Which I enjoy, and muft confefs to find
In all things elfe delight indeed, but fuch

As us'd or not, works in the mind no change,525
Nor vehement defire, thefe delicacies

I mean of tafte, fight, fmell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,
Walks, and the melody of birds; but here.
Far otherwise, tranfported I behold,
Transported touch; here paffion first I felt,

der to conduct the bride home to
the bridegroom.

Vefper adeft, juvenes confurgite &c.
Catul.

On his bill top, fays our author
writing in the language as well as in
the fpirit of the Ancients: for when
this ftar appear'd eastward in the
morning, it was faid to rife on
mount Ida.

Jamque jugis fummæ furgebat Lu-
cifer Idæ,
Ducebatque diem.

Virg. Æn. II. 801.

when it appear'd weftward in the evening, it was faid to be seen on mount Oeta. Virg. Ecl. VIII. 30. Sparge marite nuces, tibi deferit Hefperus Oetam.

Our author therefore writes in claffical language. He does not mention any mountain by name, but fays only the evening ftar on bis hill top, as appearing above the hills. And fo Spenfer fays of the fun, Fairy Queen, B. 1. Cant. 2. St. 1.

530 Com

Phoebus' fiery car

In hafte was climbing up the eaftern
bill.

And Shakespear, Romeo and Juliet,
A& II.

Now is the fun upon the highmoft
bill

Of this day's journey. And this ceremony of the Ancients of lighting their bridal lamps and torches at evening is alluded to more plainly in Book XI. 588.

And now of love they treat, till th evening ftar,

Love's harbinger, appear'd; then all in heat

They light the nuptial torch, and

bid invoke

Hymen, then firft to marriage rites

invok'd.

Commotion ftrange, in all enjoyments elfe
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 fuch object to sustain,
Or from my fide fubducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at leaft on her bestow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward fhow
Elaborate, of inward less exact.

535

For well I understand in the prime end

540

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 lefs expreffing
The character of that dominion given
O'er other creatures; yet when I approach

545

Her

537-
Too much of ornament, in outward

at leaft on her beftow'd In choice, but ofteft to affect the

Вочи

Elaborate, of inward less exact.] The poet has inlarg'd upon the fame fentiment in his Samfon Agonistes. Is it for that fuch outward ornament Was lavish'd on their fex, that in

ward gifts Were left for hafte unfinish'd, judgment scant, Capacity not rais'd to apprehend, Or value what is best

wrong? 543.

refembling less

His image &c.] Milton here feems to adopt the opinion, that the image of God in man was the dominion given to him over the creatures, contrary to the fenfe he follows at ver. 440. but this is not the only inftance, where in different places he goes upon different hypothefes, as may belt fuit with his fubject. See his different conftruation of the fons of God

Her lovelinefs, fo abfolute fhe feems
And in herself complete, fo well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or fay,
Seems wifeft, virtuoufeft, difcreetest, beft;
All higher knowledge in her prefence falls
Degraded, wisdom in difcourfe with her
Lofes discount'nanc'd, and like folly fhows;
Authority and reafon on her wait,

550

As one intended firft, not after made
Occafionally; and to confummate all,

555

Greatnefs of mind and nobleness their feat

Build in her lovelieft, and create an awe
About her, as a guard angelic plac❜d.

To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 560
Accuse not nature, fhe hath done her part;
Do thou but thine, and be not diffident

Of wisdom, fhe deferts thee not, if thou

Difmifs not her, when most thou need'st her nigh, By attribúting overmuch to things

Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st.

565

570

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

Made fo adorn for thy delight the more,

575

So

fuch participles as made adorn'd would have founded very odly together; and therefore he has coin'd an adjective adorn, as the Italians have adorno for adornato. And in like manner he uses fledge for fledg'd, III. 627. VII. 420. And devote for devoted, IX. 901. And there are other inftances of his changing the participle into an adjective.

579. But if the fenfe of touch &c.]

576. Made fo adorn &c.] Thefe Answering to what Adam had faid

verfes contain a beautiful and inftructive account of the end for which God bestowed on Eve fo much of ornament and awfulness. But two

before,

tranfported I behold,

Tranfported touch.

589.- love

So awful, that with honor thou may'st love

580

Thy mate, who fees when thou art seen least wise.
But if the sense of touch whereby mankind
Is propagated feem fuch dear delight
Beyond all other, think the fame vouchfaf'd
To cattel and each beast; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if ought
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue

585

The foul of man, or paffion in him move.
What high'er in her fociety thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love ftill;
In loving thou doft well, in paffion not,
Wherein true love confifts not; love refines
The thoughts, and heart inlarges, hath his feat 590