
 Firft of the Demons, and the firft in woe, 
 His heart with fury ftung, and big with fighs, 
 Envies the happy his forfaken fkies. 
 But the bleft fouls, along the tender air, 
 With gladnefs feek the promis'd cryftal fphere, 
 
 310 
 
 With vocal harmony falute their King 
 Who crowns their lives with an immortal fpring : 
 
 WrapM
 
 Book VL The CHRISTIAD. 229 
 
 Wrap'd in repofe, they drink eternal day ; 
 
 And death no more his portals fhall difplay. 
 
 The plaufive air their ftarry pafiage hails : 315 
 
 Clouds fly the ether and fubfide the gales : 
 
 With placid motion, the fmiling world glides ; 
 
 And liars roll fmiling thro* Olympus' wilds. 
 
 To light the ghoils Aurora early wakes 
 
 With choral birds, and Vefper ether ftreaks. 320 
 
 While in the blue immenfe fuch wonders rife, 
 The third day blufhes in the eaftern fkies : 
 The Sire fupreme his Son with radiance wreaths, 
 And on his limbs immortal beauty breathes. 
 His frame once mortal, and to wounds a prey, 325 
 Is now immortal, glorious as the ray 
 Which polar ftars med on the clear ferene, 
 Or golden Sol in his meridian reign. 
 So, while a fire's with afhes overfpread, 
 No flames along the houfe a luftre med ; 330 
 
 But fed with fuel, andwaken'd with a blaft, 
 The houfe with fudden flames is overcaft : 
 And thus exhausted with revolving years, 
 Sole of his fpecies, the glad Phoenix rears, 
 Upon fome lofty mountain's airy brow, 335 
 
 His fun'ral pile, of every od'rous bough. 
 Along the balmy tow'ring pile now fpread, 
 (The pile, his tomb at once, and natal bed) 
 His age he buries in the blazing flame, 
 Survives himfelf, another and the famej 34 
 
 0.3 In
 
 2 3 o The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 In bloom of youth, from his own afhes fprings, 
 Effulgent with his creft, and crimfon wings. 
 With wonder, round him throng a feather'd hoft, 
 Viewing his flight to his Egyptian coaft. 
 
 Thefe wond'rous vifions floating in the fides, 345 
 Difiblve the pannic nations with furprize. 
 And now the fun his orient beams difplays, 
 The night retiring from the gufhing blaze. 
 Now Magdalena, with a weeping train, 
 Transfix'd with forrow, for her Hero flain, 350 
 Brings in her lap, when Sol in ether dawns, 
 The fcented herbage of Arabia's lawns, 
 The balfam, fpikenard, and the myrrh's perfume ; 
 The ritual honours, offered at the tomb. 
 As thro' the fields the dames with forrow go, 355 
 Each mutual fpeaks the dictates of her woe. 
 Unhappy we, the penfive matrons cry'd, 
 That have not with our piteous Hero dy'd ! 
 But how mail we the watchful guard deceive, 
 Or the huge (lone from the tomb's entrance heave, 
 
 360 
 
 To pay, at leaft, our duty to the dead, 
 And in the dreary tomb our ofPring fpread ? 
 
 While thus complaining, near the tomb they 
 
 drew, 
 
 Throwing, on ev'ry fide, a piercing view, 
 Void of all guards the mountain's orb behold, 3 65 
 And the great rock from the fepulchre roll'd. 
 
 But
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 231 
 
 But the tomb finding, empty of the corfe, 
 With thoughts the (lain was ftolen by the foes, 
 From Magdalena drops the balmy ftore 
 Of fun'ral gifts, me to the body bore. 370 
 
 The hills and groves with fighs lament the fair, 
 With forrow tearing her difhevell'd hair. 
 But foon a youth, with purple wings, they eye, 
 With drap'ry white, a native of the Iky. 
 To the fad train he pays this foft addrefs : 375 
 
 Whom feek ye Dames -, why pine ye with diftrefs? 
 Let fear, in future, in your minds fubfide, 
 And trickling gladnefsin your bofoms glide. 
 Since he, whofe cruel torments you deplore, 
 Staining for you the gibbet with his gore : 380 
 Since he, whofe fole fpontaneous death alone 
 Could, for the fins of all mankind, atone : 
 Triumphant o'er the King of Hell's retreat, 
 Revifits, from the Ihades, this lucid (late; 
 Inhales, at prefent, this fupernal day ; 385 
 
 His refin'd frame, no more, to death a prey. 
 
 This faid, in air his melted figure glides ; 
 But doubt, before the prefent fcene fubfides, 
 Pierc'd with delay her mind, with love her heart > 
 The Maid admires the tomb, and builder's art 1390 
 For on the tomb a fculptur'd more is fpread, 
 Where lies a fifli, whofe jaws a deluge fhed : 
 Such is the tyrant of the fea, a whale, 
 Whofe bulk's a dread to them who near it fail : 
 
 From
 
 232 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 From whofe voracious mouth the Prophet roll'd, 
 
 395 
 To reinhale this air, and day behold. 
 
 This fcene (fhe cries) confirms the Angel's flrain ; 
 Nor ancient types drew future things in vain. 
 For as the bard lay in the monfter's womb, 
 Three nights and days involv'd with ambient gloom, 
 
 400 
 
 So God by friends and fkies deplor'd, when dead, 
 Amid the darknefs of the tomb was fpread, 
 A Victor from the empty vault fhould rife, 
 And now (as he foretold) afims his Ikies. 
 
 But foon the God, in ruftic veft array'd, 404 
 Moves to the tomb, where fits the mufing Maid. 
 Penfive me eyes him : But his fpeech betrays 
 The God bedew'd with newly painted rays. 
 She falls, and holds his knees in clofe embrace, 
 Her eyes roll round him, and devour his face. 410 
 His placid looks foon foothe her pining love, 
 And from her breaft her plaintive grief remove. 
 Her colour ripens ; but the turgid tear 
 Flows from her eyes, and, down her neck, her hair. 
 So hangs the rofe her head of blufhing hue, 4 1 5 
 Herpurple foliage charg'd with nightly dew; 
 But mould the fun afcend the cloudlefs fkies, 
 And veft the fields with his refulgent dyes: 
 he rears her head, and fuddenly difplays 
 Her damafk bofom to his golden rays. 429 
 
 As
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 233 
 
 As fades her grief, in charms the Maid fo grows 5 
 And with her King and God to converfe glows. 
 And while (he pants what language to purfue, 
 Wrap'd in a cloud, he vanifhes from view. 
 
