Boca. I. PARADISE REGAIN'D I as all others to his baptifm came, Which I believ'd was from above ; but he Strait knew me, and with loudeft voice proclaitn'd 275 Me him (for it was fillo vn him fo from Heaven) Me him whole harbinger he was ; and firft Refus'd on me his baptifm to confer, As much his greater, and was hardly won : But as I rote out of the laving Itream, 280 Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence The Spi'rit defcendtA on me like a dove, And laft the fum of all, my Father's voice, Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his, Me his beloved S. in whom alone 285 He was well pleas'd ; by which I knew the time Now full, that I no more fhould live obfcure, But openly begin, as belt ' becomes Th' authority which I deriv'd from Heaven. And now by tome ftrong motion I am led 290 Into this wildernefs, to what intent I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know ; For what concerns my knowledge God reveals. So fpake our Morning Star then in his rife, And looking round on every fide beheld 295 A pathlefs defert, dufk with horrid thades ; The way he came not having mark'd, return Was difficult, by human Reps untrod ; And he Rill on was led, but with fuch thoughts Accompanied of things pail and to come 300 Lodg'd in his breaft, as well might recommend Such folitude before choiceft fociety. Full forty days he paled, whether on hill Sometimes, anon in fhady vale, each night Under the covert of fome ancient oak, 305 Or cedar, to defend him from the dew, Or hathour'd in one cave, is not reveard 4SS
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