1.                 The Angel ended, and in Adam’s ear

2.                 So charming left his voice, that he a while

3.                 Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear;

4.                 Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied.

5.                 What thanks sufficient, or what recompence

6.                 Equal, have I to render thee, divine

7.                 Historian, who thus largely hast allayed

8.                 The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed

9.                 This friendly condescension to relate

10.             Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard

11.             With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,

12.             With glory attributed to the high

13.             Creator! Something yet of doubt remains,

14.             Which only thy solution can resolve.

15.             When I behold this goodly frame, this world,

16.             Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute

17.             Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain,

18.             An atom, with the firmament compared

19.             And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll

20.             Spaces incomprehensible, (for such

21.             Their distance argues, and their swift return

22.             Diurnal,) merely to officiate light

23.             Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,

24.             One day and night; in all her vast survey

25.             Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire,

26.             How Nature wise and frugal could commit

27.             Such disproportions, with superfluous hand

28.             So many nobler bodies to create,

29.             Greater so manifold, to this one use,

30.             For aught appears, and on their orbs impose

31.             Such restless revolution day by day

32.             Repeated; while the sedentary Earth,

33.             That better might with far less compass move,

34.             Served by more noble than herself, attains

35.             Her end without least motion, and receives,

36.             As tribute, such a sumless journey brought

37.             Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;

38.             Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails.

39.             So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed

40.             Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve

41.             Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight,

42.             With lowliness majestic from her seat,

43.             And grace that won who saw to wish her stay,

44.             Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers,

45.             To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom,

46.             Her nursery; they at her coming sprung,

47.             And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew.

48.             Yet went she not, as not with such discourse

49.             Delighted, or not capable her ear

50.             Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved,

51.             Adam relating, she sole auditress;

52.             Her husband the relater she preferred

53.             Before the Angel, and of him to ask

54.             Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix

55.             Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute

56.             With conjugal caresses: from his lip

57.             Not words alone pleased her. O! when meet now

58.             Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined?

59.             With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went,

60.             Not unattended; for on her, as Queen,

61.             A pomp of winning Graces waited still,

62.             And from about her shot darts of desire

63.             Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight.

64.             And Raphael now, to Adam’s doubt proposed,

65.             Benevolent and facile thus replied.

66.             To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven

67.             Is as the book of God before thee set,

68.             Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn

69.             His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years:

70.             This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth,

71.             Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest

72.             From Man or Angel the great Architect

73.             Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge

74.             His secrets to be scanned by them who ought

75.             Rather admire; or, if they list to try

76.             Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens

77.             Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move

78.             His laughter at their quaint opinions wide

79.             Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven

80.             And calculate the stars, how they will wield

81.             The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive

82.             To save appearances; how gird the sphere

83.             With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o’er,

84.             Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb:

85.             Already by thy reasoning this I guess,

86.             Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest

87.             That bodies bright and greater should not serve

88.             The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run,

89.             Earth sitting still, when she alone receives

90.             The benefit: Consider first, that great

91.             Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth

92.             Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small,

93.             Nor glistering, may of solid good contain

94.             More plenty than the sun that barren shines;

95.             Whose virtue on itself works no effect,

96.             But in the fruitful Earth; there first received,

97.             His beams, unactive else, their vigour find.

98.             Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries

99.             Officious; but to thee, Earth’s habitant.

100.        And for the Heaven’s wide circuit, let it speak

101.        The Maker’s high magnificence, who built

102.        So spacious, and his line stretched out so far;

103.        That Man may know he dwells not in his own;

104.        An edifice too large for him to fill,

105.        Lodged in a small partition; and the rest

106.        Ordained for uses to his Lord best known.

107.        The swiftness of those circles attribute,

108.        Though numberless, to his Omnipotence,

109.        That to corporeal substances could add

110.        Speed almost spiritual: Me thou thinkest not slow,

111.        Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven

112.        Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived

113.        In Eden; distance inexpressible

114.        By numbers that have name. But this I urge,

115.        Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show

116.        Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved;