 While, thro' the towns of Paleftina, Fame 425 
 Scatters, without delay, the wond'rous theme : 
 Congeal'd with fear, the priefts attempt each means 
 To flop her progrefs, and condemn her ftrains. 
 But chief, the troops, who Ipread the firft report, 
 Guards of the butt, by golden bribes . they court 
 
 430 
 To fmg, that his Difciples ftole the flain, 
 
 While, o'er the (leeping world, night held its reign. 
 But vain's the tafk to tame truth's mighty force j 
 For more the priefts contend to flop the courfe 
 Of Famej with higher flights me prunes her wings, 
 
 435 
 And on remoter coafts the wonders fings. 
 
 Some boldly own they faw the tombs difplay 
 Their gates, fpontaneous, and admit the day : 
 Pale mades ftalkghaftly in the glare of light, 
 Whofe bones earth mrouded with her central night. 
 
 440 
 
 Mean time the Hero's friends, a penfive band, 
 Wither'd with fear, are fcatter'd o'er the land ; 
 Fancy the fun mall ne'er the fkies illume, 
 And, he extinct, the world mail fade with gloom. 
 
 Ar
 
 234 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 At length, beneath the roof, they fad convene,445 
 Which oft the Hero honour'd with his train ; 
 To them, their King alive, a fweet retreat j 
 But, (lain, appears a folitary feat. 
 The dome no more (hall feaft the Hero-gueft, 
 Or, with his looks, his focial friends be blefs'd 1450 
 No more his name (hall fill the raptur'd ear, 
 Or his foft eye out-blaze the ftarry fphere. 
 Such fick'ning thoughts the fad afiembly fhade, 
 And nature feems with black defpair to fade. 
 The Ihepherd thus, whom lucre taught to pore, 455 
 A hive leaves empty of its waxen ftore , 
 The fadd'ning bees furround the hollow oak, 
 Tho' thence expell'd with gales of fulph'rous fmoak. 
 Robb'd of their harveft, ftiil they view the hives, 
 Cull'd to fupport, in winter's reign, their lives. 460 
 In vain they rang'd the fields with bufy toil, 
 And fip'd the fiow'rs, to form the honey-fpoil. 
 
 Behold the matrons to the dome repair, 
 Where the aflembly lay in fad defpair ; 
 Amaz'd report they law an Angel- choir ; 465 
 The King, himfelf, new drefs'd with beams of fire ; 
 Befides, the tomb of it's dead-charge refign'd, 
 And all the fun'ral drap'ry left behind. 
 Some climb the mountain's crown with breathlefs 
 
 hafte, 
 
 And find the tomb an empty, dreary wafte. 470 
 Thefe wond'rous vifions ftill to fome appear 
 The work of fancy, and of female fear. 
 
 As
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 235 
 
 As in our dreams we fancy to behold, 
 
 Or abfent looks or 'mong the dead enrolPd. 
 
 But lo ! when Vefper rul'd the cryftal plain, 475 
 
 The Hero ftands before his conven'd train ; 
 
 His well known form and voice the God confefc 
 
 Laying afide his blaze, and funny drefs. 
 
 T^hen Didymus was abfent from the dome, 
 Impell'd by fear (the Hero (lain) to roam ; 480 
 To fee his 'fociates to the town repairs, 
 Who lay in wonder loft, and mute with fears : 
 So when fierce lightnings, burfting from a cloud, 
 In flames fome temple or proud ftructure Ihroud ; 
 Within the walls the frighted burghers gaze, 485 
 And view the manfion, veiled with the blaze. 
 A thrilling horror thro' their bofoms glides, 
 Racking their hearts before the pain fubfides. 
 With ardor Didymus, the fcene unknown, 
 His 'fociates fues, the wond'rous caufe to own 1490 
 Peter, while tears bedew his hoary cheeks, 
 After a clofe embrace, at length thus fpeaks: 
 Heav'n's Monarch lives ; whom death fnatch'd from 
 
 our fight , 
 
 He lives, thrice happy we, and quaffs this light. 
 Thus having faid, his joys fo tow'ring rife, 495 
 That, in his mind, he feems to tread the fkies. 
 
 But Didymus ftill doubts and thus replies : 
 Say, is't the King, himfelf, who breathes thefe fkies ? 
 
 Or,
 
 236 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 Or, rather, fay, a creature of the brain, 
 
 Who, to deceive your eyes, aflumes his mien 500 
 
 Peter returns : 'Tis he, the very fame ; 
 Our eyes have view'd, and hands have felt his frame. 
 Survey'd the gaping failure of his wounds, 
 And air celeftial that his form furrounds. 
 
 What time, bright Vefper fways Olympus' ftate, 
 
 505 
 
 The windows clos'd, and clos'd the mafiy gate, 
 Beneath this roof, we lay diflolved with fear, 
 And penfive prefs'd our feats the feafl to mare. 
 In this clos'd hall our Chief invades our fight, 
 Whofe fparkling looks amaze us and delight : 510 
 With chilling horror we aftonifh'd gaze -, 
 While the walls veiled with his luftre blaze. 
 But foon he checks our fear and vain furprife ; 
 And interdicls us from the board to rife. 
 'Tis I ; be peaceful ; and your fears fubdue ; 5 1 5 
 Here feel my frame, and my five wounds now view: 
 Nor did he fcorn befides, to take a feat, 
 And humbly focial fhare our frugal feaft ; 
 The laft and noted words dtign'd to repeat, 
 Which from him fadly flow'd, when near his fate. 
 
