mean

And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth,

wilderness, where others had heen miracu. If it may stand him more in stead to lie,

lously fed, tempts him with a sumptuvus banSay and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure ?

quet of the most luxurious kind. This he reBut thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord ; jects,and the banquet vanishes.-Satan, finding From thee I can, and must submiss, endure, our Lord not to be assailed on the ground of Check or reproof, and glad to 'scape so quit. appetite, tempts him again by offering him Hard are the ways of Truth, and rough to walk, riches, as the means of acquiring power: this Smooth on the tongue discours'd, pleasing to the Jesus also rejects, producing many instances And tuneable as sylvan pipe or song ; [ear, of great actions performed by persons under What wonder then if I delight to hear (mire

virtuous poverty, and specifying the danger Her dictates from thy mouth? Most men ad- of riches, and the cares and pains inseparable Virtue, who follow not her lore: permit me from power and greatness. To hear thee when I come, (since no man comes,) And talk at least, though I despair to attain. Mean while the new-baptiz'd, who yet re Thy father, who is holy, wise, and pure,

main'd Suffers the hypocrite or atheous priest

At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen To tread his sacred courts, and minister

Him whom they heard so late expressly called About his altar, handling holy things,

Jesus Messiah, Son of God declar'd, Praying or vowing; and vouchsafd his voice And on that high authority had believ'd, To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet

And with him talk'd, and with him lodg'd; 1 Inspir'd: disdain not such access to me."

To whom our Saviour, with unalter'd brow: Andrew and Simon, famous after known, Thy coming hither, though I know thy With others, though in Holy Writ not namid; scope,

Now missing him, their joy so lately found, I bid not, or forbid; do as thou find'st (So lately found, and so abruptly gone,) Permission from above; thou canst not more." Began to doubt, and doubted many days,

He added not; and Satan, bowing low And, as the days increas'd, increas'd their doubt. His gray dissimulation, disappeard

Sometimes they thought he might be only shown, Into thin air diffus'd: for now began

And for a time caught up to God, as once Night with her sullen wings to double-shade Moses was in the mount and missing long, The desert ; fowls in their clay nests were And the great Thisbite, who on fiery wheels couch'd;

Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come: And now wild beasts came forth the woods to Therefore, as those young prophets th-p with roam.

Sought lost Elijah, so in each place these (care
Nigh to Bethabara ; in Jericho
The city of palms, Ænon, and Salem old,

Machærus, and each town or city wall'd
PARADISE REGAINED.

On this side the broad lake Genezaret,
Or in Peræa ; but return'd in vain.

Then on the bank of Jordan, by a creek, (play,
BOOK II.

Where winds with reeds and osiers whispering

Plain fishermen, (no greater men them call,) THz ARGUMENT.

Close in a cottage low together got,

Their unexpected loss and plaints outbreatb’d. The disciples of Jesus, uneasy at his long ab- “ Alas, from what high hope to what relapse

sence, reason amongst themselves concerning Unlook'd for are we fal’n ! our eyes beheld ; it. Mary also gives vent to her maternal Messiah certainly now come, so long

anxiety : in the expression of which she re- Expected of our fathers ; we have heard capitulates many circumstances respecting the His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth; birth and early life of her son.-Satan again Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at band, meets bis infernal council, reports the bad The kingdom shall to Israel be restor'd; success of his first temptation of our blessed Thus we rejoic'd, but soon our joy is turn'd Lord, and calls upon them for counsel and Into perplexity and new amaze : assistance. Belial proposes the tempting of For whither is he gone, what accident Jesus with women. Satan rebukes Belial for Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire his dissoluteness, charging on him all the after appearance, and again prolong profligacy of that kind ascribed by the poets Our expectation? God of Israel, tot he heathen gods, and rejects his proposal Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come ; as in no respect likely to succeed. Satan then Behold the kings of the Earth, how they oppress suggests other modes of temptation, particu- Thy chosen; to what height their power unjust larly proposing to avail himself of the circum- They have exalted, and behind them cast stance of our Lord's hugering; and, taking all fear of thee ; arise, and vindicate a. band of chosen spirits with him, returns Thy glory; free thy people from their yoke. to resume his enterprise.Jesus hungers in But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd, the desert.-Night comes on; the manner in Sent his anointed, and to us reveal'd him, which our Saviour passes the night is des. By his great prophet, pointed at and shown scribcd.-Morning advances. --Satan again ap-In public, and with him we have convers'd ; pears to Jesus, and, after expressing wonder Let us be glad of this, and all our fears that he should be so entirely weglected in the Lay on his providence; he will not fail,

