536 PARADISE REGAIN'D. BOOK IV,' Alas what can they teach, and not miflead, Ignorant of themfelves, of G d much more, 310 And how the world began, and how man fell Degraded by himfelf, on grace depending ? Much of the foul they talk, but all awry, And in themfelves Peek virtue, and to themfelves All glory arrogate, to God give none, 315 Rather accufe him under ufual names, Fortune and Fate, as one regardlets quite Of mortal things. Who therefore leeks in thefe True wifctom, finds her not, or by delution Far worfe, her falfe refemblance only meets, 320 An empty cloud. However many books, Wife ,Den have laid, are wearitome ; who reads lnceffantly, and to his reaeing brings not A tpirit and judgment equal or tuperior, (And what he b.ings, what needs he elfewhere leek ?) Uncertain and uniet,led fill remains, 326 Deep vers'd in books and (hallow in himfelf, Crude or intoxicate, colleding toys, And trifles for choice matters, worth a fpunge ; As children gathering pebbles on the there. 330 Or if I would delight my private hours With mufic or with poem, where fo foon As in our native language can I find That folace ? All our law and ftory flrow'd With hymns, our platens with artful terms infcrib'd, Our Hebrew longs and harps in Babylon, 336 That pleas'd fo well our viIors ear, declare That rather Greece from us thefe arts deriv'd ; 111 imitated, while they loudeft fang The vices of their Deities, and their own 340 In fable, hymn, or long, to perfonating Their Gods ridiculous, and themfelves paft (flame: Remove their (welling epithets thick laid
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