Paradise Lost - Book VII

Descend from Heavn Urania, by that name     If rightly thou art calld, whose Voice divine     Following, above th Olympian Hill I soare,     Above the flight of Pegasean wing.     The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou     Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top     Of old Olympus dwellst, but Heavnlie borne,     Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flowd,     Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,     Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play     In presence of th Almightie Father, pleasd     With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee     Into the Heavn of Heavns I have presumd,     An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,     Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down     Return me to my Native Element:     Least from this flying Steed unreind, (as once     Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime)     Dismounted, on th Aleian Field I fall     Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne.     Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound     Within the visible Diurnal Spheare;     Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,     More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchangd     To hoarce or mute, though falln on evil dayes,     On evil dayes though falln, and evil tongues;     In darkness, and with dangers compast rouud,     And solitude; yet not alone, while thou     Visitst my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn     Purples the East: still govern thou my Song,     Urania, and fit audience find, though few.     But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance     Of Bacchus and his Revellers, the Race     Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard     In Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had Eares     To rapture, till the savage clamor dround     Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend     Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:     For thou art Heavnlie, shee an empty dreame.     Say Goddess, what ensud when Raphael,     The affable Arch-angel, had forewarnd     Adam by dire example to beware     Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven     To those Apostates, least the like befall     In Paradise to Adam or his Race,     Chargd not to touch the interdicted Tree,     If they transgress, and slight that sole command,     So easily obeyd amid the choice     Of all tasts else to please thir appetite,     Though wandring. He with his consorted Eve     The storie heard attentive, and was filld     With admiration, and deep Muse to heare     Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought     So unimaginable as hate in Heavn,     And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss     With such confusion: but the evil soon     Drivn back redounded as a flood on those     From whom it sprung, impossible to mix     With Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeald     The doubts that in his heart arose: and now     Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know     What neerer might concern him, how this World     Of Heavn and Earth conspicuous first began,     When, and whereof created, for what cause,     What within Eden or without was done     Before his memorie, as one whose drouth     Yet scarce allayd still eyes the current streame,     Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,     Proceeded thus to ask his Heavnly Guest.     Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,     Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveald     Divine Interpreter, by favour sent     Down from the Empyrean to forewarne     Us timely of what might else have bin our loss,     Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:     For which to the infinitly Good we owe     Immortal thanks, and his admonishment     Receave with solemne purpose to observe     Immutably his sovran will, the end     Of what we are. But since thou hast voutsaft     Gently for our instruction to impart     Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd     Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,     Deign to descend now lower, and relate     What may no less perhaps availe us known,     How first began this Heavn which we behold     Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd     Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills     All space, the ambient Aire wide interfusd     Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause     Movd the Creator in his holy Rest     Through all Eternitie so late to build     In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon     Absolvd, if unforbid thou maist unfould     What wee, not to explore the secrets aske     Of his Eternal Empire, but the more     To magnifie his works, the more we know.     And the great Light of Day yet wants to run     Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heavn     Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares,     And longer will delay to heare thee tell     His Generation, and the rising Birth     Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:     Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon     Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring     Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,     Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song     End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.     Thus Adam his illustrous Guest besought:     And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde.     This also thy request with caution askt     Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works     What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,     Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?     Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve     To glorifie the Maker, and inferr     Thee also happier, shall not be withheld     Thy hearing, such Commission from above     I have receavd, to answer thy desire     Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain     To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope     Things not reveald, which th invisible King,     Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,     To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:     Anough is left besides to search and know.     But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less     Her Temperance over Appetite, to know     In measure what the mind may well contain,     Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turns     Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde.     Know then, that after Lucifer from Heavn     (So call him, brighter once amidst the Host     Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)     Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep     Into his place, and the great Son returnd     Victorious with his Saints, th Omnipotent     Eternal Father from his Throne beheld     Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.     At least our envious Foe hath faild, who thought     All like himself rebellious, by whose aid     This inaccessible high strength, the seat     Of Deitie supream, us dispossest,     He trusted to have seisd, and into fraud     Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more;     Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,     Thir station, Heavn yet populous retaines     Number sufficient to possess her Realmes     Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent     With Ministeries due and solemn Rites:     But least his heart exalt him in the harme     Already done, to have dispeopld Heavn,     My damage fondly deemd, I can repaire     That detriment, if such it be to lose     Self-lost, and in a moment will create     Another World, out of one man a Race     Of men innumerable, there to dwell,     Not here, till by degrees of merit raisd     They open to themselves at length the way     Up hither, under long obedience trid,     And Earth be changd to Heavn, & Heavn to Earth,     One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.     Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heavn,     And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee     This I perform, speak thou, and be it don:     My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee     I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep     Within appointed bounds be Heavn and Earth,     Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill     Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.     Though I uncircumscribd my self retire,     And put not forth my goodness, which is free     To act or not, Necessitie and Chance     Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate.     So spake th Almightie, and to what he spake     His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.     Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift     Then time or motion, but to human ears     Cannot without process of speech be told,     So told as earthly notion can receave.     Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heavn     When such was heard declard the Almighties will;     Glorie they sung to the most High, good will     To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:     Glorie to him whose just avenging ire     Had driven out th ungodly from his sight     And th habitations of the just; to him     Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordaind     Good out of evil to create, in stead     Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring     Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse     His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.     So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son     On his great Expedition now appeerd,     Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crownd     Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love     Immense, and all his Father in him shon.     About his Chariot numberless were pourd     Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,     And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wingd,     From the Armoury of God, where stand of old     Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodgd     Against a solemn day, harnest at hand,     Celestial Equipage; and now came forth     Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,     Attendant on thir Lord: Heavn opnd wide     Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound     On golden Hinges moving, to let forth     The King of Glorie in his powerful Word     And Spirit coming to create new Worlds.     On heavnly ground they stood, and from the shore     They viewd the vast immeasurable Abyss     Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,     Up from the bottom turnd by furious windes     And surging waves, as Mountains to assault     Heavns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.     Silence, ye troubld waves, and thou Deep, peace,     Said then th Omnific Word, your discord end:     Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim     Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode     Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn;     For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine     Followd in bright procession to behold     Creation, and the wonders of his might.     Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand     He took the golden Compasses, prepard     In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe     This Universe, and all created things:     One foot he centerd, and the other turnd     Round through the vast profunditie obscure,     And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,     This be thy just Circumference, O World.     Thus God the Heavn created, thus the Earth,     Matter unformd and void: Darkness profound     Coverd th Abyss: but on the watrie calme     His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,     And vital vertue infusd, and vital warmth     Throughout the fluid Mass, but downward purgd     The black tartareous cold infernal dregs     Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobd     Like things to like, the rest to several place     Disparted, and between spun out the Air,     And Earth self-ballanct on her Center hung.     Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light     Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure     Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East     To journie through the airie gloom began,     Spheard in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun     Was not; shee in a cloudie Tabernacle     Sojournd the while. God saw the Light was good;     And light from darkness by the Hemisphere     Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night     He namd. Thus was the first Day Eevn and Morn:     Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung     By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light     Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld;     Birth-day of Heavn and Earth; with joy and shout     The hollow Universal Orb they filld,     And toucht thir Golden Harps, and hymning praisd     God and his works, Creatour him they sung,     Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn.     Again, God said, let ther be Firmament     Amid the Waters, and let it divide     The Waters from the Waters: and God made     The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,     Transparent, Elemental Air, diffusd     In circuit to the uttermost convex     Of this great Round: partition firm and sure,     The Waters underneath from those above     Dividing: for as Earth, so he the World     Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide     Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule     Of Chaos farr removd, least fierce extreames     Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:     And Heavn he namd the Firmament: So Eevn     And Morning Chorus sung the second Day.     The Earth was formd, but in the Womb as yet     Of Waters, Embryon immature involvd,     Appeerd not: over all the face of Earth     Main Ocean flowd, not idle, but with warme     Prolific humour softning all her Globe,     Fermented the great Mother to conceave,     Satiate with genial moisture, when God said     Be gatherd now ye Waters under Heavn     Into one place, and let dry Land appeer.     Immediately the Mountains huge appeer     Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave     Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:     So high as heavd the tumid Hills, so low     Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,     Capacious bed of Waters: thither they     Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld     As drops on dust conglobing from the drie;     Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,     For haste; such flight the great command impressd     On the swift flouds: as Armies at the call     Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)     Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,     Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,     If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,     Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill,     But they, or under ground, or circuit wide     With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,     And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;     Easie, ere God had bid the ground be drie,     All but within those banks, where Rivers now     Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.     The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle     Of congregated Waters he calld Seas:     And saw that it was good, and said, Let th Earth     Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed,     And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind;     Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth.     