117.        Not that I so affirm, though so it seem

118.        To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.

119.        God, to remove his ways from human sense,

120.        Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight,

121.        If it presume, might err in things too high,

122.        And no advantage gain. What if the sun

123.        Be center to the world; and other stars,

124.        By his attractive virtue and their own

125.        Incited, dance about him various rounds?

126.        Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid,

127.        Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,

128.        In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these

129.        The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem,

130.        Insensibly three different motions move?

131.        Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe,

132.        Moved contrary with thwart obliquities;

133.        Or save the sun his labour, and that swift

134.        Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed,

135.        Invisible else above all stars, the wheel

136.        Of day and night; which needs not thy belief,

137.        If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day

138.        Travelling east, and with her part averse

139.        From the sun’s beam meet night, her other part

140.        Still luminous by his ray. What if that light,

141.        Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air,

142.        To the terrestrial moon be as a star,

143.        Enlightening her by day, as she by night

144.        This earth? reciprocal, if land be there,

145.        Fields and inhabitants: Her spots thou seest

146.        As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce

147.        Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat

148.        Allotted there; and other suns perhaps,

149.        With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry,

150.        Communicating male and female light;

151.        Which two great sexes animate the world,

152.        Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live.

153.        For such vast room in Nature unpossessed

154.        By living soul, desart and desolate,

155.        Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute

156.        Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far

157.        Down to this habitable, which returns

158.        Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.

159.        But whether thus these things, or whether not;

160.        But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven,

161.        Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun;

162.        He from the east his flaming road begin;

163.        Or she from west her silent course advance,

164.        With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps

165.        On her soft axle, while she paces even,

166.        And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along;

167.        Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid;

168.        Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear!

169.        Of other creatures, as him pleases best,

170.        Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou

171.        In what he gives to thee, this Paradise

172.        And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high

173.        To know what passes there; be lowly wise:

174.        Think only what concerns thee, and thy being;

175.        Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there

176.        Live, in what state, condition, or degree;

177.        Contented that thus far hath been revealed

178.        Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven.

179.        To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied.

180.        How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure

181.        Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene!

182.        And, freed from intricacies, taught to live

183.        The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts

184.        To interrupt the sweet of life, from which

185.        God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,

186.        And not molest us; unless we ourselves

187.        Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain.

188.        But apt the mind or fancy is to rove

189.        Unchecked, and of her roving is no end;

190.        Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn,

191.        That, not to know at large of things remote

192.        From use, obscure and subtle; but, to know

193.        That which before us lies in daily life,

194.        Is the prime wisdom: What is more, is fume,

195.        Or emptiness, or fond impertinence:

196.        And renders us, in things that most concern,

197.        Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek.

198.        Therefore from this high pitch let us descend

199.        A lower flight, and speak of things at hand

200.        Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise

201.        Of something not unseasonable to ask,

202.        By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned.

203.        Thee I have heard relating what was done

204.        Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate

205.        My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard;

206.        And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest

207.        How subtly to detain thee I devise;

208.        Inviting thee to hear while I relate;

209.        Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply:

210.        For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven;

211.        And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear

212.        Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst

213.        And hunger both, from labour, at the hour

214.        Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill,

215.        Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine

216.        Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.

217.        To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek.

218.        Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,

219.        Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee

220.        Abundantly his gifts hath also poured

221.        Inward and outward both, his image fair:

222.        Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace

223.        Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms;

224.        Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth

225.        Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire

226.        Gladly into the ways of God with Man:

227.        For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set

228.        On Man his equal love: Say therefore on;

229.        For I that day was absent, as befel,

230.        Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,

231.        Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell;

232.        Squared in full legion (such command we had)

233.        To see that none thence issued forth a spy,

234.        Or enemy, while God was in his work;

235.        Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold,

236.        Destruction with creation might have mixed.

237.        Not that they durst without his leave attempt;

238.        But us he sends upon his high behests

239.        For state, as Sovran King; and to inure

240.        Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut,

241.        The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong;

242.        But long ere our approaching heard within

243.        Noise, other than the sound of dance or song,

244.        Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.

245.        Glad we returned up to the coasts of light

246.        Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge.

247.        But thy relation now; for I attend,

248.        Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine.

249.        So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire.

250.        For Man to tell how human life began

251.        Is hard; for who himself beginning knew

252.        Desire with thee still longer to converse

253.        Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep,

254.        Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid,

255.        In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun

256.        Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed.

