Book VII

Decend from Heav’n Urania, by that name If rightly thou art call’d, whoe Voice divine Following, above th’ Olympian Hill I oare, Above the flight of Pegasean wing. The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou Nor of the Mues nine, nor on the top Of old Olympus dwell’t, but Heav’nlie borne, Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow’d, Thou with Eternal widom didt convere, 10Widom thy Siter, and with her didt play In preence of th’ Almightie Father, plea’d With thy Celetial Song. Up led by thee Into the Heav’n of Heav’ns I have preum’d, An Earthlie Guet, and drawn Empyreal Aire, Thy tempring; with like afetie guided down Return me to my Native Element: Leat from this flying Steed unrein’d, (as once Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime) Dimounted, on th’ Aleian Field I fall 20Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne. Half yet remaines unung, but narrower bound Within the viible Diurnal Spheare; Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole, More afe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang’d To hoarce or mute, though fall’n on evil dayes, On evil dayes though fall’n, and evil tongues; In darknes, and with dangers compat rouud, And olitude; yet not alone, while thou Viit’t my lumbers Nightly, or when Morn 30Purples the Eat: till govern thou my Song, Urania, and fit audience find, though few. But drive farr off the barbarous dionance Of Bacchus and his Revellers, the Race Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard In Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had Eares To rapture, till the avage clamor dround Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Mue defend Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implore: For thou art Heav’nlie, hee an empty dreame. 40 Say Goddes, what enu’d when Raphael, The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn’d Adam by dire example to beware Apotaie, by what befell in Heaven To thoe Apotates, leat the like befall In Paradie to Adam or his Race, Charg’d not to touch the interdicted Tree, If they trangres, and light that ole command, So eaily obeyd amid the choice Of all tats ele to pleae thir appetite, 50Though wandring. He with his conorted Eve The torie heard attentive, and was fill’d With admiration, and deep Mue to heare Of things o high and trange, things to thir thought So unimaginable as hate in Heav’n, And Warr o neer the Peace of God in blis With uch confuion: but the evil oon Driv’n back redounded as a flood on thoe From whom it prung, impoible to mix With Bleednes. Whence Adam oon repeal’d 60The doubts that in his heart aroe: and now Led on, yet inles, with deire to know What neerer might concern him, how this World Of Heav’n and Earth conpicuous firt began, When, and whereof created, for what caue, What within Eden or without was done Before his memorie, as one whoe drouth Yet carce allay’d till eyes the current treame, Whoe liquid murmur heard new thirt excites, Proceeded thus to ak his Heav’nly Guet. 70 Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, Farr differing from this World, thou hat reveal’d Divine Interpreter, by favour ent Down from the Empyrean to forewarne Us timely of what might ele have bin our los, Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach: For which to the infinitly Good we owe Immortal thanks, and his admonihment Receave with olemne purpoe to oberve Immutably his ovran will, the end 80Of what we are. But ince thou hat voutaf’t Gently for our intruction to impart Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd Our knowing, as to highet widom eemd, Deign to decend now lower, and relate What may no les perhaps availe us known, How firt began this Heav’n which we behold Ditant o high, with moving Fires adornd Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills All pace, the ambient Aire wide interfu’d 90Imbracing round this florid Earth, what caue Mov’d the Creator in his holy Ret Through all Eternitie o late to build In Chaos, and the work begun, how oon Abolv’d, if unforbid thou mait unfould What wee, not to explore the ecrets ake Of his Eternal Empire, but the more To magnifie his works, the more we know. And the great Light of Day yet wants to run Much of his Race though teep, upens in Heav’n 100Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares, And longer will delay to heare thee tell His Generation, and the riing Birth Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon Hate to thy audience, Night with her will bring Silence, and Sleep litning to thee will watch, Or we can bid his abence, till thy Song End, and dimis thee ere the Morning hine. Thus Adam his illutrous Guet beought: 110 And thus the Godlike Angel anwerd milde. This alo thy requet with caution akt Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works What words or tongue of Seraph can uffice, Or heart of man uffice to comprehend? Yet what thou cant attain, which bet may erve To glorifie the Maker, and inferr Thee alo happier, hall not be withheld Thy hearing, uch Commiion from above I have receav’d, to anwer thy deire 120Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abtain To ak, nor let thine own inventions hope Things not reveal’d, which th’ inviible King, Onely Omnicient, hath uppret in Night, To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: Anough is left beides to earch and know. But Knowledge is as food, and needs no les Her Temperance over Appetite, to know In meaure what the mind may well contain, Opprees ele with Surfet, and oon turns 130Widom to Folly, as Nourihment to Winde. Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav’n (So call him, brighter once amidt the Hot Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among) Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep Into his place, and the great Son returnd Victorious with his Saints, th’ Omnipotent Eternal Father from his Throne beheld Thir multitude, and to his Son thus pake. At leat our envious Foe hath fail’d, who thought 140All like himelf rebellious, by whoe aid This inacceible high trength, the eat Of Deitie upream, us dipoet, He truted to have ei’d, and into fraud Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more; Yet farr the greater part have kept, I ee, Thir tation, Heav’n yet populous retaines Number ufficient to poes her Realmes Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent With Miniteries due and olemn Rite: 150But leat his heart exalt him in the harme Already done, to have dipeopl’d Heav’n, My damage fondly deem’d, I can repaire That detriment, if uch it be to loe Self-lot, and in a moment will create Another World, out of one man a Race Of men innumerable, there to dwell, Not here, till by degrees of merit rai’d They open to themelves at length the way Up hither, under long obedience tri’d, 160And Earth be chang’d to Heavn, & Heav’n to Earth, One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end. Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav’n, And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee This I perform, peak thou, and be it don: My overhadowing Spirit and might with thee I end along, ride forth, and bid the Deep Within appointed bounds be Heav’n and Earth, Boundles the Deep, becaue I am who fill Infinitude, nor vacuous the pace. 170Though I uncircumcrib’d my elf retire, And put not forth my goodnes, which is free To act or not, Neceitie and Chance Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate. So pake th’ Almightie, and to what he pake His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. Immediate are the Acts of God, more wift Then time or motion, but to human ears Cannot without proces of peech be told, So told as earthly notion can receave. 180Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav’n When uch was heard declar’d the Almightie’s will; Glorie they ung to the mot High, good will To future men, and in thir dwellings peace: Glorie to him whoe jut avenging ire Had driven out th’ ungodly from his ight And th’ habitations of the jut; to him Glorie and praie, whoe widom had ordain’d Good out of evil to create, in tead Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring 190Into thir vacant room, and thence diffue His good to Worlds and Ages infinite. So ang the Hierarchie: Mean while the Son On his great Expedition now appeer’d, Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown’d Of Majetie Divine, Sapience and Love Immene, and all his Father in him hon. About his Chariot numberles were pour’d Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones, And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing’d, 200From the Armoury of God, where tand of old Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg’d Againt a olemn day, harnet at hand, Celetial Equipage; and now came forth Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd, Attendant on thir Lord: Heav’n op’nd wide Her ever during Gates, Harmonious ound On golden Hinges moving, to let forth The King of Glorie in his powerful Word And Spirit coming to create new Worlds. 210On heav’nly ground they tood, and from the hore They view’d the vat immeaurable Abys Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wateful, wilde, Up from the bottom turn’d by furious windes And urging waves, as Mountains to aault Heav’ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole. Silence, ye troubl’d waves, and thou Deep, peace, Said then th’ Omnific Word, your dicord end: Nor taid, but on the Wings of Cherubim Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode 220Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn; For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine Follow’d in bright proceion to behold Creation, and the wonders of his might. Then taid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand He took the golden Compaes, prepar’d In Gods Eternal tore, to circumcribe This Univere, and all created thing: One foot he center’d, and the other turn’d Round through the vat profunditie obcure, 230And aid, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds, This be thy jut Circumference, O World. Thus God the Heav’n created, thus the Earth, Matter unform’d and void: Darknes profound Cover’d th’ Aby: but on the watrie calme His brooding wings the Spirit of God outpred, And vital vertue infu’d, and vital warmth Throughout the fluid Mas, but downward purg’d The black tartareous cold infernal dregs Advere to life: then founded, then conglob’d 240Like things to like, the ret to everal place Diparted, and between pun out the Air, And Earth elf-ballanc’t on her Center hung. Let ther be Light, aid God, and forthwith Light Ethereal, firt of things, quinteence pure Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native Eat To journie through the airie gloom began, Sphear’d in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun Was not; hee in a cloudie Tabernacle Sojourn’d the while. God aw the Light was good; 250And light from darknes by the Hemiphere Divided: Light the Day, and Darknes Night He nam’d. Thus was the firt Day Eev’n and Morn: Nor pat uncelebrated, nor unung By the Celetial Quires, when Orient Light Exhaling firt from Darknes they beheld; Birth-day of Heav’n and Earth; with joy and hout The hollow Univeral Orb they fill’d, And touch’t thir Golden Harps, & hymning prai’d God and his works, Creatour him they ung, 260Both when firt Eevning was, and when firt Morn. Again, God aid, let ther be Firmament Amid the Waters, and let it divide The Waters from the Water: and God made The Firmament, expane of liquid, pure, Tranparent, Elemental Air, diffu’d In circuit to the uttermot convex Of this great Round: partition firm and ure, The Waters underneath from thoe above Dividing: for as Earth, o hee the World 270Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide Crytallin Ocean, and the loud mirule Of Chaos farr remov’d, leat fierce extreames Contiguous might ditemper the whole frame: And Heav’n he nam’d the Firmament: So Eev’n And Morning Chorus ung the econd Day. The Earth was form’d, but in the Womb as yet Of Waters, Embryon immature involv’d, Appeer’d not: over all the face of Earth Main Ocean flow’d, not idle, but with warme 280Prolific humour oft’ning all her Globe, Fermented the great Mother to conceave, Satiate with genial moiture, when God aid Be gather’d now ye Waters under Heav’n Into one place, and let dry Land appeer. Immediately the Mountains huge appeer Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave Into the Clouds, thir tops acend the Skie: So high as heav’d the tumid Hills, o low Down unk a hollow bottom broad and deep, 290Capacious bed of Water: thither they Hated with glad precipitance, uprowld As drops on dut conglobing from the drie; Part rie in crytal Wall, or ridge direct, For hate; uch flight the great command impre’d On the wift floud: as Armies at the call Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hat heard) Troop to thir Standard, o the watrie throng, Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found, If teep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine, 300Soft-ebbing; nor withtood them Rock or Hill, But they, or under ground, or circuit wide With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way, And on the wahie Ooe deep Channels wore; Eaie, e’re God had bid the ground be drie, All but within thoe banks, where Rivers now Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine. The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle Of congregated Waters he call’d Sea: And aw that it was good, and aid, Let th’ Earth 310Put forth the verdant Gras, Herb yeilding Seed, And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind; Whoe Seed is in her elf upon the Earth. He carce had aid, when the bare Earth, till then Deert and bare, unightly, unadorn’d, Brought forth the tender Gras, whoe verdure clad Her Univeral Face with pleaant green, Then Herbs of every leaf, that udden flour’d Op’ning thir various colours, and made gay Her boom melling weet: and thee carce blown, 320Forth flourih’t