He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then     Desert and bare, unsightly, unadornd,     Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure clad     Her Universal Face with pleasant green,     Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flourd     Opning thir various colours, and made gay     Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,     Forth flourisht thick the clustring Vine, forth crept     The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed     Embattelld in her field: add the humble Shrub,     And Bush with frizld hair implicit: last     Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred     Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemmd     Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd,     With tufts the vallies and each fountain side,     With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now     Seemd like to Heavn, a seat where Gods might dwell,     Or wander with delight, and love to haunt     Her sacred shades: though God had yet not raind     Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground     None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist     Went up and waterd all the ground, and each     Plant of the field, which ere it was in the Earth     God made, and every Herb, before it grew     On the green stemm; God saw that it was good:     So Eevn and Morn recorded the Third Day.     Again th Almightie spake: Let there be Lights     High in th expanse of Heaven to divide     The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,     For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,     And let them be for Lights as I ordaine     Thir Office in the Firmament of Heavn     To give Light on the Earth; and it was so.     And God made two great Lights, great for thir use     To Man, the greater to have rule by Day,     The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,     And set them in the Firmament of Heavn     To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day     In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,     And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,     Surveying his great Work, that it was good:     For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun     A mightie Spheare he framd, unlightsom first,     Though of Ethereal Mould: then formd the Moon     Globose, and everie magnitude of Starrs,     And sowd with Starrs the Heavn thick as a field:     Of Light by farr the greater part he took,     Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and placd     In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive     And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine     Her gatherd beams, great Palace now of Light.     Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs     Repairing, in thir goldn Urns draw Light,     And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns;     By tincture or reflection they augment     Thir small peculiar, though from human sight     So farr remote, with diminution seen.     First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,     Regent of Day, and all th Horizon round     Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to run     His Longitude through Heavns high rode: the gray     Dawn, and the Pleiades before him dancd     Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,     But opposite in leveld West was set     His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light     From him, for other light she needed none     In that aspect, and still that distance keepes     Till night, then in the East her turn she shines,     Revolvd on Heavns great Axle, and her Reign     With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,     With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeerd     Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd     With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,     Glad Eevning and glad Morn crownd the fourth day.     And God said, let the Waters generate     Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule:     And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings     Displayd on the opn Firmament of Heavn.     And God created the great Whales, and each     Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously     The waters generated by thir kindes,     And every Bird of wing after his kinde;     And saw that it was good, and blessd them, saying,     Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas     And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;     And let the Fowle be multiplyd on the Earth.     Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek and Bay     With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales     Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales     Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft     Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate     Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, and through Groves     Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance     Show to the Sun thir wavd coats dropt with Gold,     Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend     Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food     In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale,     And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk     Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate     Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan     Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep     Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes,     And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles     Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.     Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares     Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon     Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosd     Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge     They summd thir Penns, and soaring th air sublime     With clang despisd the ground, under a cloud     In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork     On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:     Part loosly wing the Region, part more wise     In common, rangd in figure wedge thir way,     Intelligent of seasons, and set forth     Thir Aierie Caravan high over Seas     Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing     Easing thir flight; so stears the prudent Crane     Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire     Floats, as they pass, fannd with unnumberd plumes:     From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song     Solacd the Woods, and spred thir painted wings     Till Evn, nor then the solemn Nightingal     Ceasd warbling, but all night tund her soft layes:     Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bathd     Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck     Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rows     Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit     The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre     The mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground     Walkd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion sounds     The silent hours, and th other whose gay Traine     Adorns him, colourd with the Florid hue     Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus     With Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle,     Evning and Morn solemnizd the Fift day.     The Sixt, and of Creation last arose     With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said,     Let th Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde,     Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth,     Each in their kinde. The Earth obeyd, and strait     Opning her fertil Woomb teemd at a Birth     Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes,     Limbd and full grown: out of the ground up-rose     As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns     In Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;     Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walkd:     The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green:     Those rare and solitarie, these in flocks     Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung:     The grassie Clods now Calvd, now half appeerd     The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free     His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,     And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,     The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale     Rising, the crumbld Earth above them threw     In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground     Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould     Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheavd     His vastness: Fleect the Flocks and bleating rose,     As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land     The River Horse and scalie Crocodile.     