 520 
 
 Then willing, from our fight, to difappear, 
 His body foftly fades to liquid air. 
 Scarce had the Sage pronounc'd the wond'rous fcenc 
 ApprovVl and clamour'd by the prefent train, 
 
 When
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 237 
 
 When enters Cleophas with gladfome mind, 525 
 (Whom to his Apoftles the Chief once join'd) 
 He lives , difmifs your fears, my friends, he cries : 
 Cur Monarch lives ; to death no more a prize. 
 Thefe very eyes devour'd his beauteous face; 
 Thele very ears inhaFd his well-known phrafe 15 3* 
 My fellow-traveller drunk the vocal tide ; 
 Pointing to Amon, who then prefs*d his fide. 
 For as we travell'd with our forrows pale, 
 Where Emaus' hills fubfide into a vale ; 
 With us the way an unknown travell'r prefs'd 5535 
 His perfon ftrange, and in flrange garments drefs'd. 
 While he deceiv'd, with varied fpeech, the road, 
 Tears from our eyes, fighs from our bofoms flow'd : 
 With foothing words he fought to give relief, 
 And oft enquir'd the fubject of our grief. 540 
 
 Our Hero's cruel fate, to him, we figh'd, 
 In whofe fad death, our comfort alfo dy'd. 
 How all his words and deeds our hope infpir'd ; 
 And with his life our flatter'd hope retir'd. 
 Unable longer our complaints to hear, 545 
 
 He thus replies, with reprimands fevere : 
 
 mamelefs race, offus'd with mental gloom ! 
 
 1 lave not your bards foretold your Leader's doom ? 
 His bloody fall your ancient records taught! 
 Which you difcredit, tho' with juftice fraught : 
 
 55 
 
 That he mould fole, to calm his Father's ire, 
 For all mankind, fpontaneoufly expire, 
 
 His
 
 2jS The CHRISTIAD. Book Vt 
 
 His guming wounds fhould ftreak, with crimfon 
 
 dyes, 
 
 His rapid progrefs to his native fkies. 
 A different doctrine for his friends he chofe, 555 
 By op'ning, long before his fate, his woes : 
 For in the town, I know it, he difplay'd 
 His future paflion, caft in myftic ihade. 
 Now all things fhine tranfparent and ferene, 
 Nor have your hopes, the clouds expell'd, prov'd 
 
 vain. 560 
 
 Behold the King, who plants with vines his ground, 
 'Gainft fpoiler beads and men, well fenc'd around, 
 From town he fends a train to guard the fame j 
 The ruflic ruffians kill them without blame. 
 At length his Son confents the fields to tread, 565 
 And by the fame is counted with the dead. 
 The Sire fupreme, his facred Prophets flain, 
 Thus bids his Son defcend the ftarry plain. 
 But lo ! the Paleftines, with fury blind, 
 Their Mailer's Son to cruel death confign'd : 570 
 But foon the King their City mail fubdue : 
 And pour the vengeance to the murder due ; 
 Set (laughter loofe, among the barb'rous fwains ; 
 And foreign hands (hall drefs the vintage plains. 
 This faid ; the Bards' dark dictates he difplays,575 
 And on the Sages' off'rings pours the blaze : 
 Evincing by his proofs their rites and (trains 
 Were pregnant with the c aviour's future pains : 
 The bloody ranfom, that could draw, from night, 
 Each human foul, that ever breath'd this light. 5 So 
 
 As
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 23* 
 
 As he evolv'd the rites, how darknefs fled ! 
 What light on the prophetic leaves was fpread! 
 What thrilling fweetnefs thro' our fenfes flow'd : 
 And, in our breads, what loving ardor glow'd ! 
 So brafs refigns its rigour in the flames j 585 
 
 And ice diflblves before the iblar beams. 
 So blind we were, he ftill remain'd unknown, 
 'Till we arriv'd to Emaus' little town, 
 Where feigning to proceed a longer way, 
 We humbly fu'd beneath the roof to ftay. 590 
 To ceafe his journey, Vefper might perfuade, 
 Expanding over earth a fable made. 
 He foon obeys -, deigning to take a feat, 
 And with us mare our poor and frugal feaft. 
 No fooner had he touch'd the wheaten bread 59$ 
 And broke, as by his ancient cuftom led ; 
 Soon night departs, our eyes inhale the day ; 
 We own the God, and adoration pay. 
 But into air, like fume, he fudden fades, 
 And, grown too fine for fenfe, our fight evades. 600 
 The truth of Cleophas not one refills 
 But Didymus ; whofe error ftill exifts : 
 None mall perfuade me that he lives (he cries) 
 Unlefs he Hands confpicuous to my eyes ; 
 Unlefs I feel the wounds his body bore, 605 
 
 Once welling out in rills his vital gore. 
 This faid : The windows bar'd, and door remain, 
 Chrift {lands with rays bedew'd, amid his train. 
 Thus, thro' the glafs impervious to the winds, 
 The fun a pafTage for his fplendor finds j 610 
 
 Diffuils
 
 24 o The CHR1STIAD. Book VI. 
 
 Difrafes wide his glory thro' the room, 
 His luilre fhedding on the horrid gloom. 
 No veftige, thro* the unhurt glafs, betrays, 
 The golden flux and reflux of his rays, 
 All proftrate preis the earth without delay, 6 1 
 And on adoring knees their homage pay. 
 When Dydimus beheld the difplay'd wounds, 
 And heard himfelf addrefs'd by vocal founds, 
 Inftant he tumbles prone, with horror makes, 
 And angry with himfelf at length thus fpeaks: 620 
 Convinced I own the features of your face ; 
 And the true tokens of your God-head trace. 
 I little thought, (I own) that, after death, 
 You could inhale this light and earthly breath. 
 Madly forgetful of your fupreme lays, 625 
 
 You mould your body, on the third light, raife. 
 Nor ftrange : When oft you bade fome frames 
 
 repair, 
 
 Tho' four days buried, to this vital air. 
 When prefent at iuch deeds, could I refrain 
 My faith, unlefs diflemper'd was my brain ? 6jqf 
 Perhaps my error flows from your decree, 
 That others may believe, who mall not fee j 
 May not demand to feel your mortal mien, 
 Left fpeclres to deceive your frame mould feign. 
 While thus he pray*d, the blazing God retires, 635 
 And with pure zeal each of his train infpires ; 
 Nor from the earth he trod Qlympus' way, 
 'Till, in the eaft, emerg'd the four-tenth day. 
 