thick the clutring Vine, forth crept The melling Gourd, up tood the cornie Reed Embattell’d in her field: add the humble Shrub, And Buh with frizl’d hair implicit: lat Roe as in Dance the tately Trees, and pred Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm’d Thir Bloom: with high Woods the Hills were crownd, With tufts the vallies & each fountain ide, With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now Seemd like to Heav’n, a eat where Gods might dwell, 330Or wander with delight, and love to haunt Her acred hade: though God had yet not rain’d Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mit Went up and waterd all the ground, and each Plant of the field, which e’re it was in the Earth God made, and every Herb, before it grew On the green temm; God aw that it was good: So Eev’n and Morn recorded the Third Day. Again th’ Almightie pake: Let there be Lights 340High in th’ expane of Heaven to divide The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes, For Seaons, and for Dayes, and circling Years, And let them be for Lights as I ordaine Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav’n To give Light on the Earth; and it was o. And God made two great Lights, great for thir ue To Man, the greater to have rule by Day, The les by Night alterne: and made the Starrs, And et them in the Firmament of Heav’n 350To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day In thir viciitude, and rule the Night, And Light from Darknes to divide. God aw, Surveying his great Work, that it was good: For of Celetial Bodies firt the Sun A mightie Spheare he fram’d, unlightom firt, Though of Ethereal Mould: then form’d the Moon Globoe, and everie magnitude of Starrs, And owd with Starrs the Heav’n thick as a field: Of Light by farr the greater part he took, 360Tranplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac’d In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine Her gather’d beams, great Palace now of Light. Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs Repairing, in thir gold’n Urns draw Light, And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns; By tincture or reflection they augment Thir mall peculiar, though from human ight So farr remote, with diminution een. 370Firt in his Eat the glorious Lamp was een, Regent of Day, and all th’ Horizon round Inveted with bright Rayes, jocond to run His Longitude through Heav’ns high rode: the gray Dawn, and the Pleiades before him danc’d Shedding weet influence: les bright the Moon, But oppoite in leveld Wet was et His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light From him, for other light he needed none In that apect, and till that ditance keepes 380Till night, then in the Eat her turn he hines, Revolvd on Heav’ns great Axle, and her Reign With thouand leer Lights dividual holds, With thouand thouand Starres, that then appeer’d Spangling the Hemiphere: then firt adornd With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Roe, Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day. And God aid, let the Waters generate Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule: And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings 390Diplayd on the op’n Firmament of Heav’n. And God created the great Whales, and each Soul living, each that crept, which plenteouly The waters generated by thir kindes, And every Bird of wing after his kinde; And aw that it was good, and ble’d them, aying, Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill; And let the Fowle be multiply’d on the Earth. Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay 400With Frie innumerable warme, and Shoales Of Fih that with thir Finns and hining Scales Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft Bank the mid Sea: part ingle or with mate Graze the Sea weed thir pature, & through Groves Of Coral tray, or porting with quick glance Show to the Sun thir wav’d coats dropt with Gold, Or in thir Pearlie hells at eae, attend Moit nutriment, or under Rocks thir food In jointed Armour watch: on mooth the Seale, 410And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate Tempet the Ocean: there Leviathan Huget of living Creatures, on the Deep Stretcht like a Promontorie leeps or wimmes, And eems a moving Land, and at his Gilles Draws in, and at his Trunck pouts out a Sea. Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and hoares Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that oon Burting with kindly rupture forth diclo’d 420Thir callow young, but featherd oon and fledge They umm’d thir Penns, and oaring th’ air ublime With clang depi’d the ground, under a cloud In propect; there the Eagle and the Stork On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build: Part looly wing the Region, part more wie In common, rang’d in figure wedge thir way, Intelligent of eaons, and et forth Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea’s Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing 430Eaing thir flight; o tears the prudent Crane Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire Floats, as they pas, fann’d with unnumber’d plume: From Branch to Branch the maller Birds with ong Solac’d the Woods, and pred thir painted wings Till Ev’n, nor then the olemn Nightingal Cea’d warbling, but all night tun’d her oft laye: Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath’d Thir downie Bret; the Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes 440Her tate with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit The Dank, and riing on tiff Pennons, towre The mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground Walk’d firm; the creted Cock whoe clarion ounds The ilent hours, and th’ other whoe gay Traine Adorns him, colour’d with the Florid hue Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus With Fih repleniht, and the Aire with Fowle, Ev’ning and Morn olemniz’d the Fift day. The Sixt, and of Creation lat aroe 450With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God aid, Let th’ Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde, Cattel and Creeping things, and Beat of the Earth, Each in their kinde. The Earth obey’d, and trait Op’ning her fertil Woomb teem’d at a Birth Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes, Limb’d and full grown: out of the ground up-roe As from his Laire the wilde Beat where he wonns In Forret wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den; Among the Trees in Pairs they roe, they walk’d: 460The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green: Thoe rare and olitarie, thee in flocks Paturing at once, and in broad Herds upprung: The graie Clods now Calv’d, now half appeer’d The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free His hinder parts, then prings as broke from Bonds, And Rampant hakes his Brinded main; the Ounce, The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale Riing, the crumbl’d Earth above them threw In Hillocks; the wift Stag from under ground 470Bore up his branching head: care from his mould Behemoth