At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,     Insect or Worme; those wavd thir limber fans     For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact     In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride     With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:     These as a line thir long dimension drew,     Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all     Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde     Wondrous in length and corpulence involvd     Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First crept     The Parsimonious Emmet, provident     Of future, in small room large heart enclosd,     Pattern of just equalitie perhaps     Hereafter, joind in her popular Tribes     Of Commonaltie: swarming next appeerd     The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone     Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells     With Honey stord: the rest are numberless,     And thou thir Natures knowst, and gavst them Names,     Needlest to thee repeaed; nor unknown     The Serpent suttlst Beast of all the field,     Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes     And hairie Main terrific, though to thee     Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.     Now Heavn in all her Glorie shon, and rowld     Her motions, as the great first-Movers hand     First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire     Consummate lovly smild; Aire, Water, Earth,     By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt     Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remaind;     There wanted yet the Master work, the end     Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone     And Brute as other Creatures, but endud     With Sanctitie of Reason, might erect     His Stature, and upright with Front serene     Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence     Magnanimous to correspond with Heavn,     But grateful to acknowledge whence his good     Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes     Directed in Devotion, to adore     And worship God Supream, who made him chief     Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent     Eternal Father (For where is not hee     Present) thus to his Son audibly spake.     Let us make now Man in our image, Man     In our similitude, and let them rule     Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,     Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,     And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.     This said, he formd thee, Adam, thee O Man     Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathd     The breath of Life; in his own Image hee     Created thee, in the Image of God     Express, and thou becamst a living Soul.     Male he created thee, but thy consort     Femal for Race; then blessd Mankinde, and said,     Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,     Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold     Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire,     And every living thing that moves on the Earth.     Wherever thus created, for no place     Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowst     He brought thee into this delicious Grove,     This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,     Delectable both to behold and taste;     And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food     Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th Earth yeelds,     Varietie without end; but of the Tree     Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,     Thou maist not; in the day thou eatst, thou dist;     Death is the penaltie imposd, beware,     And govern well thy appetite, least sin     Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.     Here finishd hee, and all that he had made     Viewd, and behold all was entirely good;     So Evn and Morn accomplishd the Sixt day:     Yet not till the Creator from his work     Desisting, though unwearied, up returnd     Up to the Heavn of Heavns his high abode,     Thence to behold this new created World     Th addition of his Empire, how it shewd     In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,     Answering his great Idea. Up he rode     Followd with acclamation and the sound     Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tund     Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the Aire     Resounded, (thou rememberst, for thou heardst)     The Heavns and all the Constellations rung,     The Planets in thir stations listning stood,     While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.     Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung,     Open, ye Heavns, your living dores; let in     The great Creator from his work returnd     Magnificent, his Six days work, a World;     Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne     To visit oft the dwellings of just Men     Delighted, and with frequent intercourse     Thither will send his winged Messengers     On errands of supernal Grace. So sung     The glorious Train ascending: He through Heavn,     That opend wide her blazing Portals, led     To Gods Eternal house direct the way,     A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold     And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,     Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way     Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest     Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seventh     Eevning arose in Eden, for the Sun     Was set, and twilight from the East came on,     Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount     Of Heavns high-seated top, th Impereal Throne     Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,     The Filial Power arrivd, and sate him down     With his great Father (for he also went     Invisible, yet staid (such priviledge     Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordaind,     Author and end of all things, and from work     Now resting, blessd and hallowd the Seavnth day,     As resting on that day from all his work,     But not in silence holy kept; the Harp     Had work and rested not, the solemn Pipe,     And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,     All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire     Temperd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice     Choral or Unison: of incense Clouds     Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount.     Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung,     Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite     Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue     Relate thee; greater now in thy return     Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day     Thy Thunders magnifid; but to create     Is greater then created to destroy.     Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound     Thy Empire? easily the proud attempt     Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine     Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought     Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw     The number of thy worshippers. Who seekes     To lessen thee, against his purpose serves     To manifest the more thy might: his evil     Thou usest, and from thence creatst more good.     Witness this new-made World, another Heavn     From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view     On the cleer Hyaline, the Glassie Sea;     Of amplitude almost immense, with Starrs     Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World     Of destind habitation; but thou knowst     Thir seasons: among these the seat of men,     Earth with her nether Ocean circumfusd,     Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men,     And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanct,     Created in his Image, there to dwell     And worship him, and in reward to rule     Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,     And multiply a Race of Worshippers     Holy and just: thrice happie if they know     Thir happiness, and persevere upright.     