hence ;

sume

Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recal!,

“ Princes, Heaven's ancient sons, ethereal Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him

thrones;

Demonian spirits now, from the element Soon we shall see our hope, our joy, return." Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd Thus they, out of their plaints, wew hope re- Powers of fire, air, water, and earth beneath,

(So may we hold our place and these mild seats To find whom at the first they found unsought: Without new trouble,) such an eneiny But, to his mother Mary, when she saw

Is risen to invade us, who no less Others return'd from baptism, not her son,

Threatens than our expulsion down to Hell; Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none, (pure, I, as I undertook, and with the vote Within her breast though calm, her breast though Consenting in full frequence was impowerd, Motherly cares and fears got bead, and rais'd Have found him, view'd him, tasted him ; but Some troubled thoughts, which she in sighs thus Far other labour to be undergone

[find clad.

Than when I dealt with Adam, first of men, “O, what avails me now that honour high Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell, To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute,

However to this man inferiour far; * Hail highly favour'd among women blest!' If he be man by mother's side, at least While I to sorrows am no less advanc'd,

With more than human gifts from Heaven adorn'd, And fears as eminent, above the lot

Perfections absolute, graces divine, Of other women, by the birth I bore;

And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds. In such a season born, when scarce a shed Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me

Of my success with Eve in Paradise From the bleak air : a stable was our warmth, Deceive ye to persuasion over-sure Amanger his; yet soon enforc'd to fly,

Of like succeeding here : I summon all Thence into Egypt, till the murderous king Rather to be in readiness, with hand Were dead, who sought his life, and missing fill'd Or counsel to assist; lest I, who erst With infant blood the streets of Bethlehem ; Thuught none my equal, now be over-match’d." From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth

So spake the old serpent, doubting; and from Hath been our dwelling many years ; his life With clamour was assured their utmost aid (all Private, unactive, calm, contemplative,

At his command : when from amidst them rose Little suspicious to any king ; but now

Belial, the dissolutest spirit that fell, Full grown to man, acknowledg’d, as I hear, The sensuallest, and, after Asmodai, By John the Baptist, and in public shown, The fleshliest incubus ; and thus advis'd. Son own'd from Heaven by his father's voice, “ Set women in his eye, and in his walk, I look'd for some great change ; to honour? no, Among daughters of men the fairest found: But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold, Many are in each region passing fair That to the fall and rising he should be

As the noun sky; more like to goddesses Of many in Israël, and to a sign

Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet, Spoken against, that through my very soul Expert in amorous arts, enchanting tongues A sword shall pierce: this is my favour'd lot, Persuasive, virgin majesty with mild My exaltation to afflictions high;

And sweet allay'd, yet terrible to approach, Ašicted Imay be, it seems, and blest ;

Skill'd to retire, and, in retiring, draw I will not argue that, nor will repine.

