R E G A I N’D.

BOOK II.

MEA

EAN while the new-baptiz'd, who yet remain'd

At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen
Him whom they heard so late expresly call’d
Jesus Messiah Son of God declar'd,
And on that high authority had believ'd,

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And with him talk'd, and with him lodg’d, I mean
Andrew and Simon, famous after known,
With others though in holy writ not nam’d,
Now missing him their joy so lately found,
So lately found, and so abruptly gone,
Began to doubt, and doubted many days,
And as the days increas’d, increas'd their doubt:
Sometimes they thought he might be only shown,
And for a time caught up to God, as once
Moses was in the mount, and missing long; 15
And the great Thisbite, who on fiery wheels
Rode up to Heav'n, yet once again to come.
Therefore as those young prophets then with care

Sought

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Sought loft Elijah, so in each place these
Nigh to Bethabara; in Jericho
The city' of palms, AEnon, and Salem old,
Machærus, and each town or city wall’d
On this side the broad lake Genezaret,
Or in Peræa; but return'd in vain.
Then on the bank of Jordan, by a creek,

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Where winds with reeds and osiers whisp’ring play,
Plain fishermen, no greater men them call,
Close in a cottage low together got,
Their unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd.

Alas, from what high hope to what relapse 30 Unlook'd for are we fall’n! our eyes beheld Melliah certainly now come, so long Expected of our fathers; we have heard His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth; Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand,

35 The kingdom shall to Israel be relor'd: Thus we rejoic'd, but foon our joy is turn'd Into perplexity and new amaze: For whither is he gone, what accident Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire 40 After appearance, and again prolong Our expectation? God of Israël, Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come; Behold the kings of th' earth how they oppress Thy chosen, to what highth their pow'r unjust 45 They have exalted, and behind them cast

All

All fear of thee; arise and vindicate
Thy glory, free thy people from their yoke.
But let us wait; thus far he hath perform’d,
Sent his Anointed, and to us reveald him, 50
By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown
In public, and with him we have convers’d;
Let us be glad of this, and all our fears
Lay on his providence; he will not fail,
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, 55
Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence;
Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return.

Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume To find whom at the first they found unsought: But to his mother Mary, when she saw

60 Others return'd from baptism, not her son, Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none, Within her breast though calm, her breast though pure, Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd Some troubled thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad.

O what avails me now that honor high 66 To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute Hail highly favor’d, among women blest! While I to forrows am no less advanc'd, And fears as eminent, above the lot

70 Of other women, by the birth I bore, In such a season born when scarce a shed Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me From the bleak air; a stable was our warmth,

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