As us'd or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement defire, thefe delicacies
Ì mean of taste, fight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Walks, and the melody of birds; but here
Far otherwise, transported I behold,
Transported touch; here paffion first I felt,
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 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 show
Elaborate, of inward lefs 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 refembling less
His image who made both, and less expreffing
The character of that dominion given
O'er other creatures; yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so abfolute fhe feems
And in herself complete, so well to know
Her own,
that what she wills to do or fay,
Seems wifeft, virtuoufeft, difcreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her prefence falls
Degraded, wifdom in difcourfe with her
Lofes difcountenanc'd, and like folly shows;
Authority and reafon on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made
Occasionally; and to confummate all,
Greatness 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.
Accufe 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'ft her nigh,
By attributing over much to things
Lefs excellent, as thou thyfelf perceiv'ft.
For what admir'st thou, what transports 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 juft 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 fhows :
Made fo adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honor thou may'st love
Thy mate, who fees when thou art feen leaft wife.
But if the fenfe of touch whereby mankind
Is propagated feem fuch dear delight
Beyond all other, think the fame vouchfaf'd
To cattel and each beaft; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if ought
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to fubdue
The foul of man, or paffion in him move.
What high'er in her fociety thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love still;
In loving thou dost well, in paffion not,
Wherein true love confifts not; love refines
The thoughts, and heart inlarges, hath his seat
In rea'fon, and is judicious, is the scale
By which to heav'nly love thou may'st ascend,
Not funk in carnal pleasure, for which cause
Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.
To whom thus half abafh'd Adam reply'd.
Neither her outfide form'd fo fair, nor ought
In procreation common to all kinds
(Though higher of the genial bed by far,
And with myfterious reverence I deem)
So much delights me, as those graceful acts,
Those thousand decencies that daily flow
From all her words and actions mix'd with love
And fweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd
Union of mind, or in us both one foul;
Harmony to behold in wedded pair
More grateful than harmonious found to th' ear.
Yet these fubject 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 fay'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 Spi'rits, and how their love 615
Exprefs they, by looks only', or do they mix
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?
To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd
Celestial rofy red, love's proper hue,
Anfwer'd. Let it fuffice 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 find none
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars;
Eafier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with
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 Iles
Hefperian fets, my fignal 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 left paffion sway
Thy judgment to do ought, which else free will
Would not admit; thine and of all thy fons
The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware.
I in thy perfevering fhall rejoice,
And all the Bleft: ftand faft; to stand or fall
Free in thine own arbitrement 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. Since to part,
Go heav'nly Gueft, ethereal Meffenger,
Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.
Gentle to me and affable hath been
Thy condefcenfion, and fhall be' honor'd ever
With grateful memory: thou to mankind
Be good and friendly ftill, and oft return.
So parted they, the Angel up to Heaven From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower.
THE END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.
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