Hearts after them, tangled in amorous nets. But where delays he now? some great intent Such object hath the power to soften and tame Conceals him : when twelve years he scarce had Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow, I lost him, but so found, as well I saw (seen, Enerve, and with voluptuous hupe dissolve, He could not lose himself, but went about Draw out with credulons desire, and lead His father's business ; what he meant I mus'd, At will the manliest, resolutest b.east, Since understand; much more bis absence now As the magnetic hardest iron draws. Thus long to some great purpose he obscures. Women, when nothing else, beguild the heart But I to wait with patience am inur'd;

Of wisest Sulomon, and made him build, My heart hath been a store-house long of things And made him bow, to the gods of his wives." And sayings laid up, portending strange events." To whom quick answer Saian thus returu'd.

Thus Mary, pondering oft, and oft to mind “ Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st Recalling what remarkably had pass'd

All others by thyself; because of old Since first her salutation beard, with thoughts Thou thyself doat'dst on womankind, admiring Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling :

Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace, The while her son, tracing the desert wild, None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys, Sole, but with holiest meditations fed,

Before the flood thou with thy lusty crew, Into himself descended, and at once

False titled sons of God, roaming the Earth, All his great work to come before him set; Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men, How to begin, how to accomplish best

And coupled with them, and begot a race. His end of being on Earth, and mission high: Have we not seen, or by relation heard, Por Satan, with sly preface to return,

In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk'st, Had left him vacant, and with speed was gone In wood or grove, by mossy fountain side, Up to the middle region of thick air,

In valley or green meadow, to way-lay Where all his potentates in council sat;

Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene, There, without sign of boast, or sign of joy, Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa, Solicitous and blank, he thus began

Or Amymone, Syrinx, many inore

1

Too long, then lay'st thy scapes on names ador'd, Without this body's wasting, I content-me,
Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan,

And from the sting of famine fear no harm; Satyr, or Faun, or Sylvan? But these haunts Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts, that feed Delight not all; among the sons of men,

Me hungering more to do my Father's will.” How many have with a smile made small ac- It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Of Beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd [count Commun'd in silent walk, then laid him down All her assaults, on worthier things intent? Under the hospitable covert nigh Remember that Pellean conqueror,

Of trees thick interwoven ; there he slept, A youth, how all the beauties of the East And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream, He slightly view'd, and slightly overpass'd; Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment sweet: How he, surnam'd of Africa, dismiss'd,

Him thought, he by the brook of Cherith stood, In his prime youth, the fair Iberian maid. And saw the ravens with their horny beaks For Solomon, he liv'd at ease, and full

Food to Elijah bringing, even and morn, Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what Higher design than to enjoy his state;

they brought: Thence to the bait of women lay expos'd: He saw the prophet also, how he fled But he, whom we atteinpt, is wiser far

Into the desert, and how there he slept
Than Solomon, of more exalted mind,

Under a juniper; then how awak'd
Made and set wholly on the accomplishment He found his supper on the coals prepar'd,
Of greatest things. What woman will you find, And by the angel was bid rise and eat,
Though of this age the wonder and the fame, And eat the second time after repose,
On whom bis leisure will vouchsafe an eye The strength wbereof suffic'd him forty days:
Of fond desire? Or should she, confident, Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,
As sitting queen ador'd on Beauty's throne, Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse.
Descend with all her winning charms begirt Thus wore out night; and now the herald lark
To enamour, as the zone of Venus once

Left his ground-nest, high towering to descry Wrought that effect on Jove, so fables tell ; The Morn's approach, and greet her with his How would one look from his majestic brow,

song : Seated as on the top of Virtue's hill,

As lightly from his grassy couch up rose
Discountenance her despis'd, and put to rout Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream;
All her array; her female pride deject,

Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak’d.
Or turn to reverent awe! for Beauty stands Up to a hill anon bis steps he rear'd,
In the admiration only of weak minds

From whose high top to ken the prospect round, Led captive; cease to admire, and all her plumes If cottage were in view, sheep-cote, or herd; Fall flat, and shrink into a trivial toy,

But cottage, herd, or sheep-cote, none he saw; At every sudden slighting quite abas h’d. Only in a bottom saw a pleasant grove, Therefore with manlier objects we must try