So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,     With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept.     And thy request think now fulfilld, that askd     How first this World and face of things began,     And what before thy memorie was don     From the beginning, that posteritie     Informd by thee might know; if else thou seekst     Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.     To whom thus Adam gratefully replid.     What thanks sufficient, or what recompence     Equal have I to render thee, Divine     Hystorian, who thus largely hast allayd     The thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsaft     This friendly condescention to relate     Things else by me unsearchable, now heard     With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,     With glorie attributed to the high     Creator; some thing yet of doubt remaines,     Which onely thy solution can resolve.     When I behold this goodly Frame, this World     Of Heavn and Earth consisting, and compute,     Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine,     An Atom, with the Firmament compard     And all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowle     Spaces incomprehensible (for such     Thir distance argues and thir swift return     Diurnal) meerly to officiate light     Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,     One day and night; in all thir vast survey     Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire,     How Nature wise and frugal could commit     Such disproportions, with superfluous hand     So many nobler Bodies to create,     Greater so manifold to this one use,     For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs impose     Such restless revolution day by day     Repeated, while the sedentarie Earth,     That better might with farr less compass move,     Servd by more noble then her self, attaines     Her end without least motion, and receaves,     As Tribute such a sumless journey brought     Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;     Speed, to describe whose swiftness Number failes.     So spake our Sire, and by his countnance seemd     Entring on studious thoughts abstruse, which Eve     Perceaving where she sat retird in sight,     With lowliness Majestic from her seat,     And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay,     Rose, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours,     To visit how they prosperd, bud and bloom,     Her Nurserie; they at her coming sprung     And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew.     Yet went she not, as not with such discourse     Delighted, or not capable her eare     Of what was high: such pleasure she reservd,     Adam relating, she sole Auditress;     Her Husband the Relater she preferrd     Before the Angel, and of him to ask     Chose rather; hee, she knew would intermix     Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute     With conjugal Caresses, from his Lip     Not Words alone pleasd her. O when meet now     Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joynd?     With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went;     Not unattended, for on her as Queen     A pomp of winning Graces waited still,     And from about her shot Darts of desire     Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight.     And Raphael now to Adams doubt proposd     Benevolent and facil thus replid.     To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heavn     Is as the Book of God before thee set,     Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learne     His Seasons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeares:     This to attain, whether Heavn move or Earth,     Imports not, if thou reckn right, the rest     From Man or Angel the great Architect     Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge     His secrets to be scannd by them who ought     Rather admire; or if they list to try     Conjecture, he his Fabric of the Heavns     Hath left to thir disputes, perhaps to move     His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide     Hereafter, when they come to model Heavn     And calculate the Starrs, how they will weild     The mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contrive     To save appeerances, how gird the Sphear     With Centric and Eccentric scribld ore,     Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb:     Alreadie by thy reasoning this I guess,     Who art to lead thy ofspring, and supposest     That Bodies bright and greater should not serve     The less not bright, nor Heavn such journies run,     Earth sitting still, when she alone receaves     The benefit: consider first, that Great     Or Bright inferrs not Excellence: the Earth     Though, in comparison of Heavn, so small,     Nor glistering, may of solid good containe     More plenty then the Sun that barren shines,     Whose vertue on it self workes no effect,     But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavd     His beams, unactive else, thir vigor find.     Yet not to Earth are those bright Luminaries     Officious, but to thee Earths habitant.     And for the Heavns wide Circuit, let it speak     The Makers high magnificence, who built     So spacious, and his Line stretcht out so farr;     That Man may know he dwells not in his own;     An Edifice too large for him to fill,     Lodgd in a small partition, and the rest     Ordaind for uses to his Lord best known.     The swiftness of those Circles attribute,     Though numberless, to his Omnipotence,     That to corporeal substances could adde     Speed almost Spiritual; mee thou thinkst not slow,     Who since the Morning hour set out from Heavn     Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrivd     In Eden, distance inexpressible     By Numbers that have name. But this I urge,     Admitting Motion in the Heavns, to shew     Invalid that which thee to doubt it movd;     Not that I so affirm, though so it seem     To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.     God to remove his wayes from human sense,     Placd Heavn from Earth so farr, that earthly sight,     If it presume, might erre in things too high,     And no advantage gaine. What if the Sun     Be Center to the World, and other Starrs     By his attractive vertue and thir own     Incited, dance about him various rounds?     Thir wandring course now high, now low, then hid,     Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,     In six thou seest, and what if sevnth to these     The Planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem,     Insensibly three different Motions move?     Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe,     Movd contrarie with thwart obliquities,     Or save the Sun his labour, and that swift     Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb supposd,     Invisible else above all Starrs, the Wheele     Of Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe,     If Earth industrious of her self fetch Day     Travelling East, and with her part averse     From the Suns beam meet Night, her other part     Still luminous by his ray. What if that light     Sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire,     To the terrestrial Moon be as a Starr     Enlightning her by Day, as she by Night     This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there,     Feilds and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seest     As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce     Fruits in her softnd Soile, for some to eate     Allotted there; and other Suns perhaps     With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrie     Communicating Male and Femal Light,     Which two great Sexes animate the World,     Stord in each Orb perhaps with some that live.     For such vast room in Nature unpossest     By living Soule, desert and desolate,     Onely to shine, yet scarce to contribute     Each Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd so farr     Down to this habitable, which returnes     Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.     