 NOV7
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 241 
 
 Now Peter and his friends had plough'd the main 
 And fifli'd, to gain their bread, all night in vain. 
 
 640 
 
 Drench'd with the billows and fatigu'd with toil, 
 Colled their fruitlefs nets uncrown'd with fpoil, 
 When lo ! a youth of beauteous form they ey'd, 
 Beholding from the fhore the briny tide. 
 Nor flood the Godhead to their fight reveal'd, 45 
 His facred frame with mortal limbs conceal'd. 
 At length he thus addrefs'd the fimer-band, 
 Defiil not men, but turn the ftern to land ; 
 *Tis granted, failing to the pebbled more, 
 To crown your labours with a fcaly ftore. 650 
 Their courfe revers'd, they mftantly obey ; 
 And with their out-caft nets ferments the fea. 
 A fign of his vaft prey foon Peter made, - 
 And cali'd his friends, by geflure, to his aid. 
 The loaded net all fcarce with labour heave ; -655 
 While leap the fifhes, panting for the wave : 
 John foon the God difcovers, and thus cries, 
 Our Chief is here, I know him indifguife. 
 See how his body glows with heav'nly grace ! 
 What fmiles gum radiant from his beauteous- face \ 
 
 660 
 
 No fooner Peter had his Hero ey'd, 
 But from his fhip he plunges in the tide, 
 Ardent to hail his Chief, the firft on more, 
 Tho' trembling at the furges* ftormy roar. 
 The reft, with fervent oars purfue the fands 665 
 In haft'ning veflels, whese the Hero ftands. 
 R
 
 242 The CHRISTlAD. Book VI. 
 
 And now the fimers, at the Chief's defire, 
 Prepare the repafl which their toils require. 
 With wheaten cakes, fome load the board in hade. 
 Some broil the fim upon the fandy wafte. 670 
 
 While fome infpire the kindling flames to rife, 
 Whofe gloomy light meanders to the fides. 
 Hunger expell'd, the King, without delay, 
 Thus cries, his God- head blazing on the day : 
 
 Mortals with ardent vows purfue fair peace, 675 
 And court fair peace with fofteft fongs of praife. 
 And now, my friends, we mult for ever part ; 
 Farewell for ever -, let me (hare the heart : 
 For high Olympus, thro' its fplendent feats, 
 Difplays its portals and my prefence waits. 680 
 To be above the reach of frowning care 
 For fuff'ring ev'ry ill your minds prepare : 
 Fear not to go before majeftic pow'r, 
 But ftricteft truth in Tyrants ears dare fhow'r : 
 Too rich to covet what this light difplays, 685 
 Look down on thrones, nor dread the fceptre's 
 
 rays; 
 
 Nor be too anxious to remark what hour 
 Or the beft method your advice to pour. 
 I fhall be prefent with you in my aid, 
 Shedding a tide of words, with grace array'd. 690 
 The Heav'ns themfelves fhall in your cauie con- 
 
 fpire, 
 To nerve your ftrength, and comfort to infpire : 
 
 Whea
 
 Book VI. the CHRISTIAN 243 
 
 When the tenth day lhall veft with blaze the poles s 
 My Sire lhall waft his Spirit in your fouls. 
 Beneath w-hofe guardian care, you (hall proclaim, 
 
 6 95 
 Boldly, before the Lords of earth, my name. 
 
 A holy progeny fhall fhortly rife, 
 
 Brightly diffufive to the golden Ikies. 
 
 The lufcious vines their unfhorn boughs thus 
 
 Ihoot, 
 
 Teeming at once with foliage and with fruit ; 700 
 But on this world when the laft day (hall mine ; 
 And yawning tombs their human bones refign : , 
 When all the dead, who in earth's bofom lay, 
 Shall rife again, emerging to the day ; 
 When Sages, Matrons, and an infant band, 705 
 Shall throng thefe mountains and the fubject land ; 
 When I mail fit in judgment in the vale, 
 And death and life to all mankind fhall deal .- 
 Ye twelve (hall, each, afliime his lofty feat, 
 Shedding, with me, on man, or life, or fate. 710 
 Ifr'el's twelve tribes from you their lot fhall hear, 
 And nature wonder at the ftate you mare. 
 Peter, mean-time, (in zeal to none you yield, 
 The world's great key and fceptre you fhall wield : 
 Prefide o'er all, who willing fill my train -, 715 
 Such honours I confer, you mail maintain. 
 To you is giv'n the world's imperial lore, 
 Your reign be legal, and humane your pow'r. 
 The fmiles of Peace on the religious fhed, 
 And your juil anger let rebellion dread. 720 
 
 R 2 Shall
 
 The CHRISTIAN Book Vl, 
 
 Shall any wretch, with dire offences bafe, 
 And deaf to reprimands your vengeance raiic ? 
 From human commerce chas'd and facred fanes, 
 Shall alfo be expell'd the heav*nly plains. 
 He'll hope, in vain,, to tread the ftarry climes, 
 
 7*5 
 
 'Till, purg'd by penance, you abfolve his crimes, 
 To you fuch fway is gtv'n o'er human cky, 
 To tout the gates o-f ether or difplay. 
 
 Such mandates he pronounc'd, before his flight 
 From this expanded earth and human fight. 730 
 Thus the fage fhepherd, in his dying hour, 
 Refigns his fheep and fold to his fon's pow'r, 
 Shews the rapacious wolves' each furtive fnare ; 
 And the fields hurtful to the bleating care. 
 The Marin'r thus, grown hoary on the waves, 735 
 The vefiel's helm to his companions leaves : 
 Inftrufts the younger in the var'ous ftrands, 
 The dang'rous Syrens, and voracious fands. 
 
