Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/170

 164 REDEMPTION.

And ostentatious thus his scheme unfolds :

"Since then such show of pow'r thou deemest vain, 'Twixt thee and me alone to work some sign, I yield thy motive, and shall not be nice, But give thee ample scope to prove thy right, To such exalted name as thou would'st claim. Behold this temple, costly built with gold ; See its high towers, its walls and spacious courts, Worthy his fame who raised, and His for whom, Its victims daily smoke, and off'rings rise. Behold its ample gates, with people press'd/ Its mitred pontiffs, solemn, rich enrobed, And vested Levites, thronging in their train ; An endless multitude, and audience fit E'en for the Son of God, if he were here. These all expect Messias, Him await, And would, did'st thou sufficient motive yield, Fume thee with incense, turn their prayers tow'rds thee, And hail with fervor their Messias come. If thou be truly He, whom they expect, Cast thyself down from hence to yonder pave, In their full view, and safe before them stand. Thou need'st not fear, though dizzy be the height; The Scriptures, which thou quotest, clearly say He '11 give his angels charge concerning thee, That in their hands they bear thee up, lest thou Perhaps, shalt dash thy foot against a stone. Do this unharm'd, when such renown shall rise, Such honor to thy name, as well might please, Did thy ambition utmost glory crave. Borne on men's shoulders to the height of power, Softer than angels hence would waft thee down,

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