But whether thus these things, or whether not,     Whether the Sun predominant in Heavn     Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun,     Hee from the East his flaming rode begin,     Or Shee from West her silent course advance     With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps     On her soft Axle, while she paces Eevn,     And bears thee soft with the smooth Air along,     Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid,     Leave them to God above, him serve and feare;     Of other Creatures, as him pleases best,     Wherever plact, let him dispose: joy thou     In what he gives to thee, this Paradise     And thy faire Eve; Heavn is for thee too high     To know what passes there; be lowlie wise:     Think onely what concernes thee and thy being;     Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there     Live, in what state, condition or degree,     Contented that thus farr hath been reveald     Not of Earth onely but of highest Heavn.     To whom thus Adam cleerd of doubt, replid.     How fully hast thou satisfid mee, pure     Intelligence of Heavn, Angel serene,     And freed from intricacies, taught to live,     The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts     To interrupt the sweet of Life, from which     God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares,     And not molest us, unless we our selves     Seek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine.     But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave     Uncheckt, and of her roaving is no end;     Till warnd, or by experience taught, she learne,     That not to know at large of things remote     From use, obscure and suttle, but to know     That which before us lies in daily life,     Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume,     Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,     And renders us in things that most concerne     Unpractisd, unprepard, and still to seek.     Therefore from this high pitch let us descend     A lower flight, and speak of things at hand     Useful, whence haply mention may arise     Of somthing not unseasonable to ask     By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deignd.     Thee I have heard relating what was don     Ere my remembrance: now hear mee relate     My Storie, which perhaps thou hast not heard;     And Day is yet not spent; till then thou seest     How suttly to detaine thee I devise,     Inviting thee to hear while I relate,     Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:     For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heavn,     And sweeter thy discourse is to my eare     Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst     And hunger both, from labour, at the houre     Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill,     Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace Divine     Imbud, bring to thir sweetness no satietie.     To whom thus Raphael answerd heavnly meek.     Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,     Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee     Abundantly his gifts hath also pourd,     Inward and outward both, his image faire:     Speaking or mute all comliness and grace     Attends thee, and each word, each motion formes.     Nor less think wee in Heavn of thee on Earth     Then of our fellow servant, and inquire     Gladly into the wayes of God with Man:     For God we see hath honourd thee, and set     On Man his equal Love: say therefore on;     For I that Day was absent, as befell,     Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,     Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell;     Squard in full Legion (such command we had)     To see that none thence issud forth a spie,     Or enemie, while God was in his work,     Least hee incenst at such eruption bold,     Destruction with Creation might have mixt.     Not that they durst without his leave attempt,     But us he sends upon his high behests     For state, as Sovran King, and to enure     Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut     The dismal Gates, and barricadod strong;     But long ere our approaching heard within     Noise, other then the sound of Dance or Song,     Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage.     Glad we returnd up to the coasts of Light     Ere Sabbath Eevning: so we had in charge.     But thy relation now; for I attend,     Pleasd with thy words no less then thou with mine.     So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire.     For Man to tell how human Life began     Is hard; for who himself beginning knew?     Desire with thee still longer to converse     Inducd me. As new wakt from soundest sleep     Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid     In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the Sun     Soon drid, and on the reaking moisture fed.     Strait toward Heavn my wondring Eyes I turnd,     And gazd a while the ample Skie, till raisd     By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,     As thitherward endevoring, and upright     Stood on my feet; about me round I saw     Hill, Dale, and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plaines,     And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these,     Creatures that livd, and movd, and walkd, or flew,     Birds on the branches warbling; all things smild,     With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflowd.     My self I then perusd, and Limb by Limb     Surveyd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran     With supple joints, as lively vigour led:     But who I was, or where, or from what cause,     Knew not; to speak I trid, and forthwith spake,     My Tongue obeyd and readily could name     What ere I saw. Thou Sun, said I, faire Light,     And thou enlightnd Earth, so fresh and gay,     Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines,     And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell,     Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here?     Not of my self; by some great Maker then,     In goodness and in power preminent;     Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,     From whom I have that thus I move and live,     And feel that I am happier then I know.     While thus I calld, and strayd I knew not whither,     From where I first drew Aire, and first beheld     This happie Light, when answer none returnd,     On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours     Pensive I sate me down; there gentle sleep     First found me, and with soft oppression seisd     My droused sense, untroubld, though I thought     I then was passing to my former state     Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:     When suddenly stood at my Head a dream,     Whose inward apparition gently movd     My Fancy to believe I yet had being,     And livd: One came, methought, of shape Divine,     And said, thy Mansion wants thee, Adam, rise,     First Man, of Men innumerable ordaind     First Father, calld by thee I come thy Guide     To the Garden of bliss, thy seat prepard.     So saying, by the hand he took me raisd,     And over Fields and Waters, as in Aire     Smooth sliding without step, last led me up     A woodie Mountain; whose high top was plaine,     A Circuit wide, enclosd, with goodliest Trees     Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I saw     Of Earth before scarse pleasant seemd. Each Tree     Loadn with fairest Fruit, that hung to the Eye     Tempting, stirrd in me sudden appetite     To pluck and eate; whereat I wakd, and found     Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream     Had lively shadowd: Here had new begun     My wandring, had not hee who was my Guide     Up hither, from among the Trees appeerd,     Presence Divine. Rejoycing, but with aw     In adoration at his feet I fell     Submiss: he reard me, and Whom thou soughtst I am,     Said mildely, Author of all this thou seest     Above, or round about thee or beneath.     