bigget born of Earth upheav’d His vatne: Fleec’t the Flocks and bleating roe, As Plant: ambiguous between Sea and Land The River Hore and calie Crocodile. At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, Inect or Worme; thoe wav’d thir limber fans For wings, and mallet Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride With pots of Gold and Purple, azure and green: 480Thee as a line thir long dimenion drew, Streaking the ground with inuous trace; not all Minims of Nature; ome of Serpent kinde Wondrous in length and corpulence involv’d Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. Firt crept The Parimonious Emmet, provident Of future, in mall room large heart enclo’d, Pattern of jut equalitie perhaps Hereafter, join’d in her popular Tribes Of Commonaltie: warming next appeer’d 490The Femal Bee that feeds her Huband Drone Deliciouly, and builds her waxen Cells With Honey tor’d: the ret are numberles, And thou thir Natures know’t, and gav’t them Names, Needlet to thee repeaed; nor unknown The Serpent uttl’t Beat of all the field, Of huge extent omtimes, with brazen Eyes And hairie Main terrific, though to thee Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. Now Heav’n in all her Glorie hon, and rowld 500Her motions, as the great firt-Movers hand Firt wheeld thir coure; Earth in her rich attire Conummate lovly mil’d; Aire, Water, Earth, By Fowl, Fih, Beat, was flown, was wum, was walkt Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain’d; There wanted yet the Mater work, the end Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone And Brute as other Creatures, but endu’d With Sanctitie of Reaon, might erect His Stature, and upright with Front erene 510Govern the ret, elf-knowing, and from thence Magnanimous to correpond with Heav’n, But grateful to acknowledge whence his good Decends, thither with heart and voice and eyes Directed in Devotion, to adore And worhip God Supream, who made him chief Of all his work: therefore the Omnipotent Eternal Father (For where is not hee Preent) thus to his Son audibly pake. Let us make now Man in our image, Man 520In our imilitude, and let them rule Over the Fih and Fowle of Sea and Aire, Beat of the Field, and over all the Earth, And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. This aid, he formd thee, Adam, thee O Man Dut of the ground, and in thy notrils breath’d The breath of Life; in his own Image hee Created thee, in the Image of God Expres, and thou becam’t a living Soul. Male he created thee, but thy conort 530Femal for Race; then ble’d Mankinde, and aid, Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth, Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold Over Fih of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire, And every living thing that moves on the Earth. Wherever thus created, for no place Is yet ditinct by name, thence, as thou know’t He brought thee into this delicious Grove, This Garden, planted with the Trees of God, Delectable both to behold and tate; 540And freely all thir pleaant fruit for food Gave thee, all orts are here that all th’ Earth yeelds, Varietie without end; but of the Tree Which tated works knowledge of Good and Evil, Thou mai’t not; in the day thou eat’t, thou di’t; Death is the penaltie impo’d, beware, And govern well thy appetite, leat in Surprie thee, and her black attendant Death. Here finih’d hee, and all that he had made View’d, and behold all was entirely good; 550So Ev’n and Morn accomplih’d the Sixt day: Yet not till the Creator from his work Deiting, though unwearied, up returnd Up to the Heav’n of Heav’ns his high abode, Thence to behold this new created World Th’ addition of his Empire, how it hew’d In propect from his Throne, how good, how faire, Anwering his great Idea. Up he rode Followd with acclamation and the ound Symphonious of ten thouand Harpes that tun’d 560Angelic harmonie: the Earth, the Aire Reounded, (thou remember’t, for thou heardt) The Heav’ns and all the Contellations rung, The Planets in thir tations lit’ning tood, While the bright Pomp acended jubilant. Open, ye everlating Gates, they ung, Open, ye Heav’ns, your living dores; let in The great Creator from his work returnd Magnificent, his Six days work, a World; Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne 570To viit oft the dwellings of jut Men Delighted, and with frequent intercoure Thither will end his winged Meengers On errands of upernal Grace. So ung The glorious Train acending: He through Heav’n, That open’d wide her blazing Portals, led To Gods Eternal houe direct the way, A broad and ample rode, whoe dut is Gold And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer, Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way 580Which nightly as a circling Zone thou eet Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seaventh Eev’ning aroe in Eden, for the Sun Was et, and twilight from the Eat came on, Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount Of Heav’ns high-eated top, th’ Impereal Throne Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and ure, The Filial Power arriv’d, and ate him down With his great Father (for he alo went Inviible, yet taid (uch priviledge 590Hath Omnipreence) and the work ordain’d, Author and end of all things, and from work Now reting, ble’d and hallowd the Seav’nth day, As reting on that day from all his work, But not in ilence holy kept; the Harp Had work and reted not, the olemn Pipe, And Dulcimer, all Organs of weet top, All ounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire Temper’d oft Tunings, intermixt with Voice Choral or Union: of incene Clouds 600Fuming from Golden Ceners hid the Mount. Creation and the Six dayes acts they ung, Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite Thy power; what thought can meaure thee or tongue Relate thee; greater now in thy return Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day Thy Thunders magnifi’d; but to create Is greater then created to detroy. Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound Thy Empire? eaily the proud attempt 610Of Spirits apotat and thir Counels vaine Thou hat repeld, while impiouly they thought Thee to diminih, and from thee withdraw The number of thy worhippers. Who eekes To leen thee, againt his purpoe erves To manifet the more thy might: his evil Thou uet, and from thence creat’t more good. Witnes this new-made World, another Heav’n From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view On the cleer Hyaline, the Glaie Sea; 620Of amplitude almot immene, with Starr’s Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World Of detind habitation; but thou know’t Thir eaon: among thee the eat of men, Earth with her nether Ocean circumfu’d, Thir pleaant dwelling place. Thrice happie men, And ons of men, whom God hath thus advanc’t, Created in his Image, there to dwell And worhip him, and in reward to rule Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air, 630And multiply a Race of Worhippers Holy and jut: thrice happie if they know Thir happines, and perevere upright. So ung they, and the Empyrean rung, With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept. And thy requet think now fulfill’d, that ak’d How firt this World and face of things began, And what before thy memorie was don From the beginning, that poteritie Informd by thee might know; if ele thou eekt 640Aught, not urpaing human meaure, ay. To whom thus Adam gratefully repli’d. What thanks ufficient, or what recompence Equal have I to render thee, Divine Hytorian, who thus largely hat allayd The thirt I had of knowledge, and voutaf’t This friendly condecention to relate Things ele by me unearchable, now heard VVith wonder, but delight, and, as is due, With glorie attributed to the high 650Creator; ome thing yet of doubt remaines, Which onely thy olution can reolve. VVhen I behold this goodly Frame, this VVorld Of Heav’n and Earth coniting, and compute, Thir magnitudes, this Earth a pot, a graine, An Atom, with the Firmament compar’d And all her numberd Starrs, that eem to rowle Spaces incomprehenible (for uch Thir ditance argues and thir wift return Diurnal) meerly to officiate light 660Round this opacous Earth, this punctual pot, One day and night; in all thir vat urvey Ueles beides, reaoning I oft admire, How Nature wie and frugal could commit Such diproportions, with uperfluous hand So many nobler Bodies to create, Greater o manifold to this one ue, For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs impoe Such retles revolution day by day Repeated, while the edentarie Earth, 670That better might with farr les compas move, Serv’d by more noble then her elf, attaines Her end without leat motion, and receaves, As Tribute uch a umles journey brought Of incorporeal peed, her warmth and light; Speed, to decribe whoe wiftnes Number failes. So pake our Sire, and by his count’nance eemd Entring on tudious thoughts abtrue, which Eve Perceaving where he at retir’d in ight, With lowlines Majetic from her eat, 680And Grace that won who aw to wih her tay, Roe, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours, To viit how they proper’d, bud and bloom, Her Nurerie; they at her coming prung And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew. Yet went he not, as not with uch dicoure Delighted, or not capable her eare Of what was high: uch pleaure he reerv’d, Adam relating, he ole Auditres; Her Huband the Relater he preferr’d 690Before the Angel, and of him to ak Choe rather; hee, he knew would intermix Grateful digreions, and olve high dipute With conjugal Carees, from his Lip Not Words alone plea’d her. O when meet now Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn’d? With Goddes-like demeanour forth he went; Not unattended, for on her as Queen A pomp of winning Graces waited till, And from about her hot Darts of deire 700Into all Eyes to wih her till in ight. And Raphael now to Adam’s doubt propo’d Benevolent and facil thus repli’d. To ak or earch I blame thee not, for Heav’n Is as the Book of God before thee et, Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learne His Seaons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeare: This to attain, whether Heav’n move or Earth, Imports not, if thou reck’n right, the ret From Man or Angel the great Architect 710Did wiely to conceal, and not divulge His ecrets to be cann’d by them who ought Rather admire; or if they lit to try Conjecture, he his Fabric of the Heav’ns Hath left to thir diputes, perhaps to move His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide Hereafter, when they come to model Heav’n And calculate the Starrs, how they will weild The mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contrive To ave appeerances, how gird the Sphear 720With Centric and Eccentric cribl’d o’re, Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb: Alreadie by thy reaoning this I gues, Who art to lead thy ofpring, and uppoet That Bodies bright and greater hould not erve The les not bright, nor Heav’n uch journies run, Earth itting till, when he alone receaves The benefit: conider firt, that Great Or Bright inferrs not Excellence: the Earth Though, in comparion of Heav’n, o mall, 730Nor glitering, may of olid good containe More plenty then the Sun that barren hines, Whoe vertue on it elf workes no effect, But in the fruitful Earth; there firt receavd His beams, unactive ele, thir vigor find. Yet not to Earth are thoe bright Luminaries Officious, but to thee Earths habitant. And for the Heav’ns wide Circuit, let it peak The Makers high magnificence, who built So pacious, and his Line tretcht out o farr; 740That Man may know he dwells not in his own; An Edifice too large for him to fill, Lodg’d in a mall partition, and the ret Ordain’d for ues to his Lord bet known. The wiftnes of thoe Circles attribute, Though numberles, to his Omnipotence, That to corporeal ubtances could adde Speed almot Spiritual; mee thou thinkt not low, Who ince the Morning hour et out from Heav’n Where God reides, and ere mid-day arriv’d 750In Eden, ditance inexpreible By Numbers that have name. But this I urge, Admitting Motion in the Heav’ns, to hew Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov’d; Not that I o affirm, though o it eem To thee who hat thy dwelling here on Earth. God to remove his wayes from human ene, Plac’d Heav’n from Earth o farr, that earthly ight, If it preume, might erre in things too high, And no advantage gaine. What if the Sun 760Be Center to the World, and other Starrs By his attractive vertue and thir own Incited, dance about him various round? Thir wandring coure now high, now low, then hid, Progreive, retrograde, or tanding till, In ix thou eet, and what if ev’nth to thee The Planet Earth, o tedfat though he eem, Inenibly three different Motions move? Which ele to everal Sphears thou mut acribe, Mov’d contrarie with thwart obliquities, 770Or ave the Sun his labour, and that wift Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb uppo’d, Inviible ele above all Starrs, the Wheele Of Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe, If Earth indutrious of her elf fetch Day Travelling Eat, and with her part avere From the Suns beam meet Night, her other part Still luminous by his ray. What if that light Sent from her through the wide tranpicuous aire, To the terretrial Moon be as a Starr 780Enlightning her by Day, as he by Night This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there, Feilds and Inhabitant: Her pots thou eet As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce Fruits in her oft’nd Soile, for ome to eate Allotted there; and other Suns perhaps With thir attendant Moons thou wilt decrie Communicating Male and Femal Light, Which two great Sexes animate the World, Stor’d in each Orb perhaps with ome that live. 790For uch vat room in Nature unpoet By living Soule, deert and deolate, Onely to hine, yet carce to contribute Each Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd o farr Down to this habitable, which returnes Light back to them, is obvious to dipute. But whether