257.        Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned,

258.        And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised

259.        By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung,

260.        As thitherward endeavouring, and upright

261.        Stood on my feet: about me round I saw

262.        Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,

263.        And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these,

264.        Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew;

265.        Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled;

266.        With fragrance and with joy my heart o’erflowed.

267.        Myself I then perused, and limb by limb

268.        Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran

269.        With supple joints, as lively vigour led:

270.        But who I was, or where, or from what cause,

271.        Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake;

272.        My tongue obeyed, and readily could name

273.        Whate’er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light,

274.        And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay,

275.        Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains,

276.        And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell,

277.        Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?--

278.        Not of myself;--by some great Maker then,

279.        In goodness and in power pre-eminent:

280.        Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,

281.        From whom I have that thus I move and live,

282.        And feel that I am happier than I know.--

283.        While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither,

284.        From where I first drew air, and first beheld

285.        This happy light; when, answer none returned,

286.        On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers,

287.        Pensive I sat me down: There gentle sleep

288.        First found me, and with soft oppression seised

289.        My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought

290.        I then was passing to my former state

291.        Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:

292.        When suddenly stood at my head a dream,

293.        Whose inward apparition gently moved

294.        My fancy to believe I yet had being,

295.        And lived: One came, methought, of shape divine,

296.        And said, ’Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise,

297.        First Man, of men innumerable ordained

298.        First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide

299.        To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.

300.        So saying, by the hand he took me raised,

301.        And over fields and waters, as in air

302.        Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up

303.        A woody mountain; whose high top was plain,

304.        A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees

305.        Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw

306.        Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree,

307.        Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye

308.        Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite

309.        To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found

310.        Before mine eyes all real, as the dream

311.        Had lively shadowed: Here had new begun

312.        My wandering, had not he, who was my guide

313.        Up hither, from among the trees appeared,

314.        Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,

315.        In adoration at his feet I fell

316.        Submiss: He reared me, and Whom thou soughtest I am,

317.        Said mildly, Author of all this thou seest

318.        Above, or round about thee, or beneath.

319.        This Paradise I give thee, count it thine

320.        To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat:

321.        Of every tree that in the garden grows

322.        Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:

323.        But of the tree whose operation brings

324.        Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set

325.        The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,

326.        Amid the garden by the tree of life,

327.        Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste,

328.        And shun the bitter consequence: for know,

329.        The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command

330.        Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die,

331.        From that day mortal; and this happy state

332.        Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world

333.        Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounced

334.        The rigid interdiction, which resounds

335.        Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice

336.        Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect

337.        Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed.

338.        Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth

339.        To thee and to thy race I give; as lords

340.        Possess it, and all things that therein live,

341.        Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl.

342.        In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold

343.        After their kinds; I bring them to receive

344.        From thee their names, and pay thee fealty

345.        With low subjection; understand the same

346.        Of fish within their watery residence,

347.        Not hither summoned, since they cannot change

348.        Their element, to draw the thinner air.

349.        As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold

350.        Approaching two and two; these cowering low

351.        With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing.

352.        I named them, as they passed, and understood

353.        Their nature, with such knowledge God endued

354.        My sudden apprehension: But in these

355.        I found not what methought I wanted still;

356.        And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed.

357.        O, by what name, for thou above all these,

358.        Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher,

359.        Surpassest far my naming; how may I

360.        Adore thee, Author of this universe,

361.        And all this good to man? for whose well being

362.        So amply, and with hands so liberal,

363.        Thou hast provided all things: But with me

364.        I see not who partakes. In solitude

365.        What happiness, who can enjoy alone,

366.        Or, all enjoying, what contentment find?

367.        Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright,

368.        As with a smile more brightened, thus replied.

369.        What callest thou solitude? Is not the Earth

370.        With various living creatures, and the air

371.        Replenished, and all these at thy command

372.        To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not

373.        Their language and their ways? They also know,

374.        And reason not contemptibly: With these

375.        Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large.

376.        So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed

377.        So ordering: I, with leave of speech implored,

378.        And humble deprecation, thus replied.

379.        Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power;

380.        My Maker, be propitious while I speak.

381.        Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,

382.        And these inferiour far beneath me set?

383.        Among unequals what society

384.        Can sort, what harmony, or true delight?

385.        Which must be mutual, in proportion due

386.        Given and received; but, in disparity

387.        The one intense, the other still remiss,

388.        Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove

389.        Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak

390.        Such as I seek, fit to participate

391.        All rational delight: wherein the brute

392.        Cannot be human consort: They rejoice

393.        Each with their kind, lion with lioness;

394.        So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined:

395.        Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl

396.        So well converse, nor with the ox the ape;

397.        Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.