This Paradise I give thee, count it thine     To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate:     Of every Tree that in the Garden growes     Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:     But of the Tree whose operation brings     Knowledg of good and ill, which I have set     The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith,     Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life,     Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste,     And shun the bitter consequence: for know,     The day thou eatst thereof, my sole command     Transgrest, inevitably thou shalt dye;     From that day mortal, and this happie State     Shalt loose, expelld from hence into a World     Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronouncd     The rigid interdiction, which resounds     Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice     Not to incur; but soon his cleer aspect     Returnd and gratious purpose thus renewd.     Not onely these fair bounds, but all the Earth     To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords     Possess it, and all things that therein live,     Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle.     In signe whereof each Bird and Beast behold     After thir kindes; I bring them to receave     From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtie     With low subjection; understand the same     Of Fish within thir watry residence,     Not hither summond, since they cannot change     Thir Element to draw the thinner Aire.     As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold     Approaching two and two, These cowring low     With blandishment, each Bird stoopd on his wing.     I namd them, as they passd, and understood     Thir Nature, with such knowledg God endud     My sudden apprehension: but in these     I found not what me thought I wanted still;     And to the Heavnly vision thus presumd.     O by what Name, for thou above all these,     Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher,     Surpassest farr my naming, how may I     Adore thee, Author of this Universe,     And all this good to man, for whose well being     So amply, and with hands so liberal     Thou hast provided all things: but with mee     I see not who partakes. In solitude     What happiness, who can enjoy alone,     Or all enjoying, what contentment find?     Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright,     As with a smile more brightnd, thus replid.     What callst thou solitude, is not the Earth     With various living creatures, and the Aire     Replenisht, and all these at thy command     To come and play before thee, knowst thou not     Thir language and thir wayes, they also know,     And reason not contemptibly; with these     Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large.     So spake the Universal Lord, and seemd     So ordering. I with leave of speech implord,     And humble deprecation thus replid.     Let not my words offend thee, Heavnly Power,     My Maker, be propitious while I speak.     Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,     And these inferiour farr beneath me set?     Among unequals what societie     Can sort, what harmonie or true delight?     Which must be mutual, in proportion due     Givn and receivd; but in disparitie     The one intense, the other still remiss     Cannot well suite with either, but soon prove     Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak     Such as I seek, fit to participate     All rational delight, wherein the brute     Cannot be human consort; they rejoyce     Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness;     So fitly them in pairs thou hast combind;     Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle     So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape;     Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all.     Whereto th Almighty answerd, not displeasd.     A nice and suttle happiness I see     Thou to thy self proposest, in the choice     Of thy Associates, Adam, and wilt taste     No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie.     What thinkst thou then of mee, and this my State,     Seem I to thee sufficiently possest     Of happiness, or not? who am alone     From all Eternitie, for none I know     Second to mee or like, equal much less.     How have I then with whom to hold converse     Save with the Creatures which I made, and those     To me inferiour, infinite descents     Beneath what other Creatures are to thee?     He ceasd, I lowly answerd. To attaine     The highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes     All human thoughts come short, Supream of things;     Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee     Is no deficience found; not so is Man,     But in degree, the cause of his desire     By conversation with his like to help,     Or solace his defects. No need that thou     Shouldst propagat, already infinite;     And through all numbers absolute, though One;     But Man by number is to manifest     His single imperfection, and beget     Like of his like, his Image multiplid,     In unitie defective, which requires     Collateral love, and deerest amitie.     Thou in thy secresie although alone,     Best with thy self accompanied, seekst not     Social communication, yet so pleasd,     Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt     Of Union or Communion, deifid;     I by conversing cannot these erect     From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find.     Thus I emboldnd spake, and freedom usd     Permissive, and acceptance found, which gaind     This answer from the gratious voice Divine.     Thus farr to try thee, Adam, I was pleasd,     And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone,     Which thou hast rightly namd, but of thy self,     Expressing well the spirit within thee free,     My Image, not imparted to the Brute,     Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee     Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike,     And be so minded still; I, ere thou spakst,     Knew it not good for Man to be alone,     And no such companie as then thou sawst     Intended thee, for trial onely brought,     To see how thou couldst judge of fit and meet:     What next I bring shall please thee, be assurd,     Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,     Thy wish, exactly to thy hearts desire.     Hee ended, or I heard no more, for now     My earthly by his Heavnly overpowerd,     Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth     In that celestial Colloquie sublime,     As with an object that excels the sense,     Dazld and spent, sunk down, and sought repair     Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, calld     By Nature as in aide, and closd mine eyes.     Mine eyes he closd, but opn left the Cell     Of Fancie my internal sight, by which     Abstract as in a transe methought I saw,     Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape     Still glorious before whom awake I stood;     Who stooping opnd my left side, and took     From thence a Rib, with cordial spirits warme,     And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,     But suddenly with flesh filld up and heald:     The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands;     Under his forming hands a Creature grew,     Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire,     That what seemd fair in all the World, seemd now     Mean, or in her summd up, in her containd     And in her looks, which from that time infusd     Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,     And into all things from her Aire inspird     The spirit of love and amorous delight.     She disappeerd, and left me dark, I wakd     To find her, or for ever to deplore     Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:     When out of hope, behold her, not farr off,     Such as I saw her in my dream, adornd     With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow     To make her amiable: On she came,     Led by her Heavnly Maker, though unseen,     And guided by his voice, nor uninformd     Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites:     Grace was in all her steps, Heavn in her Eye,     In every gesture dignitie and love.     