 This having faid : Refplendent lights furround 
 The mountain's airy brows, with palms imbrown'd ; 
 
 740 
 
 The kngthen'd mores, fequeft'ring in a maze, 
 Are richly gilded with refulgent rays. 
 Dreft with frefh fmiles mean time, Olympus rings 
 With plaufive hands, and parti-colour'd wings : 
 To form a choir, convene an heav'nly throng, 745 
 And ether's vaulted roofs refound with fong. 
 
 To
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTI^P. 24$ 
 
 To the bright battlements with joy foon fly, 
 And cluft'ring crown the fummit of the fky -, 
 Some from the portals rufh abroad difplay'd, 
 And, poiz'd in air, with wings Olympus made. 
 
 75 
 
 Some touch the mellow flute, fome ftrike the lyre* 
 While fome the twifted cornet loud infpire : 
 Some the hoarfe -clangors of the trumpet blow, 
 And bid foft mufic thro* the cymbals flow. 
 Before Jehovah's throne the choir advance, 755 
 Thrice lightly tread the mazes of the dance j 
 Thrice meafore the long length of ether's court, 
 The trodden poles refounding with the fport. 
 Thus joy the plumy hoft, in meafur'd bounds, 
 While mufic ftreams abroad in varied founds.. 
 
 760 
 
 Before the walls of Remus proflrate lay, 
 When Tarpcian turrets r.ear'd their fronts to day ; 
 When beauteous Rome the world's great emprcfs, 
 
 fway'd, 
 
 And fubject nations her commands obey'd ; 
 The Gonful thus, triumphant from the war, 76.5 
 Bends to the capital his viftor-car. 
 Jehovah*s offspring thus afcends fublime, 
 The clouds difperfing, to the ftarry clime. 
 Eut left mankind's offences fbould inflame, 
 And roufe t$ vengeful ire the Sire fnpreme j 770 
 To (top the fury of the direful blow, 
 He brings the, enfigns of his deadly woe, 
 
 R And,
 
 246 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 And, firft, fome Angels with the crofs precede -, 
 Some with the rods fucceed in the parade. 
 Some bear the direful fcourges which he bore, 775 
 Whofe fwelling knots blufh crimfon with his gore. 
 The column fome fuftain, to which clofe-bound 
 His body yawn'd, by flripes, onegen'ral wound. 
 This Angel brandilhes the pointed fpear : 
 And this the pole, which waves the bowl in air. 
 
 ;8p 
 
 With the three nails fome feek Olympus' feat, 
 "Which once transfix'd the Hero's hands and feet. 
 The thorny chaplet, which his temples crown'd. 
 Soars with an Angel to the blue profound. 
 This bears his title high, which Rome decreed 5 
 
 785 
 
 And one the lanthorn waving on a reed. 
 
 This travels gladly with the broken wand j 
 
 Which, for a fceptre, bore the Monarch's hand. 
 
 Before the Hero, thus his pomp of pain 
 
 Is brought to ether by an Angel-train. .790 
 
 The men behold, in admiration loft, 
 
 The azure fpace throng'd with a plumy hoft ; 
 
 Their Monarch view, fmooth gliding up the air, 
 
 With hands ereft beyond the folar fphere. 
 
 But hark ! a noife from opening clouds defcends, 
 
 795 
 
 And in their ears thefe liquid accents fpends : 
 
 Why gaze ye, trembling, on this flarry plain ? 
 Jiere, with his Sire, the God relumes his reign. ' 
 
 With-
 
 Book VI. The CHR1STIAD. 247 
 
 Without delay, Olympus' dome refounds 
 With vocal ftrainsand inftrumental founds : 800 
 Their joys, alternate, the Apoftles fing ; 
 To heav'n their eyes and fpirits on the wing. 
 Rejoice ye nations, and with hymns attend ; 
 Behold the God the tow'ring Ikies afcend. 
 Ye beafts exult, who tread the verdant way ; 805 
 Yc birds with clapping wings your joys difplay , 
 Ye fcaly herd, who thro' the waters glide, 
 And praife him, earth, who fpreads your furface 
 
 wide. 
 
 Let tow'ring mountains from their centers bound ; 
 And with their tides their gladnefs rivers ibund, 
 
 dio 
 
 Your God, with vocal rills, ye fountains praife, 
 And winding earth ; his glory roar, ye feas. 
 Let nature, in her works, her Author own, 
 And, with a gen'ral fong, addrefs his throne. 
 Before time born, Jehovah's great increafe, $15 
 Shall always reign, whofe God- head fills all fpace; 
 Who call'd to being all things from no-where, 
 The foaming ocean, earth, and ether's fphere : 
 From nothing gave to all with life to rife, 
 That move beneath the convex of the fkies ; 820 
 Divided heav'n from earth, the earth from feas. 
 Veiling Olympus' domes with Iheets of blaze , 
 Pencil'd the earth with herbs of various hue i 
 SweU'd fields with corn and vines with rofy dew. 
 From you life flows ; the heav*ns proclaim your 
 fway ; 825 
 
 And heziv'n-dcfcending rains your nod obey. 
 
 R 4 With
 
 24* The CHRISTIAD, Book VI. 
 
 With awe the clouds and winds your mandates 
 
 hear, 
 
 And morn and eve revolve each on its fphere. 
 Replete with monftrous births the azure main 
 "With its obedience fpeaks your juft domain. 830 
 Once balancing the earth your hand embrac'd, 
 And launch'd the globe into the airy wafte : 
 Each element in its due place you bound, 
 And bade it feek the center in its round : 
 Thro' the pure void on whirlwinds wings you fly, 
 
 835 
 
 And flirin'd in clouds you dart from fky to fky. 
 The fleeting hours, indocile of delay, 
 At your command their winged courfers flay. 
 To you duration bears no varied name ; 
 Time, prefent, pad, and future, is the fame. 840 
 You bade the fun forbear his fwift career, 
 Shedding his beams on the meridian fphere. 
 The filvermoon, whole horns began to bud, 
 And wand'ring ftars to you obedient flood. 
 The fire's confuming rage your mandate tam'd, 
 
 845 
 
 Which round the children innocently fiam'd -, 
 Who, 'mid the fiery furnace, tun'd your praife, 
 And ether bent attentive to the lays. 
 Like cryflal walls, you rear'd, on either hand, 
 The feas, while Ifracl fafely trod the fand. 850 
 You chang'd the current of the headlong tide, 
 Which all the banks with admiration ey'd. 
 