398.        Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased.

399.        A nice and subtle happiness, I see,

400.        Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice

401.        Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste

402.        No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary.

403.        What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state?

404.        Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed

405.        Of happiness, or not? who am alone

406.        From all eternity; for none I know

407.        Second to me or like, equal much less.

408.        How have I then with whom to hold converse,

409.        Save with the creatures which I made, and those

410.        To me inferiour, infinite descents

411.        Beneath what other creatures are to thee?

412.        He ceased; I lowly answered. To attain

413.        The highth and depth of thy eternal ways

414.        All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things!

415.        Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee

416.        Is no deficience found: Not so is Man,

417.        But in degree; the cause of his desire

418.        By conversation with his like to help

419.        Or solace his defects. No need that thou

420.        Shouldst propagate, already Infinite;

421.        And through all numbers absolute, though One:

422.        But Man by number is to manifest

423.        His single imperfection, and beget

424.        Like of his like, his image multiplied,

425.        In unity defective; which requires

426.        Collateral love, and dearest amity.

427.        Thou in thy secresy although alone,

428.        Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not

429.        Social communication; yet, so pleased,

430.        Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt

431.        Of union or communion, deified:

432.        I, by conversing, cannot these erect

433.        From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.

434.        Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used

435.        Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained

436.        This answer from the gracious Voice Divine.

437.        Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased;

438.        And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,

439.        Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself;

440.        Expressing well the spirit within thee free,

441.        My image, not imparted to the brute;

442.        Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee

443.        Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike;

444.        And be so minded still: I, ere thou spakest,

445.        Knew it not good for Man to be alone;

446.        And no such company as then thou sawest

447.        Intended thee; for trial only brought,

448.        To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet:

449.        What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,

450.        Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,

451.        Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.

452.        He ended, or I heard no more; for now

453.        My earthly by his heavenly overpowered,

454.        Which it had long stood under, strained to the highth

455.        In that celestial colloquy sublime,

456.        As with an object that excels the sense

457.        Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair

458.        Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called

459.        By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.

460.        Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell

461.        Of fancy, my internal sight; by which,

462.        Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw,

463.        Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape

464.        Still glorious before whom awake I stood:

465.        Who stooping opened my left side, and took

466.        From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm,

467.        And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,

468.        But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed:

469.        The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands;

470.        Under his forming hands a creature grew,

471.        Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair,

472.        That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now

473.        Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained

474.        And in her looks; which from that time infused

475.        Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,

476.        And into all things from her air inspired

477.        The spirit of love and amorous delight.

478.        She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked

479.        To find her, or for ever to deplore

480.        Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:

481.        When out of hope, behold her, not far off,

482.        Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned

483.        With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow

484.        To make her amiable: On she came,

485.        Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen,

486.        And guided by his voice; nor uninformed

487.        Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites:

488.        Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,

489.        In every gesture dignity and love.

490.        I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud.

491.        This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled

492.        Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,

493.        Giver of all things fair! but fairest this

494.        Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see

495.        Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself

496.        Before me: Woman is her name;of Man

497.        Extracted: for this cause he shall forego

498.        Father and mother, and to his wife adhere;

499.        And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.

500.        She heard me thus; and though divinely brought,

501.        Yet innocence, and virgin modesty,

502.        Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth,

503.        That would be wooed, and not unsought be won,

504.        Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired,

505.        The more desirable; or, to say all,

506.        Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,

507.        Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned:

508.        I followed her; she what was honour knew,

509.        And with obsequious majesty approved

510.        My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower

511.        I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven,

512.        And happy constellations, on that hour

513.        Shed their selectest influence; the Earth

514.        Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;