thus thee things, or whether not, Whether the Sun predominant in Heav’n Rie on the Earth, or Earth rie on the Sun, Hee from the Eat his flaming rode begin, 800Or Shee from Wet her ilent coure advance With inoffenive pace that pinning leeps On her oft Axle, while he paces Eev’n, And bears thee oft with the mooth Air along, Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid, Leave them to God above, him erve and feare; Of other Creatures, as him pleaes bet, Wherever plac’t, let him dipoe: joy thou In what he gives to thee, this Paradie And thy faire Eve; Heav’n is for thee too high 810To know what paes there; be lowlie wie: Think onely what concernes thee and thy being; Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there Live, in what tate, condition or degree, Contented that thus farr hath been reveal’d Not of Earth onely but of highet Heav’n. To whom thus Adam cleerd of doubt, repli’d. How fully hat thou atifi’d mee, pure Intelligence of Heav’n, Angel erene, And freed from intricacies, taught to live, 820The eaiet way, nor with perplexing thoughts To interrupt the weet of Life, from which God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares, And not molet us, unles we our elves Seek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine. But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave Uncheckt, and of her roaving is no end; Till warn’d, or by experience taught, he learne, That not to know at large of things remote From ue, obcure and uttle, but to know 830That which before us lies in daily life, Is the prime Widom, what is more, is fume, Or emptines, or fond impertinence, And renders us in things that mot concerne Unpracti’d, unprepar’d, and till to eek. Therefore from this high pitch let us decend A lower flight, and peak of things at hand Ueful, whence haply mention may arie Of omthing not uneaonable to ak By ufferance, and thy wonted favour deign’d. 840Thee I have heard relating what was don Ere my remembrance: now hear mee relate My Storie, which perhaps thou hat not heard; And Day is yet not pent; till then thou eet How uttly to detaine thee I devie, Inviting thee to hear while I relate, Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply: For while I it with thee, I eem in Heav’n, And weeter thy dicoure is to my eare Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleaantet to thirt 850And hunger both, from labour, at the houre Of weet repat; they atiate, and oon fill, Though pleaant, but thy words with Grace Divine Imbu’d, bring to thir weetnes no atietie. To whom thus Raphael anwer’d heav’nly meek. Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath alo pour’d, Inward and outward both, his image faire: Speaking or mute all comlines and grace 860Attends thee, and each word, each motion formes. Nor les think wee in Heav’n of thee on Earth Then of our fellow ervant, and inquire Gladly into the wayes of God with Man: For God we ee hath honour’d thee, and et On Man his equal Love: ay therefore on; For I that Day was abent, as befell, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obcure, Farr on excurion toward the Gates of Hell; Squar’d in full Legion (uch command we had) 870To ee that none thence iu’d forth a pie, Or enemie, while God was in his work, Leat hee incent at uch eruption bold, Detruction with Creation might have mixt. Not that they durt without his leave attempt, But us he ends upon his high behets For tate, as Sovran King, and to enure Our prompt obedience. Fat we found, fat hut The dimal Gates, and barricado’d trong; But long ere our approaching heard within 880Noie, other then the ound of Dance or Song, Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage. Glad we return’d up to the coats of Light Ere Sabbath Eev’ning: o we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend, Plea’d with thy words no les then thou with mine. So pake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. For Man to tell how human Life began Is hard; for who himelf beginning knew? Deire with thee till longer to convere 890Induc’d me. As new wak’t from oundet leep Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the Sun Soon dri’d, and on the reaking moiture fed. Strait toward Heav’n my wondring Eyes I turnd, And gaz’d a while the ample Skie, till rai’d By quick intinctive motion up I prung, As thitherward endevoring, and upright Stood on my feet; about me round I aw Hill, Dale, and hadie Woods, and unnie Plaines, 900And liquid Lape of murmuring Streams; by thee, Creatures that livd, and movd, and walk’d, or flew, Birds on the branches warbling; all things mil’d, With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow’d. My elf I then peru’d, and Limb by Limb Survey’d, and ometimes went, and ometimes ran With upple joints, as lively vigour led: But who I was, or where, or from what caue, Knew not; to peak I tri’d, and forthwith pake, My Tongue obey’d and readily could name 910What e’re I aw. Thou Sun, aid I, faire Light, And thou enlight’nd Earth, o freh and gay, Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines, And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, Tell, if ye aw, how came I thus, how here? Not of my elf; by ome great Maker then, In goodnes and in power praeeminent; Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, From whom I have that thus I move and live, And feel that I am happier then I know. 920While thus I call’d, and tray’d I knew not whither, From where I firt drew Aire, and firt beheld This happie Light, when anwer none return’d, On a green hadie Bank profue of Flours Penive I ate me down; there gentle leep Firt found me, and with oft oppreion ei’d My droued ene, untroubl’d, though I thought I then was paing to my former tate Inenible, and forthwith to diolve: When uddenly tood at my Head a dream, 930Whoe inward apparition gently mov’d My Fancy to believe I yet had being, And livd: One came, methought, of hape Divine, And aid, thy Manion wants thee, Adam, rie, Firt Man, of Men innumerable ordain’d Firt Father, call’d by thee I come thy Guide To the Garden of blis, thy eat prepar’d. So aying, by the hand he took me rai’d, And over Fields and Waters, as in Aire Smooth liding without tep, lat led me up 940A woodie Mountain; whoe high top was plaine, A Circuit wide, enclo’d, with goodliet Trees Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I aw Of Earth before care pleaant eemd. Each Tree Load’n with fairet Fruit, that hung to the Eye Tempting, tirr’d in me udden appetite To pluck and eate; whereat I wak’d, and found Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream Had lively hadowd: Here had new begun My wandring, had not hee who was my Guide 950Up hither, from among the Trees appeer’d, Preence Divine. Rejoycing, but with aw In adoration at his feet I fell Submi: he rear’d me, & Whom thou oughtt I am, Said mildely, Author of all this thou eet Above, or round about thee or beneath. This Paradie I give thee, count it thine To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate: Of every Tree that in the Garden