Which I enjoy, and must confefs to find
In all things else delight indeed, but fuch
As us'd or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement defire, thefe delicacies

I mean of tafte, fight, fmell, herbs, fruits, and flours,
Walks, and the melodie of birds; but here
Far otherwise, tranfported I behold,
Tranfported touch; here paffion first I felt,
Commotion strange, in all enjoyments elfe
Superiour and unmov'd, here only weake
Against the charm of beauties powerful glance.
Or nature fail'd in me, and left fome part,
Not proof enough such object to sustain,
Or from my fide fubducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at least on her bestow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward fhew
Elaborate, of inward lefs 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 refembling lefs

His image who made both, and less expreffing,
The character of that dominion giv'n
C're other creatures; yet when I approach
Her lovelinefs, fo abfolute she seems,
And in herself compleat, fo well to know
Her own, that what the wills to do or say,
Seems wifeft, virtuoufeft, difcreetest, beft;
All higher knowledge in her prefence falls
Degraded, wisdom in discourse with her
Loofes discount'nanc't, and like folly fhews;

I t:

Authoritie and reason 'on her wait,
As one intended first not after made
Occafionally; and to confummate all,
Greatnefs of mind and nobleness their feat
Build in her lovlieft, and create an awe
About her, as a guard angelic plac't.
To whom the angel with contracted brow.
Accufe not nature, fhe hath done her part;
Do thou but thine, and be not diffident
Of wisdom, the deserts thee not, if thou
Difmifs not her, when most thou needst her nigh.
By attributing overmuch to things

Lefs excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st.

For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so,
An outfide? fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,
Not thy fubjection: weigh with her thyself;
Then value: oft times nothing profits more
Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st,
The more she will acknowledge thee her head,
And to realities yield all her shows:

Made fo adorn for thy delight the more,

So awful, that with honour thou maist love
Thy mate, who fees when thou art feen leaft wife.
But if the sense of touch whereby mankind
Is propagated feem fuch dear delight
Beyond all other, think the fame voutsaf't

To cattel and each beast; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if aught
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue

The foul of man, or passion in him move.
What higher in her facietie thou findst
Attractive, human, rational, love ftill;
In loving thou dost well, in passion not,
Wherein true love confifts not; love refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his feat
In reason, and is judicious, is the scale
By which to heav'nly love thou maist ascend,
Not funk in carnal pleasure, for which caufe
Among the beafts no mate for thee was found.

To whom thus half abash't Adam repli’d.
Neither her out-fide form'd so fair, nor aught
In procreation common to all kinds
(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 unfeign'd
Union of mind, or in us both one foul;
Harmonie to behold in wedded pair

More grateful than harmonious found to the ear.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose
What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd,
Who meet with various objects, from the sense
Variously representing; yet ftill free

Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blam'ft me not, for love thou faift
Leads up to heav'n, is both the way and guide;
Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask ;

Love not the heav'nly fpirits, and how their love

Express they, by looks only, or do they mix
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

To whom the angel with a fmile that glow'd
Celestial rofie red, love's proper hue,

Anfwer'd. Let it fuffice thee that thou knowft
Us happie, and without love no happiness.
Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st
{And pure thou wert created) we enjoy
In eminence, and obftacle find none

Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclufive bars :
Eafier than air with air, if fpirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with

pure
Defiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need
As flesh to mix with flesh, or foul with foul.
But I can now no more; the parting fun
Beyond the earth's green cape and verdant isles
Hefperean fets, my fignal to depart.

Be ftrong, live happie, and love, but first of all
Hin whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed leaft paffion fway
Thy judgement to do aught, which elfe free will
Would not admit; thine and of all thy fons
The weal or woe in thee is plac't; beware.
I in thy perfevering fhall rejoice,

And all the bleft: ftand faft; to stand or fall
Free in thine own arbitriment it lies.
Perfect within, no outward aid require ;
And all temptation to tranfgrefs repel.
So faying, he arofe; whom Adam thus
Follow'd with benediction.
Go heavenly guest, ethereal messenger,

Since to part,

Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.
Gentle to me and affable hath been

Thy condefcenfion, and fhall be honour'd ever
With grateful memorie: thou to mankind
Be good and friendly ftill, and oft return.
So parted they, the angel up to heav'n
From the thick shade, and Adam to his bowre.

The End of the Eighth Book.