Surpassest far my naming; how may I
Adore thee, Author of this universe,
And all this good to man? for whose well being So amply, and with hands so liberal, Thou hast provided all things: but with me I see not who partakes. In solitude What happiness, who can enjoy alone, Or, all enjoying, what contentment find?' Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, As with a smile more brighten'd, thus replied; 'What call'st thou solitude? Is not the earth With various living creatures, and the air Replenish'd, and all these at thy command To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not Their language and their ways? They also know And reason not contemptibly: with these Find pastime, and bear rule: thy realm is large.' So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd So ordering: I, with leave of speech implored, And humble deprecation, thus replied:
Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power! My Maker! be propitious while I speak. Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, And these inferior far beneath me set? Among unequals what society
Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? Which must be mutual, in proportion due Given and received; but, in disparity The one intense, the other still remiss, Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove Tedious alike. Of fellowship I speak Such as I seek, fit to participate
All rational delight: wherein the brute Cannot be human consort. They rejoice
Each with their kind, lion with lioness; So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined: Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl So well converse, nor with the ox the ape: Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. "Whereto the' Almighty answer'd, not dis- ́ A nice and subtle happiness, I see, Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. What think'st thou then of me, and this my state? Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd
Of happiness, or not? who am alone From all eternity; for none I know Second to me or like, equal much less.
How have I then with whom to hold converse, Save with the creatures which I made, and those To me inferior, infinite descents
Beneath what other creatures are to thee?'
"He ceased; I lowly answer'd.
To attain The highth and depth of thy eternal ways All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Is no deficience found: not so is man, But in degree: the cause of his desire By conversation with his like to help Or solace his defects. No need that thou Shouldst propagate, already infinite;
And through all numbers absolute, though One: But man by number is to manifest His single imperfection, and beget Like of his like, his image multiplied, In unity defective; which requires Collateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy secrecy although alone,
Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication; yet, so pleased,
Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt Of union or communion deified:
I, by conversing, cannot these erect
From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.' Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom used Permissive, and acceptance found; which gain'd This answer from the gracious Voice Divine:
Thus far to try thee, Adam! I was pleased; And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone, Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself; Expressing well the spirit within thee free, My image, not imparted to the brute; Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee Good reason was thou freely should'st dislike; And be so minded still. I, ere thou spakest, Knew it not good for man to be alone; And no such company as then thou saw'st Intended thee; for trial only brought,
To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet. What next I bring shall please thee, be assured, 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 heavenly overpower'd, Which it had long stood under, strain'd to the highth 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 closed mine eyes. Mine eyes he closed, 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 shape 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 the wound,
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd. The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands: Under his forming hands a creature grew, Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd now Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd And in her looks; which from that time infused Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before; And into all things from her air inspired The spirit of love and amorous delight. She disappear'd, and left me dark: I waked 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 heaven could bestow To make her amiable. On she came, Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, And guided by his voice; nor uninform'd Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites. Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love.
I, overjoy'd, could not forbear aloud:
"This turn hath made amends: Thou hast fulfill'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, one soul.' "She heard me thus; and though divinely Yet innocence, and virgin modesty,
[brought, Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth,
That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired,
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 honor knew, And with obsequious majesty approved My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn. All heaven, 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 odors 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 lamp. 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, used or not, works in the mind no change, Nor vehement desire; these delicacies
I mean of taste,sight, smell,herbs, fruits,and flowers,
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