With chant of tuneful birds resounding loud: His constancy; with such as have more show Thither he bent his way, determin'd there Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise, To rest at noon, and enter'd soon the shade Rocks, whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd; High-roof'd, and walks beneath, and alleys Or that which only seems to satisfy

brown, Lawful desires of nature, not beyond;

That open'd in the midst a woody scene; And now I know he hungers, where no food - Nature's own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) 13 to be found, in the wide wilderness :

And, to a superstitious eye, the haunt The rest commit to me; I shall let pass Of wood-gods and wood-nymphs: he view'd it No advantage, and his strength as oft assay." When suddenly a man before bim stood; (round. He ceas'd, and heard their grant in loud ac- Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad, claim;

As one in city, or court, or palace bred, Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band And with fair speech these words to him ade Of spirits, likest to himself in guile,

dress'd. To be at hand, and at his beck appear,

“With granted leave officious I return, If cause were to unfold some active scene

But much more wonder that the Son of God
Of various persons, each to know his part: In this wild solitude so long should bide,
T'hen to the desert takes with these his flight; Of all things destitute; and, well I know,
Where, still from shade to sbade, the Son of God Not without hunger. Others of some note,
After forty days fasting had remain’d,

As story tells, have trod this wilderness;
Now hungering first, and to himself thus said. The fugitive bond-woman, with her son
“ Where will this end? four times ten days Out-cast Nebaioth, yet found here relief
I've pass'd

By a providing angel; all the race
Wandering this woody maze, and human food of Israel here had famishod, bad not God [bold,
Nor tasted, nor had appetite; that fast Rain'd from Heaven manna ; and that prophet
To virtue l impute not, or count part

Native of Thebez, wandering here was fed
Of what I suffer here; if nature need not, Twice by a voice inviting him to eat:
Or God support nature without repast

Of thee these forty days none hath regard,
Though needing, what praise is it to endure ? Forty and more deserted bere indeed."
But now I feel I hunger, which declares

To whom thus Jesus. “ What conclud'st Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God

thou hence ? Can satisfy that need some other way,

They all had need; I, as thou seest, have none." 'Though hunger still remain : so it remain “How bast thou hunger then?” Satar repliede

Tell me, if food were now before thee set, In vain, where no acceptance it can find ?
Would’st thou not eat ?"-" Thereafter as I like And with my hunger what hast thou to do?
The giver,” answer'd Jesus. “Why should that Thy pompous delicacies I contemd,
Cause thy refusal ?" said the subtle fiend. And count thy specious gifts no gifts, but guiles."
“ Hast thou not right to all created things? To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent,
Owe not all creatures by just right to thee “That I have also power to give, thou seest;
Duty and service, nor to stay till bid,

If of that power I bring thee voluntary
But tender all their power Nor mention 1 What I might bave bestow'd on whom I pleasid,
Meats by the law unclean, or offer'd first And rather opportunely in this place
To idols, those young Daniel could refuse; Chose to impart to thy apparent need,
Nor proffer'd by an enemy, though who Why should'st thou not accept it? but I see
Would scruple

that, with want oppress’d? Behold, What I can do or offer is suspect :
Nature asham'd, or, better to express, (vey'd Of these things others quickly will dispose,
Troubled, that thou should'st hunger, hath pur- Whose pains have earn'd the far-fet spoil.” With
From all the elements her choicest store,

that
To treat thee, as beseems, and as her Lord, Both table and provision vanish'd quite
With honour: only deign to sit and eat.” With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard :

He spake no dream; for, as his words had end, Only the importune tempter still remain'd, Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld,

And with these words his temptation pursued. In ample space under the broadest shade,

“By hunger, that each other creature tames, A table richly spread, in regal mode,