I overjoyd could not forbear aloud.     This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilld     Thy words, Creator bounteous and benigne,     Giver of all things faire, but fairest this     Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see     Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my Self     Before me; Woman is her Name, of Man     Extracted; for this cause he shall forgoe     Father and Mother, and to his Wife adhere;     And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule.     She heard me thus, and though divinely brought,     Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie,     Her vertue and the conscience of her worth,     That would be wood, and not unsought be won,     Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retird,     The more desirable, or to say all,     Nature her self, though pure of sinful thought,     Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turnd;     I followd her, she what was Honour knew,     And with obsequious Majestie approvd     My pleaded reason. To the Nuptial Bowre     I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heavn,     And happie Constellations on that houre     Shed thir selectest influence; the Earth     Gave sign of gratulation, and each Hill;     Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires     Whisperd it to the Woods, and from thir wings     Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub,     Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night     Sung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr     On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp.     Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought     My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss     Which I enjoy, and must confess to find     In all things else delight indeed, but such     As usd or not, works in the mind no change,     Nor vehement desire, these delicacies     I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, and Flours,     Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here     Farr otherwise, transported I behold,     Transported touch; here passion first I felt,     Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else     Superiour and unmovd, here onely weake     Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance.     Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part     Not proof enough such Object to sustain,     Or from my side subducting, took perhaps     More then enough; at least on her bestowd     Too much of Ornament, in outward shew     Elaborate, of inward less exact.     For well I understand in the prime end     Of Nature her th inferiour, in the mind     And inward Faculties, which most excell,     In outward also her resembling less     His Image who made both, and less expressing     The character of that Dominion givn     Ore other Creatures; yet when I approach     Her loveliness, so absolute she seems     And in her self compleat, so well to know     Her own, that what she wills to do or say,     Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best;     All higher knowledge in her presence falls     Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her     Looses discountnanct, and like folly shewes;     Authoritie and Reason on her waite,     As one intended first, not after made     Occasionally; and to consummate all,     Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat     Build in her loveliest, and create an awe     About her, as a guard Angelic plact.     To whom the Angel with contracted brow.     Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part;     Do thou but thine, and be not diffident     Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou     Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh,     By attributing overmuch to things     Less excellent, as thou thy self perceavst.     For what admirst thou, what transports thee so,     An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well     Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,     Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy self;     Then value: Oft times nothing profits more     Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right     Well managd; of that skill the more thou knowst,     The more she will acknowledge thee her Head,     And to realities yeild all her shows;     Made so adorn for thy delight the more,     So awful, that with honour thou maist love     Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.     But if the sense of touch whereby mankind     Is propagated seem such dear delight     Beyond all other, think the same voutsaft     To Cattel and each Beast; which would not be     To them made common and divulgd, if aught     Therein enjoyd were worthy to subdue     The Soule of Man, or passion in him move.     What higher in her societie thou findst     Attractive, human, rational, love still;     In loving thou dost well, in passion not,     Wherein true Love consists not; love refines     The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat     In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale     By which to heavnly Love thou maist ascend,     Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause     Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found.     To whom thus half abasht Adam replid.     Neither her out-side formd so fair, nor aught     In procreation common to all kindes     (Though higher of the genial Bed by far,     And with mysterious reverence I deem)     So much delights me, as those graceful acts,     Those thousand decencies that daily flow     From all her words and actions, mixt with Love     And sweet compliance, which declare unfeignd     Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule;     Harmonie to behold in wedded pair     More grateful then harmonious sound to the eare.     Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose     What inward thence I feel, not therefore foild,     Who meet with various objects, from the sense     Variously representing; yet still free     Approve the best, and follow what I approve.     To love thou blamst me not, for love thou saist     Leads up to Heavn, is both the way and guide;     Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask;     Love not the heavnly Spirits, and how thir Love     Express they, by looks onely, or do they mix     Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?     To whom the Angel with a smile that glowd     Celestial rosie red, Loves proper hue,     Answerd. Let it suffice thee that thou knowst     Us happie, and without Love no happiness.     Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyst     (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy     In eminence, and obstacle find none     Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs:     Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace,     Total they mix, Union of Pure with Pure     Desiring; nor restraind conveyance need     As Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul.     But I can now no more; the parting Sun     Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles     Hesperean sets, my Signal to depart.     Be strong, live happie, and love, but first of all     Him whom to love is to obey, and keep     His great command; take heed least Passion sway     Thy Judgement to do aught, which else free Will     Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons     The weal or woe in thee is plact; beware.     I in thy persevering shall rejoyce,     And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall     Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies.     Perfet within, no outward aid require;     And all temptation to transgress repel.     So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus     Followd with benediction. Since to part,     Go heavenly Guest, Ethereal Messenger,     Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.     Gentle to me and affable hath been     Thy condescension, and shall be honourd ever     With grateful Memorie: thou to mankind     Be good and friendly still, and oft return.     So parted they, the Angel up to Heavn     From the thick shade, and Adam to his Bowre.