Part 6 (1/2)

”If of my reign prophetic writ hath told That it shall never end, so when begin The Father in His purpose hath decreed.”

(P. R. iii. 184-6.)

Acquiescence, a conviction of the uselessness of individual or organised effort to antic.i.p.ate what only slow evolution can bring, is characteristic of increasing years, and was likely enough to be the temper of Milton when he had seen the failure of the effort to make actual on earth the kingdom of Heaven. The temptation is developed in such a way that every point supposed to be weak is attacked. ”You may be what you claim to be,” insinuates the devil, ”but are rustic.”

”Thy life hath yet been private, most part spent At home, scarce view'd the Galilean towns, And once a year Jerusalem.”

(P. R. iii. 232-4.)

Experience and alliances are plausibly urged as indispensable for success. But Jesus knew that the sum total of a man's power for good is precisely what of good there is in him and that if it be expressed even in the simplest form, all its strength is put forth and its office is fulfilled. To suppose that it can be augmented by machinery is a foolish delusion. The

”projects deep Of enemies, of aids, battles and leagues, Plausible to the world”

(P. R. iii. 395-3.)

are to the Founder of the kingdom not of this world ”worth naught.”

Another side of the mountain is tried. Rome is presented with Tiberius at Capreae. Could it possibly be anything but a n.o.ble deed to

”expel this monster from his throne Now made a sty, and in his place ascending, A victor people free from servile yoke!”

(P. R. iv. 100-102.)

”AND WITH MY HELP THOU MAY'ST.” With the devil's help and not without can this glorious revolution be achieved! ”For him,” is the Divine reply, ”I was not sent.” The attack is then directly pressed.

”The kingdoms of the world, to thee I give; For, giv'n to me, I give to whom I please, No trifle; yet with this reserve, not else, On this condition, if thou wilt fall down And wors.h.i.+p me as thy superior lord.”

(P. R. iv. 163-7.)

This, then, is the drift and meaning of it all. The answer is taken verbally from the gospel.

”'Thou shalt wors.h.i.+p The Lord thy G.o.d, and only Him shalt serve.'”

(P. R. iv. 176-7.)

That is to say, Thou shalt submit thyself to G.o.d's commands and G.o.d's methods and thou shalt submit thyself to NO OTHER.

Omitting the Athenian and philosophic episode, which is unnecessary and a little unworthy even of the Christian poet, we encounter not an amplification of the Gospel story but an interpolation which is entirely Milton's own. Night gathers and a new a.s.sault is delivered in darkness.

Jesus wakes in the storm which rages round Him. The diabolic hostility is open and avowed and He hears the howls and shrieks of the infernals.

He cannot banish them though He is so far master of Himself that He is able to sit ”unappall'd in calm and sinless peace.” He has to endure the h.e.l.lish threats and tumult through the long black hours

”till morning fair Came forth with pilgrim steps in amice gray, Who with her radiant finger still'd the roar Of thunder, chas'd the clouds, and laid the winds, And grisly spectres, which the Fiend had rais'd To tempt the Son of G.o.d with terrors dire.