515.        Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs

516.        Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings

517.        Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub,

518.        Disporting, till the amorous bird of night

519.        Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star

520.        On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp.

521.        Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought

522.        My story to the sum of earthly bliss,

523.        Which I enjoy; and must confess to find

524.        In all things else delight indeed, but such

525.        As, used or not, works in the mind no change,

526.        Nor vehement desire; these delicacies

527.        I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,

528.        Walks, and the melody of birds: but here

529.        Far otherwise, transported I behold,

530.        Transported touch; here passion first I felt,

531.        Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else

532.        Superiour and unmoved; here only weak

533.        Against the charm of Beauty’s powerful glance.

534.        Or Nature failed in me, and left some part

535.        Not proof enough such object to sustain;

536.        Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps

537.        More than enough; at least on her bestowed

538.        Too much of ornament, in outward show

539.        Elaborate, of inward less exact.

540.        For well I understand in the prime end

541.        Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind

542.        And inward faculties, which most excel;

543.        In outward also her resembling less

544.        His image who made both, and less expressing

545.        The character of that dominion given

546.        O’er other creatures: Yet when I approach

547.        Her loveliness, so absolute she seems

548.        And in herself complete, so well to know

549.        Her own, that what she wills to do or say,

550.        Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best:

551.        All higher knowledge in her presence falls

552.        Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her

553.        Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows;

554.        Authority and Reason on her wait,

555.        As one intended first, not after made

556.        Occasionally; and, to consummate all,

557.        Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat

558.        Build in her loveliest, and create an awe

559.        About her, as a guard angelick placed.

560.        To whom the Angel with contracted brow.

561.        Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part;

562.        Do thou but thine; and be not diffident

563.        Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou

564.        Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh,

565.        By attributing overmuch to things

566.        Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest.

567.        For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so,

568.        An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well

569.        Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love;

570.        Not thy subjection: Weigh with her thyself;

571.        Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more

572.        Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right

573.        Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest,

574.        The more she will acknowledge thee her head,

575.        And to realities yield all her shows:

576.        Made so adorn for thy delight the more,

577.        So awful, that with honour thou mayest love

578.        Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.

579.        But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind

580.        Is propagated, seem such dear delight

581.        Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed

582.        To cattle and each beast; which would not be

583.        To them made common and divulged, if aught

584.        Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue

585.        The soul of man, or passion in him move.

586.        What higher in her society thou findest

587.        Attractive, human, rational, love still;

588.        In loving thou dost well, in passion not,

589.        Wherein true love consists not: Love refines

590.        The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat

591.        In reason, and is judicious; is the scale

592.        By which to heavenly love thou mayest ascend,

593.        Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause,

594.        Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.

595.        To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied.

596.        Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught

597.        In procreation common to all kinds,

598.        (Though higher of the genial bed by far,

599.        And with mysterious reverence I deem,)

600.        So much delights me, as those graceful acts,

601.        Those thousand decencies, that daily flow

602.        From all her words and actions mixed with love

603.        And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned

604.        Union of mind, or in us both one soul;

605.        Harmony to behold in wedded pair

606.        More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear.

607.        Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose

608.        What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled,

609.        Who meet with various objects, from the sense

610.        Variously representing; yet, still free,

611.        Approve the best, and follow what I approve.

612.        To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest,

613.        Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide;

614.        Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask:

615.        Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love

616.        Express they? by looks only? or do they mix

617.        Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

618.        To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed

619.        Celestial rosy red, Love’s proper hue,

620.        Answered. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest

621.        Us happy, and without love no happiness.

622.        Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest,

623.        (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy

624.        In eminence; and obstacle find none

625.        Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars;

626.        Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,

627.        Total they mix, union of pure with pure

628.        Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need,

629.        As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.

630.        But I can now no more; the parting sun

631.        Beyond the Earth’s green Cape and verdant Isles

632.        Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.

633.        Be strong, live happy, and love! But, first of all,

634.        Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep

635.        His great command; take heed lest passion sway

636.        Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will

637.        Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons,

638.        The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware!

639.        I in thy persevering shall rejoice,

640.        And all the Blest: Stand fast;to stand or fall

641.        Free in thine own arbitrement it lies.

642.        Perfect within, no outward aid require;

643.        And all temptation to transgress repel.

644.        So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus

645.        Followed with benediction. Since to part,

646.        Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger,

647.        Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore!

648.        Gentle to me and affable hath been

649.        Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever

650.        With grateful memory: Thou to mankind

651.        Be good and friendly still, and oft return!

652.        So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven

653.        From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower.

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