154 REDEMPTION.
Whose sterile soil, averse to pleasing growth,
Or smiling foliage, scarcely 'endures the root
Of scraggy shrub, bramble, or knarled pine.
No flowers spring in his path, nor limpid founts
G-ush forth in pearly streams to lave his feet,
Or quench his anguish'd thirst; but thorns and briars,
And prickly pear, ferine, oppose his way,
Whilst turbid torrents rush impetuous down
Through dark ravines, umber'd by tow'ring cliffs,
And obverse reave their labyrinthian course.
Vast was the solitude and wild ; by man
Scarce trod, but versant to the feet of brutes,
To savage beasts and ven'mous things a prey ;
Fit place for demons, gorgons, horrors dire,
Of every shape and name, hideous to dwell.
Thither the arch-defrauder then withdrew, When he, defeated by the Virgin, fled, New frauds, and fresh piacular deceits, To ruminate. Thence saw, though powerless To forefend, th' advent of the Son of God ; Amazed saw the second Man, first fruit Of second Eve, and in him saw the same Almighty Power, whose thunder o'er his head, Hurl'd him, sore press'd with shameful, rui'nous rout, As lightning from the battlements of heav'n. Saw, and aghast stood, at th' auspicious dawn Of man's redemption : wonder'd at the plan, And fired the base heart of the Edomite, The Innocents to slay, Him to involve. Rodent with spite, abortive all his wiles, Th' immitigable fiend, with redient hope, Now saw the Lamb of sacrifice traverse
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