Thou art not to be harm’d, therefore not mov'd;
With dishes pild, and meats of noblest sort Thy temperance invincible besides,
And savour; beasts of chase, or fowl of game, For no allurement yields to appetite;
In pastry built, or from the spit, or boild, And all thy heart is set on high designs,
Gris-amber-steam'd; all fish, from sea or shore, | High actions: but wherewith to be achiev'd ?
Freshet or purling brook, of shell or fin,

Great acts require great means of enterprise ;
And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,
Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast. A carpenter thy father known, thyself
(Alas, how simply, to these cates compar'd, Bred up in poverty and straits at home,
Was that crude apple that diverted Eve!) Lost in a desert bere and hunger-bit :
And at a stately side-board, by the wine Which way, or from what hope, dost thou aspire
That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood To greatness ? whence authority deriv'st ?
Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hue What followers,, what retinue can'st thou gain,
Than Ganymed or Hylas ; distant more

Or at thy heels the dizzy multitude,
Under the trees now tripp'd, now solemn stood, Longer than thou canst feed them on thy cost?
Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades

Money brings honour, friends, conquest, and
With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn,

realms:
And ladies of the Hesperides, that seem'd What rais'd Antipater the Edomite,
Fairer than feign'd of old, or fabled since And his son Herod plac'd on Judah's throne,
Of faery damsels, met in forest wide

Thy throne, but gold that got him puissant
By knights of Logres, or of Lyones,

friends? Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore.

Therefore, if at great things thou would'st arrive,
And all the while harmonious airs were heard Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap,
Of chiming strings, or charming pipes; and Not difficult, if thou hearken to me :
Of gentlest gale Arabian odours fann'd (winds Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand;
From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain,
smells.

While virtue, valour, wisdom, sit in want.”
Such was the splendour; and the tempter now To whom thus Jesus patiently replied.
His invitation earnestly renewid.

“ Yet wealth, without these three, is impotent
“ What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat? To gain dominion, or to keep it gain'd.
These are not fruits forbidd’n; no interdict Witness those ancient empires of the Earth,
Defends the touching of these viands pure; In height of all their flowing wealth dissolv'd :
Their taste no knowledge works, at least of evil, But men endued with these have oft attain’d
But life preserves, destroys life's enemy, In lowest poverty to highest deeds ;
Hunger, with sweet restorative delight. (springs, Gideon, and Jephtha, and the shepherd lad,
All these are spirits of air, and woous, and Whose offspring on the throne of Judah sat
Thy gentle ministers, who come to pay

So many ages, and suall yet regain
Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord: That seat, and reign in Israel without end.
What doubt'st thou, Son of God? Sit down and Among the Heathen, (for throughout the world
To whom thus Jesus temperately replied.[eat.” | To me is not unknown what hath been done

Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? Worthy of memorial,) canst thou not remember
And who withholds my power that right to use? | Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?
Shall I receive by gift what of my own,

For I esteem those names of men so poor,
When and where likes me best, I can command? Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,

Riches, though offer'd from the hand of kings.
Command a table in this wildei ness,

And what in me seems wanting, but that I
And call swift flights of angels ministrant May also in this poverty as soon
Array'd in glory on my cup to attend :

Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?
Wby should'st thou then obtrude this diligence, Extol not riches then, the toil of fools,

The wise man's cumbrance, if not snare ; more intimating somewhat respecting his own pre To slacken Virtue, and abate her edge, [apt vious sufferings, asks Satan, why he should Than prompt her to do aught may merit praise. be so solicitous for the exaltation of one, What if with like aversion I reject

whose rising was destined to be his fall. Satan Riches and realms ? yet not for that a crown, replies, that bis own desperate state, by exGolden in show, is but a wreath of thorns,

cluding all hope, leaves little room for fear; Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless and that, as his own punishment was equally nights,

doomed, he is not interested in preventing the To him who wears the regal diadem,

reign of one, from whose apparent benevo“ When on bis shoulders each man's burden lies; lence he might rather hope for some interFor therein stands the office of a king,

ference in his favour.--Satan still pursues his His honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise, former incitements; and, supposing that the That for the public all this weight he bears.