 From
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 249 
 
 From the ftruck rocks foft trickling ftreams diftill ; 
 While fonts and rivers ftagnate at your will : 
 Earth, at your afpect, (hakes with trembling fear, 
 
 855 
 
 And with your touch the mountains blaze in air. 
 Kings, at yoar feet, their arms and fceptres lay. 
 And to your God-head adoration pay. 
 Sounds on the deaf, rays on the blind, you ftream, 
 Health on the fick, and motion on the lame. 860 
 You hand to life frames fading in the tomb, 
 And long extinguifh'd fenfes you refume. 
 Nor was you with your early death difmay'd, 
 Nor with hell's regions, which with horror fade ; 
 For the grim Tyrant of the dreary coaft, 865 
 Chill'd at yourpreience, with his baleful hod, 
 Dreading the havock of his fliadowy reign, 
 Lurk'd in a cavern, with the fiery-train. 
 While you victorious, arid your ghoilly prey, 
 Emerg'd from darknefs to eternal day ; 870 
 
 Where now you rule the fenate of the fides, 
 And from your goodnefs better ages rife. 
 Hail nature's Lord 1 this world's great Saviour, 
 
 hail ! 
 
 With fmiles behold us, and with mercy deal -, 
 Your death difplays Olympus' portals wide, 875 
 And foothes your Father's anger to fubfide. 
 
 Thus hymn'd the eleven Sages on the ftrand, 
 Beneath a rock, join'd by a youthful band. 
 
 Yet,
 
 2S 9 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 Yet, 'mid fuch joy, with panic fear they chiH'd y 
 Nor with the Spirit-God their hearts were fill'd ; 8a 
 The Ddart's dreary wilds they often fought, 
 And, trembling, plung'd into fome (haggy grot. 
 So when the hawk bears from her cell away, 
 And tears with crooked beak his cooing prey, 
 The other doves difperfe, and in fome tow'r, 8 5 
 Safe from the foe, their blended forrow pour, 
 With no lefs horror, at their Monarch's doom, 
 Their fears conduct them to a clofe-bar'd room, 
 The promife of their Hero where they wait, 
 The God-head gliding from Olympus' feat. 90 
 
 Now dawns the promised day, for darknefs files 
 The tenth day's luftrc, beaming in the Ikies ; 
 The Sire fupreme, in the celeilial fpacc, 
 The ftars now kindles with a purer blaze : 
 9 Mid his Celeftials, where he fits fublime, 89,5 
 His compacts filling, and difpenfmg time. 
 To whom his Son Hands fplendidly coofeis'd, 
 ( His mortal limbs in liquid glory drefs'd) 
 And pours his vows, before the facred mrine \ 
 In accents foftly breathing love divine. 900 
 
 My collegues, Father, now demand your aid, 
 Who, fiucc their Leader's death, with horror fade : 
 In terror loft, they rove from place replace^ 
 Such is the weaknefs of the mortal race. 
 Their fear expel, ftrength to their breads 
 
 Jo front all dangers and fubdue the foe. 
 
 Now
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 251 
 
 Now Solyma and Judah's realm confpire 
 
 With guile to feizc, or 'gainft them dart their ire. 
 
 You promis'd, Sire, (nor is your promife vain) 
 
 Equal to ev'ry noble aft, my train 910 
 
 Shall, far as ocean girts this world, proclaim, 
 
 Thro' ev'ry land, my never-fading name. 
 
 Inftruct the nations to refpeft my law, 
 
 And by new myftic rites to homage draw : 
 
 And, jfince you grant them in the Ikies a place, 9 15 
 
 I, oft, relying on your tender grace, 
 
 Their f.-inting fpirits rais'd j wak'd with the 
 
 thought, 
 
 That aid would foon defcend the ftarry vault. 
 Thus help'd, they'd (corn a Tyrant's cruel fway, 
 And all his wicked mandates difobey i 92$ 
 
 With joy, the pangs of death fpontaneous prove, 
 And victims fall to true Religion's love. 
 
 This faid, his transfix'd feet and hands he fhews, 
 And with the wound his fide that crimfon glows, 
 The thorny chaplet that embrac'd his head, 925 
 When to the Crofs he was a victim led. 
 His arms wreath'd round his Son, the mighty 
 
 Sire, 
 
 Thus, full of Love, aflents to his defire : 
 Your vows are hear.d ; ceafe, Son, your hands to 
 
 tend, 
 
 To your collegues, the Sacred Ghoft we'll fend, 930 
 And others, whom you will, we mail infpire, 
 in their breads illume our holy fire. 
 
 Wafte-
 
 2 5 j The CHRlSTIAp, Book VI. 
 
 Wafteful of life, they (hall not dread tb.e. fteel,, 
 Nor flames, nor beads, nor the lharp- dented 
 
 wheel. 
 
