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;
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,
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.
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