growes Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: 960But of the Tree whoe operation brings Knowledg of good and ill, which I have et The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith, Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life, Remember what I warne thee, hun to tate, And hun the bitter conequence: for know, The day thou eat’t thereof, my ole command Trangret, inevitably thou halt dye; From that day mortal, and this happie State Shalt looe, expell’d from hence into a World 970Of woe and orrow. Sternly he pronounc’d The rigid interdiction, which reounds Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice Not to incur; but oon his cleer apect Return’d and gratious purpoe thus renew’d. Not onely thee fair bounds, but all the Earth To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords Poes it, and all things that therein live, Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beat, Fih, and Fowle. In igne whereof each Bird and Beat behold 980After thir kindes; I bring them to receave From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtie With low ubjection; undertand the ame Of Fih within thir watry reidence, Not hither ummond, ince they cannot change Thir Element to draw the thinner Aire. As thus he pake, each Bird and Beat behold Approaching two and two, Thee cowring low With blandihment, each Bird toop’d on his wing. I nam’d them, as they pa’d, and undertood 990Thir Nature, with uch knowledg God endu’d My udden apprehenion: but in thee I found not what me thought I wanted till; And to the Heav’nly viion thus preum’d. O by what Name, for thou above all thee, Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher, Surpaet farr my naming, how may I Adore thee, Author of this Univere, And all this good to man, for whoe well being So amply, and with hands o liberal 1000Thou hat provided all thing: but with mee I ee not who partakes. In olitude What happines, who can enjoy alone, Or all enjoying, what contentment find? Thus I preumptuous; and the viion bright, As with a mile more bright’nd, thus repli’d. What call’t thou olitude, is not the Earth With various living creatures, and the Aire Repleniht, and all thee at thy command To come and play before thee, know’t thou not 1010Thir language and thir wayes, they alo know, And reaon not contemptibly; with thee Find patime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large. So pake the Univeral Lord, and eem’d So ordering. I with leave of peech implor’d, And humble deprecation thus repli’d. Let not my words offend thee, Heav’nly Power, My Maker, be propitious while I peak. Hat thou not made me here thy ubtitute, And thee inferiour farr beneath me et? 1020Among unequals what ocietie Can ort, what harmonie or true delight? Which mut be mutual, in proportion due Giv’n and receiv’d; but in diparitie The one intene, the other till remis Cannot well uite with either, but oon prove Tedious alike: Of fellowhip I peak Such as I eek, fit to participate All rational delight, wherein the brute Cannot be human conort; they rejoyce 1030Each with thir kinde, Lion with Liones; So fitly them in pairs thou hat combin’d; Much les can Bird with Beat, or Fih with Fowle So well convere, nor with the Ox the Ape; Wors then can Man with Beat, and leat of all. Whereto th’ Almighty anwer’d, not diplea’d. A nice and uttle happines I ee Thou to thy elf propoet, in the choice Of thy Aociates, Adam, and wilt tate No pleaure, though in pleaure, olitarie. 1040What thinkt thou then of mee, and this my State, Seem I to thee ufficiently poet Of happines, or not? who am alone From all Eternitie, for none I know Second to mee or like, equal much les. How have I then with whom to hold convere Save with the Creatures which I made, and thoe To me inferiour, infinite decents Beneath what other Creatures are to thee? He cea’d, I lowly anwer’d. To attaine 1050The highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes All human thoughts come hort, Supream of things; Thou in thy elf art perfet, and in thee Is no deficience found; not o is Man, But in degree, the caue of his deire By converation with his like to help, Or olace his defects. No need that thou Shouldt propagat, already infinite; And through all numbers abolute, though One; But Man by number is to manifet 1060His ingle imperfection, and beget Like of his like, his Image multipli’d, In unitie defective, which requires Collateral love, and deeret amitie. Thou in thy ecreie although alone, Bet with thy elf accompanied, eek’t not Social communication, yet o plea’d, Cant raie thy Creature to what highth thou wilt Of Union or Communion, deifi’d; I by convering cannot thee erect 1070From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find. Thus I embold’nd pake, and freedom u’d Permiive, and acceptance found, which gain’d This anwer from the gratious voice Divine. Thus farr to try thee, Adam, I was plea’d, And finde thee knowing not of Beats alone, Which thou hat rightly nam’d, but of thy elf, Expreing well the pirit within thee free, My Image, not imparted to the Brute, Whoe fellowhip therefore unmeet for thee 1080Good reaon was thou freely houldt dilike, And be o minded till; I, ere thou pak’t, Knew it not good for Man to be alone, And no uch companie as then thou aw’t Intended thee, for trial onely brought, To ee how thou could’t judge of fit and meet: What next I bring hall pleae thee, be aur’d, Thy likenes, thy fit help, thy other elf, Thy wih, exactly to thy hearts deire. Hee ended, or I heard no more, for now 1090My earthly by his Heav’nly overpowerd, Which it had long tood under, treind to the highth In that celetial Colloquie ublime, As with an object that excels the ene, Dazl’d and pent, unk down, and ought repair Of leep, which intantly fell on me, call’d By Nature as in aide, and clo’d mine eyes. Mine eyes he clo’d, but op’n left the Cell Of Fancie my internal ight, by which Abtract as in a trane methought I aw, 1100Though leeping, where I lay, and aw the hape Still glorious before whom awake I tood; Who tooping op’nd my left ide, and took From thence a Rib, with cordial pirits warme, And Life-blood treaming freh; wide was the wound, But uddenly with fleh fill’d up & heal’d: The Rib he formd and fahond with his hands; Under his forming hands a Creature grew, Manlike, but different ex, o lovly faire, That what eemd fair in all the World, eemd now 1110Mean, or in her ummd up, in her containd And in her looks, which from that time infu’d Sweetnes into my heart, unfelt before, And into all things from her Aire inpir’d The pirit of love and amorous delight. She diappeerd, and left me dark, I wak’d To find her, or for ever to deplore Her los, and other pleaures all abjure: When out of hope, behold her, not farr off, Such as I aw her in my dream, adornd 1120With what all Earth or Heaven could betow To make her amiable: On he came, Led by her Heav’nly Maker, though uneen, And guided by his voice, nor uninformd Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rite: Grace was in all her teps, Heav’n in