 "Who tremble now, at Zephyr's fofteftfigh, 0,35 
 Shall, for your love, to certain dangers fly. 
 Then death contemning, and with virtuous pride, 
 Their fouls (hall iffue in a fanguine tide. 
 No feafons (hall delay their rapid courfe, 
 Nor fummer's heats, norwinter's flormy force; 940 
 The yawning ground when fultry Sol (hall cleave, 
 Or Boreas bind with icy chains the wave. 
 Farther than Bactra's walls, and Ganges' fands, 
 The mountain Ifmarus, and Thracia's lands, 
 Shall wond'ring view the progrefs of their toil, 
 
 945 
 
 With Gades' ifland and rich India's foil. 
 Their lays lhall eccho on Britannia's more, 
 Round which the ocean's azure furges roar. 
 The world thus roam'd and mended by their ftrains, 
 Shall to your honour rear afpiring fanes. 
 Reformed realms to homage you mail hafte, 
 And ides environ'd with the wat'ry wafle. 
 An age of gold once promifed, as you know, 
 Shall, on the tutor'd world from ether glow. 
 Not only for the juft, condemn'd to fade, 
 By guilt primeval, in the realm of fhade ; 
 But a'lfo many mere ; whofe actual crimes 
 Should have for ever clos'd the ftarry climes. 
 Your wounds have op'd the gates of Ether wide, 
 Such force and virtue in your death refide, 960 
 
 ,
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. ^ 
 
 Let then the groupe of faults, fince time was born, 
 To the laft bJaze that fliall light up the morn, 
 Advarfce ; the fmalleft fluid of your veins 
 Shall chace the myriads and erafe their (tains, 
 What time the Sun in his career lhall round, 965 
 Near fifteen hundred years, the bright profound. 
 Then Bards fhall rife, with love of truth infpir'd, 
 Regardlefs of the tales by Greece admir'd ; 
 Thro* nations pour your murder in their lays, 
 And towns fliall eccho with your facred praife 
 
 970 
 
 But, chief, Hefperia's coaft fhall found your name, 
 Where wand'ring Addus fpreads his gentle ftream ; 
 Where Sirius, lucent as the cryflal, laves 
 The mofly margin with his winding waves : 
 Or, Po, the chief of floods, his torrents pours, 975 
 Roaring befide Cremona's mould'ring towers : 
 Whofe foaming fhore with rufhing billows threats 
 A deluge often to the nodding feats. 
 Sweet as the fwans, who ether rapid foar, 
 A band of youths, upon the pebbled fhore, c, 8.0 
 In concert aided by a virgin-throng, 
 Shall pour your glory in the chafteft fong : 
 Or in the meads contend who beft can raife 
 The fofteft numbers to your facred praife : 
 Infants in bands fliall their firfl accents frame, 985 
 By lifping tenderly your faving name : 
 Such deathlefs glory fhall around you ihine : 
 lie faid, and on him breath'd his love divine. 
 
 Fancy,
 
 2 5 4 The CHRISTIAD. Book VI. 
 
 Fancy, mean while, prefenting to their view 
 The traytor Judas' crime of odious hue, 990 
 
 The collegues for the million now prepare, 
 And 'niong themfelves divide the terrene fphere, 
 Where each mall in his bounds new ethics deal, 
 And to the nations novel rites reveal ; 
 One for the facred Senate to provide, 
 That twelve might ftill o'er all the reflprefide -, 
 And now by lot, from the difciple- train, 
 To fill the vacant fee, they one obtain : 
 The lot, Matthias, in a happy hour, 
 Defcends and vefts you with the holy pow'r; 1000 
 In merit wealthy, and in fortune poor ; 
 In title fplendent, and in birth obfcure. 
 
 While the fame grief on every vifage low'rs, 
 The fame addrefs the whole afTembly pours : 
 Would the Almighty Ghoft from ether's fphere 
 
 1005 
 
 By infpiration to our hearts repair ; 
 For oft the Lord to his afTociates faid 
 The Spirit-God would come to give us aid. 
 Truth always crown'd our Chiefs' prophetic drains ; 
 This promife only incomplete remains. 1010 
 
 But hark! thro* ether thunder founds hoarfe 
 
 peals, 
 
 And heav'n defcends to earth's fequefter'd vales. 
 Unufual lightnings flafh acrofs the eyes, 
 And clouds diftain'd with fire defcend the ikies. 
 
 Torrents
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. * 55 
 
 Torcnts of fire gufh forth in parted rays, 1015 
 
 And all the dome isdelug'd with the blaze. 
 
 Flames falling on their heads their temples bind, 
 
 And radiance fetson fire the fultry wind. 
 
 So when the fteel upon the anvil burns, 
 
 The lufty artifts raife their arms by turns : 1020 
 
 By turns, poor down their fturdy blows in 
 
 throngs, 
 
 Turning the tortur'd ore with tranfvers'd tongs. 
 For God the Sire, and his coeval heir, 
 The Spirit jointly waft from Ether's fphere. 
 Now lo ! the Spirit God Olympus leaves, 1025 
 And in the men infus'd the God-head heaves. 
 Cold fear retires, while facred fury rolls 
 Thro* the deep mazes of the raptur'd fouls : 
 Impatient of delay, they feel no reft, 
 Their bofoms throbbing with the Spirit-gueft. 1030 
 Thrice round them rays with awful fplendor Ihinej 
 Thrice rapt in air, they flame with love divine. 
 In ev'ry mind a gufhing radiance glows, 
 And their hearts labour with infpiring throes. 
 Now free from terror, the Difciple-throng 1035 
 Declare God's wond'rous deeds in wond'rous fong, 
 While the fame words (who can believe the lay ?) 
 To ftranger crowds the cleared truths convey : 
 For of the num'rous hoft each foreign'r hears 
 His native language, founding in his ears. 1040 
 From diff'rcnt climes, now various tribes repair 
 To view the town or facred rites to fhare 
 
 Thefs
 
 256 The CHRfSTIAD. BookVL 
 
 Thefe rites begin, when fifty days are paft, 
 After the pafchal lamb's religious feaft. 
 Who 'mid the myriads, fprung from Lybian 
 ground, 1045 
 
 Hear th'Apoftles their proper idiom found. 
 Admiring Gauls and Romans catch their notes ; 
 While to the Parthian ears their language floats. 
 Their natal accents lift'ning Scythians hear, 
 AndThracians numb'd beneath their icy fphere. 
 
