What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd.
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.

He ended, or I heard no more, for now
My earthly by his heav'nly over-power'd:
Which it had long stood under, strain'd to th' height
In that celestial colloquy sublime,

As with an object that excels the sense,
Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair
Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd
By nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes.
Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell
Of fancy my internal sight, by which
Abstract as in a trance methought I saw,
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shar
Still glorious before whom awake I stood;
Who stooping open'd my left side, and took
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm
And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was th
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd
The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his h
Under his forming hands a creature grew,
Manlike but different sex, so lovely fair,

und

That what seem'd fair in all the world, se n'd now
Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her conta d
And in her looks, which from that time in ‚us'd
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,
And into all things from her air inspir'd
The spirit of love and amorous delight.
She disappear'd, and left me dark; I wak'd
To find her, or for ever to deplore
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:
When out of hope, behold her, not far off,
Such as I saw her in
my dream, adorn'd
With what all earth or heavy could bestow

To make her amiable: on she came,
Led by her heav'nly Maker, tough unser,
And guided by his voice, nor uninform'
Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites

Grace was in a her steps, heav'n in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.

I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud:

This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfil'd
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,
Giver of all things fair, but fairest this
Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself
Before me; woman is her name, of man
Extracted; for this cause he shall forego
Father and mother, and to his wife adhere
And they shall be one flesh, one heart, on suui
She heard me thus, and though divinely brougħi
Yet innocence and virgin modesty,

Her virtue and the conscience of her worth,
That would be woo'd, and not unsought be wou,
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd,
The more desirable, or to say all,

Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,
Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd;
I follow'd her, she what was honour knew,
And with obsequious majesty approved
My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower
I led her blushing like the morn: all heav'n,
And happy constellations on that hour
Shed their selectest influence; the earth
Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;
Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub,
Disporting, till the amorous bird of night
Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening star
On his hill top, to light the bridal harp.

Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought

My story to the sum of earthly bliss
Which I enjoy, and must confess to find
In all things else delight indeed, but such
As us'd or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement desire, these delicacies.

I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flow'rs
Walks, and the melody of birds; but here
Far otherwise, transported I behold.
Transported touch; here passion first I felt,
Commotion strange, in all enjoyment else
Superior and unmov'd, here only weak
Against the charm of beauty's pow'rful glance
Or nature fail'd in me, and left some part
Not proof enough such object to sustain,
Or from my side subducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at least on her bestow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward show
Elaborate, of inward less exact.

For well I understand in the prime end
Of nature her th' inferior, in the mind
And inward faculties, which most excel,
In outward also her resembling less

His image who made both, and less expressing
The character of that dominion given
O'er other creatures; yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so absolute* she seems
And in herself complete, so well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say,
Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded, wisdom in discourse with her
Loses discount'nanc'd, and like folly shows,
Authority and reason on her wait,

As one intended first, not after made
Occasionally; and to consummate all,
Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
About her as a guard angelic plac'd.

To whom the angel with contracted brow:
Accuse not nature, she hath done her part;
Do thou but thine, and be not diffident
Of wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou

"So absolute :" finished.

Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh,
By attributing overmuch to things

Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st.
For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so,
An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy ove,
Not thy subjection; weigh with her thyself,
Then value oft-times nothing profits more
Than 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 so adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honour thou mayst 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 vouchsaf'd
To cattle, and each beast; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if ought
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue
The soul of man, or passion in him move.
What higher in her society thou find'st
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
reason, and is judicious, is the scale

By which to heav'nly love thou inay'st ascend
Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause
Among the beasts no mate for thee was found

To whom thus half abash'd Adam, reply'd · Neither her outside 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 al! her words and actions, mix'd with love

And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign di Union of mind, or in us both one soul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair

More grateful than harmonious sound to th' 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 still free

Approve the best, and follow what !

approve. To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou say'st 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 spirits, and how their love Express they? by looks only, or do they mix Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

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

Answer'd: Let it suffice thee that thou know'st
Us happy, and without love no happiness.
Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st
(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy
In eminence, and obstacle ǹnd none,
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars;
Easier than air with air, if spirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with pure
Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need
As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.
But I can now no more; the parting sun
Beyond the earth's green Cape and verdant isles
Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.

Be strong, live happy, and love, but first of all
Him whom to love is to obey, and keep

His great command; take heed lest passion sway
Thy judgment to do aught which else free will
Would not admit; thine and of all thy sons
The weal or wo in thee is plac'd; beware.
I in thy persevering shall rejoice,

And all the blest: stand fast; to stand or fall
Free in thine own arbitrement it lies