amily, he is not only entitled
to the throne, but expected to free Judea from Roman oppression. He
states that the holy temple has been defiled, that injustice has been
committed, and urges that even the Maccabees resorted to arms to free
their country. Although Christ insists no such mission has been
appointed for him, he adds that, although his reign will never end, it
will be only those who can suffer best who will be able to enjoy it.

"Who best
Can suffer, best can do; best reign, who first
Well hath obeyed; just trial ere I merit
My exaltation without change or end."

Then, turning upon his interlocutor, Christ inquires why he is so
anxious to promote the one whose rise will entail his fall? To which
Satan replies that, having no hope, it little behooves him to obstruct
the plans of Christ, from whose benevolence alone he expects some
mitigation of his punishment, for he fancies that by speaking thus he
can best induce Christ to hear him. Then, feigning to believe that
Christ has refused his offers simply because he has never seen aught
save Jerusalem, Satan conveys him in the twinkling of an eye to the
summit of a mountain, whence, pointing eastward, he shows him all the
great kingdoms of Asia. Thus, he reveals the glories of Assyria,
Babylonia, and Persia,--of whose histories he gives a brief
resume,--before pointing out a large Parthian army setting out to war
against the Scythians, for he hopes by this martial display to
convince Christ that, in order to obtain a kingdom, he will have to
resort to military force. Then he adds he can easily enlist the
services of this army, with which Christ can drive the Romans out of
Judea, and triumphantly reign over the land of his ancestors, whence
his glory will extend far and wide, until it far surpasses all that
Rome and Caesar achieved. Jesus, however, demonstrates the vanity of
all military efforts, declaring his time has not yet come, but
assuring him he will not be found wanting when the moment comes for
him to ascend the throne, for he hopes to prove an able ruler.

Then he reminds Satan how he tempted David to take a census against
God's wish, and led Israel astray, until the Ten Tribes were taken off
into captivity in punishment for their idolatry. He also comments upon
Satan's extraordinary anxiety to restore the very people whose foe he
has always been, as he has proved time and again by leading them into
idolatry, adding that