ch are the proudest
boast of God's Chosen People.

"However, many books,
Wise men have said, are wearisome: who reads
Incessantly, and to his reading brings not
A spirit and judgment equal or superior
(And what he brings, what needs he elsewhere seek?),
Uncertain and unsettled still remains,
Beep versed in books and shallow in himself,
Crude or intoxicate, collecting toys
And trifles for choice matters, worth a sponge;
As children gathering pebbles on the shore."

Irritated by the failure of all his attempts, Satan next taunts his
opponent by describing the sufferings and humiliations he will have to
undergo, until, seeing this too has no effect, he suddenly bears him
back to the wilderness, where he leaves him for the night, during
which he sends a terrific storm to appall him. Even in sleep Jesus is
haunted by dreams and spectres sent by the tempter, but at dawn all
these visions disappear, the storm dies down, and a lovely morning
greets him when he awakes. Once more Satan appears to warn our Lord
that the dreams of the night and the horrors of the tempest were
foreshadowings of what he will have to undergo. In spite of this,
Christ assures him he is toiling in vain; whereupon swollen with rage,
Satan confesses that ever since he heard Gabriel's announcement to the
shepherds in regard to Christ's birth, he has watched him, hoping to
get some hold upon him during his infancy, youth, or early manhood. He
now inquires whether Christ is really his destined foe and reluctantly
admits he has failed in all his endeavors to tempt him. But one last
test still remains to be tried, for Satan suddenly conveys Christ to
the topmost pinnacle of the Temple of Jerusalem, bidding him
demonstrate his divinity by fearlessly casting himself down, since God
has "given his angels charge concerning him."

Not only, does our Lord reprove the tempter, but so calmly manifests
his divine power by standing erect on this dangerous point, that
Satan--like all other defeated monsters, such as the Sphinx--falls
howling down into the infernal regions. At the same time angels convey
our Lord to a lovely valley, where they minister unto him with
celestial food and celebrate his victory with a triumphal hymn, for
the Son of God has successfully resisted the tempter, before whom Adam
succumbed, and has thereby saved man from the penalty of his sin.

Henceforth Satan will never again dare set foot in Paradise, w