 1050 
 
 Crete, Africa, Phrygia hearken with furprize ; 
 And thofe who breathe Arabia's happy fkies. 
 The tribes ftand aw'd, who till fair India's lands ; 
 And Garamantcs who roam thro' wilds of Hinds. 
 Each band admire to hear their country phrafe : 
 
 And onjhemfelves with admirtion gaze. 
 
 The man abforpt, their fouls now wing the fphere, 
 
 And the bleft converfe of Etherials mare. 
 
 And now their lips hereafters loud proclaim ; 
 For, lo! the God, with his ccleftial flame, 1060 
 Expels the night, that on their fenfes refts, 
 And damps the rifing ardor of their breads, 
 Whom, once, each noife with trembling horror 
 
 fill'd, 
 And chas'd to dens, with death's bafe profped 
 
 chill'd -, 
 
 Now free from cowardice they walk in day, 1 065 
 And. carelefs of mankind, their thoughts difplay ; 
 
 Nor
 
 Book VI. The CHRISTIAD. 257 
 
 Nor now the point of the deftructive fpear, 
 Nor favage beads, nor iheets of flame they fear ; 
 But own the floes to be his natal clime, 
 Who late was flaughter'd, pure of any crime. 1070 
 With fhame's deep blufhes now their faces glow, 
 That e'er they trembled at their Monarch's foe. 
 Their fouls inhale the God with eager breath, 
 Who in them wakes the hope of glorious death. 
 So when, in chinks, the thirfty meadow lies, 1075 
 The herbage withers and each beauty dies ; 
 But let the Ikies defcend in foil'ring rains, 
 The profpect fmiles and colours paint the plains. 
 
 And now difpers'd thro' various climes each 
 
 ftrays, 
 
 The Leader's deeds their fong , his name theirpraife: 
 
 1080 
 
 So that, as ancient Bards foretold, their drains 
 Sound on this earthly globe's remoteft plains. 
 If any pant, where earth deferted lies 
 Beneath the radiance of the torrid fkies ; 
 Or dwell, where ocean's billows wildly roar, 1085 
 Circling the extreme world's expanded more. 
 Their words they hear : While towns with awe 
 
 attend 
 
 Their facred rites and to their mandates bend. 
 The flain of ancient fin all nations lave, 
 And fpotlefs rife from the baptifmal wave. 1090 
 A new religion in the world appears, 
 And for her awful rites new altars rears : 
 
 S The
 
 25* The CHRISTIAD. Book VI, 
 
 The band are Chriilians foon proclaim'd by fame, 
 So call'd from Chrift, their mighty Hero's name. 
 On earth a golden age beams from the Ikies, 
 And beauteous years in fair fucceflion rife. 1096 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 IN-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 $be Roman Numbers Jkew the Book} the ccmmon 
 Numbers the Verfz. 
 
 A. 
 
 ABRAHAM ready to flay his Ton . I. 79; 
 An Angel faluting the Bleffed Virgin ' III. 389 
 
 An Angel appearing to Jofeph' in his fleep 47 1 
 
 guiding Jofeph and Mary to Kgypt 913 
 
 Angels announcing the birth of Chriil to the fhepherds 696 
 "' arming to aid Chrlft on his crucifixion- day V. ^67 
 
 their battles fculpturtd on the gates of heaven 675 
 
 Apoftles (twelve) IV. 269 
 
 B. 
 Bethefda (pool of) - * I. 483 
 
 C, 
 
 Chrift born III. 663' 
 
 ' adored by the fhepherds 687 
 
 adored by the Eaftern Kings 84! 
 
 . Circumcifed 751 
 
 - .- Among the Doctors ' 1049 
 
 baptifed tV. 225 
 
 tempted - " 647 
 
 ' ''-- transfigured - , I. 1066 
 
 - enters Jerufalem on an afs ; 44- 
 
 . expelling buyers and fellers from the temple 507 
 
 walhing the Apoftle's feet II. 78? 
 
 betrayed an'd feized 7- #9^* 
 
 fent to; and fcnt back by Herod V. 20^ 
 
 - -- fcourged V. 28? 
 
 crowned with thortis, and mocked by the foldiers 41 j 
 
 led to his fate 4?5 
 
 faftened on the crofs 7^9 
 
 ~ hanging on the crofs '- ~** ^5 l 
 
 S ChriJ
 
 I X D E X. 
 
 Chrift laughed at by the fpeftators - - 933 
 
 -- taken down from the crofs and buried VI. 7 1 
 
 Chrift's defcent into hell ' - - 129 
 
 Chrift: appearing to Mary Magdalen 4.05 
 
 --- to Thorras - - 602 
 
 - - - - to Peter, John, and the other Apoftles, as 
 
 they were fifhing - 639 
 
 CluifVs afcenfion into heaven - - - 739 
 
 --- . - in dilution of the Lord's fupper 11.761 
 
 Council (infernal) I. I4> 
 
 Creation of the world 669 
 
 D. 
 
 Devils - I. 151 
 ~ - roaming through Jerufalem II. 27 
 
 entering into a herd of fwine -?. - - IV. 533 
 Deluge - I. 787 
 
 Difciples (vocation of the feventy) JV. 597 
 Difeafes cured by Chrift - . . -_ 31"^ 
 
 E. 
 
 Earthquake < - - ^r V, 1083 
 
 F. 
 
 Fear fent to Pilate by Satan , V. 343 
 
 G. 
 
 Holy Ghoft(thedefcentofthe) VI. ion 
 
 H. 
 
 Hymn (the Apoftle's) on Chrifl's Afcenfion * + 799 
 
 Jerufalem [city of) - 1. 409 
 
 Jetrus cured -*- 5*25 
 
 John the Baptift - i - TV. 171 
 
 Jofeph, Mary, and Jefus's flight into Egypt III. 927 
 jews repairing to Jerufalem to fhare the Pafchal feall II. 317 
 Judas Ifcariot 11.81.123 
 - - repenting, and hanging himfelf - " V. 11.85 
 
 Judgment (the general) ~ ~ IV. 1051 
 
 L. 
 
 ^ftiarus riifed froro the dead I. 25 
 
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