seeming reluctance of Jesus to be thus ad Yet he, who reigns within himself, and rules vanced might arise from his being unacquainto Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king;

ed with the world and its glories, conveys him Which every wise and virtuous man attains; to the summit of a high mountain, and from And who attains not, ill aspires to rule

thence shows him most of the kingdoms of Cities of men, or headstrong multitudes,

Asia, particularly pointing out to his notice Subject himself to ariarchy within,

some extraordinary military preparations of Or lawless passions in him, which he serves.

the Parthians to resist the incursions of the But to guide nations in the way of truth

Scythians. He then informs our Lord, that By saving doctrine, and from errour lead

he showed him this purposely that he might To know, and knowing worship God aright, see how necessary military exertions are to Is yet more kingly ; this attracts the soul,

retain the possession of kingdoms, as well as Governs the inner man, the nobler part;

to subdue them at first, and advises him to That other o'er the body only reigns,

consider how impossible it was to maintain And oft by force, which, to a generous mind, Judea against two such powerful neighbours as So reigning, can be no sincere delight.

the Romans and Parthians, and how necessary Besides, to give a kingdoin hath been thought it would be to form an alliance with one or (reater and n ibler done, and to lay down

other of them. At the same time he recomFar more magnanimous, than to assume.

mends, and engages to secure to him, that of Riches are needless then, both for themselves, the Parthians; and tells him that by this And for thy reason why they should be sought, means his power will be defended from any To gain a sceptre, oftest better miss'd.”

thing that Rome or Cæsar might attempt against it, and that he will be able to extend his glory wide, and especially to accomplish, what was particularly necessary to make the

throne of Judea really the throne of David, PARADISE REGAINED.

the deliverance and restoration of the ten

tribes, still in a state of captivity. Jesus, har BOOK III.

ing briefly noticed the vanity of military ef

forts and the weakness of the arm of flesh, THE ARGUMENT.

says, that when the time comes for his ascend

ing his allotted throne he shall not be slack: Satan, in a speech of much flattering commenda

he remarks on Satan's extraordinary zeal for tion, endeavours to awaken in Jesus a passion

the deliverance of the Israelites, to whom he for glory, by particularising various instances

had always showed himself an enemy, and of conquests achieved, and great actions per

declares their servitude to be the consequence formed, by persons at an early period of life. of their idolatry ; but adds, that at a future Our Lord replies, by showing the vanity of

time it may perhaps please God to recall worldly fame, and the improper means by

them, and restore them to their liberty and which it is generally attained; and contrasts

native land, with it the true glory of religious patience and virtuous wisdowi, as exemplified in the cha- So spake the Son of God; and Satan stood racter of Job. Satan justifies the love of glory A while, as mute, confounded what to say, fruin the example of God himself, who requires What to reply, confuted, and convinc'd it from all his creatures. Jesus detects the Of his weak arguing and fallacious drift ; fallacy of this argument, by showing that, as At length, collecting all his serpent wiles, goodness is the true ground on which glory is with soothing words renew'd, him thus accosts. due to the great Creator of all things, s.nful “ I see thou know'st what is of use to know, man can have no right whatever to it.-Satan What best to say canst say, to do canst do ; then urges our Lord respecting his claim to Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words the throne of David; he tells him that the To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart kingdom of Judea, being at that time a pro- Contains of good, wise, just, the perfect shape. vince of Roine, cannot be got possession of Should kings and nations from thy mouth consult, without much personal exertion on his part, | Thy counsel would be as the oracle and presses him to lose no tine in beginning Urim and Thumruim, those oraculous gems to reign. Jesus refers him to the time allot-On Aaron's breast ; or tongue of seers old, ted for this, as fur all other things; and, after Infallible : or wert thou sought to deeds