her Eye, In every geture dignitie and love. I overjoyd could not forbear aloud. This turn hath made amends; thou hat fulfill’d Thy words, Creator bounteous and benigne, 1130Giver of all things faire, but fairet this Of all thy gifts, nor enviet. I now ee Bone of my Bone, Fleh of my Fleh, my Self Before me; Woman is her Name, of Man Extracted; for this caue he hall forgoe Father and Mother, and to his Wife adhere; And they hall be one Fleh, one Heart, one Soule. She heard me thus, and though divinely brought, Yet Innocence and Virgin Modetie, Her vertue and the concience of her worth, 1140That would be woo’d, and not unought be won, Not obvious, not obtruive, but retir’d, The more deirable, or to ay all, Nature her elf, though pure of inful thought, Wrought in her o, that eeing me, he turn’d; I follow’d her, he what was Honour knew, And with obequious Majetie approv’d My pleaded reaon. To the Nuptial Bowre I led her bluhing like the Morn: all Heav’n, And happie Contellations on that houre 1150Shed thir electet influence; the Earth Gave ign of gratulation, and each Hill; Joyous the Birds; freh Gales and gentle Aires Whiper’d it to the Woods, and from thir wings Flung Roe, flung Odours from the picie Shrub, Diporting, till the amorous Bird of Night Sung Spoual, and bid hate the Eevning Starr On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp. Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought My Storie to the um of earthly blis 1160Which I enjoy, and mut confes to find In all things ele delight indeed, but uch As u’d or not, works in the mind no change, Nor vehement deire, thee delicacies I mean of Tate, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours, Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here Farr otherwie, tranported I behold, Tranported touch; here paion firt I felt, Commotion trange, in all enjoyments ele Superiour and unmov’d, here onely weake 1170Againt the charm of Beauties powerful glance. Or Nature faild in mee, and left ome part Not proof enough uch Object to utain, Or from my ide ubducting, took perhaps More then enough; at leat on her betow’d Too much of Ornament, in outward hew Elaborate, of inward les exact. For well I undertand in the prime end Of Nature her th’ inferiour, in the mind And inward Faculties, which mot excell, 1180In outward alo her reembling les His Image who made both, and les expreing The character of that Dominion giv’n O’re other Creatures; yet when I approach Her lovelines, o abolute he eems And in her elf compleat, o well to know Her own, that what he wills to do or ay, Seems wiet, vertuouet, dicreetet, bet; All higher knowledge in her preence falls Degraded, Widom in dicoure with her 1190Looes dicount’nanc’t, and like folly hewes; Authoritie and Reaon on her waite, As one intended firt, not after made Occaionally; and to conummate all, Greatnes of mind and noblenes thir eat Build in her loveliet, and create an awe About her, as a guard Angelic plac’t. To whom the Angel with contracted brow. Accue not Nature, he hath don her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident 1200Of Widom, he deerts thee not, if thou Dimis not her, when mot thou needt her nigh, By attributing overmuch to things Les excellent, as thou thy elf perceav’t. For what admir’t thou, what tranports thee o, An outide? fair no doubt, and worthy well Thy cherihing, thy honouring, and thy love, Not thy ubjection: weigh with her thy elf; Then value: Oft times nothing profits more Then elf-eteem, grounded on jut and right 1210Well manag’d; of that kill the more thou know’t, The more he will acknowledge thee her Head, And to realities yeild all her hows; Made o adorn for thy delight the more, So awful, that with honour thou mait love Thy mate, who ees when thou art een leat wie. But if the ene of touch whereby mankind Is propagated eem uch dear delight Beyond all other, think the ame voutaf’t To Cattel and each Beat; which would not be 1220To them made common & divulg’d, if aught Therein enjoy’d were worthy to ubdue The Soule of Man, or paion in him move. What higher in her ocietie thou findt Attractive, human, rational, love till; In loving thou dot well, in paion not, Wherein true Love conits not; love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his eat In Reaon, and is judicious, is the cale By which to heav’nly Love thou mait acend, 1230Not unk in carnal pleaure, for which caue Among the Beats no Mate for thee was found. To whom thus half abah’t Adam repli’d. Neither her out-ide formd o fair, nor aught In procreation common to all kindes (Though higher of the genial Bed by far, And with myterious reverence I deem) So much delights me, as thoe graceful acts, Thoe thouand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions, mixt with Love 1240And weet compliance, which declare unfeign’d Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule; Harmonie to behold in wedded pair More grateful then harmonious ound to the eare. Yet thee ubject not; I to thee dicloe What inward thence I feel, not therefore foild, Who meet with various objects, from the ene Variouly repreenting; yet till free Approve the bet, and follow what I approve. To love thou blam’t me not, for love thou ait 1250Leads up to Heav’n, is both the way and guide; Bear with me then, if lawful what I ak; Love not the heav’nly Spirits, and how thir Love Expres they, by looks onely, or do they mix Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? To whom the Angel with a mile that glow’d Celetial roie red, Loves proper hue, Anwer’d. Let it uffice thee that thou know’t Us happie, and without Love no happines. Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy’t 1260(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence, and obtacle find none Of membrane, joynt, or limb, excluive barr: Eaier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace, Total they mix, Union of Pure with Pure Deiring; nor retrain’d conveyance need As Fleh to mix with Fleh, or Soul with Soul. But I can now no more; the parting Sun Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Iles Hesperean ets, my Signal to depart. 1270Be trong, live happie, and love, but firt of all Him whom to love is to obey, and keep His great command; take heed leat Paion way Thy Judgement to do aught, which ele free Will Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons The weal or woe in thee is plac’t; beware. I in thy perevering hall rejoyce, And all the Blet: tand fat; to tand or fall Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies. Perfet within, no outward aid require; 1280And all temptation to trangres repel. So aying, he aroe; whom Adam thus Follow’d with benediction. Since to part, Go heavenly Guet, Ethereal Meenger, Sent from whoe ovran goodnes I adore. Gentle to me and affable hath been Thy condecenion, and hall be honour’d ever With grateful Memorie: thou to mankind Be good and friendly till, and oft return. So parted they, the Angel up to Heav’n 1290From the thick hade, and Adam to his Bowre.

The End of the Seventh Book.