My pleased reason. To the Nuptial Bowre
I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n,
And happy Constellations on that hour
Shed their fele&teft influence; the Earth
Gave fign of gratulation, and each Hill;
Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires sis
Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from their wings
Flung Rofe, flung Odours from the spicy Shrub,
Difporting, till the amorous Bird of Night
Sung Spoufal, and bid haste the Eev'ning Star
On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp.
Thus have I told thee all my State, and brought
My Story to the fum of earthly blifs
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, 525 Nor vehement defire, these delicacies
I mean of Tafte, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, and Flours,
Walks, and the melody of Birds; but here
Far otherwife, tranfported I behold,
Transported touch; her passion first I felt,
Commotion ftrange, in all enjoyments else
Superiour and unmov'd, here only weak
Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance.
Or Nature fail'd in me, and left fome part
Not proof enough fuch Object to sustain,
Or from my fide subducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at least on her bestow'd
Too much of Ornament, in outward fhew
Elaborate, of inward lefs exact.
For well I understand in the prime end
Of Nature her th'inferiour, in the mind
And inward Faculties, which most excel,
In outward also her resembling less
His Image who made both, and less expreffing
The character of that Dominion giv'n
O'er other Creatures; yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so abfolute the feems
And in her felf compleat, fo well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or fay,
Seems wifeft, virtuouseft, discreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded, Wifdom in discourse with her
Looses discount'nanc'd, and like folly fhews;
Authority and Reafon on her wait,
As one intended firft, not after made
Occasionally; and to confummare 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, the deserts thee not, if thou
Difmifs not her, when moft thou needft her nigh,
By attributing overmuch to things
Lefs excellent, as thou thy felf perceiv'ft.
For what admir'ft thou, what tranfports thee so,
An outfide? fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,
Not thy fubjection: weigh with her thy felf; $70
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'ft,
The more she will acknowledge thee her Head,
And to realities yield all her Shows:
Made fo adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honour thou may'st love
Thy mate, who fees when thou art seen least 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 aught
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to fubdue
The Soul of Man, or paffion in him move.
What higher in her fociety thou findit
Attractive, human, rational, love ftill;"
In loving thou doft well, in paffion not,
Wherein true Love confifts not; love refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his feat ss0
In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale
By which to heav'nly Love thou mayft afcend,
Not funk in carnal pleasure, for which caufe
Among the Beafts no Mate for thee was found.
To whom thus half abash'd Adam reply'd.
Neither her out-fide form'd fo 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 all her words and actions mixt with Love
And fweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd
Union of Mind, or in us both ene Soul;
Harmony to behold in wedded pair
More grateful than harmonious found to the ear.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclofe
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 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;
re 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 Celeftial rofie red, Love's proper hue,
Answer'd. Let it fuffice thee that thou know'st 620 Us happy, and without Love no happiness. Whatever pure thou in thy body enjoy'st
(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence, and obftacle find none
Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclufive bars; 625 Eafier than Aire with Aire, if Spirits embrace, Total they mix, Union of Pure with Pure
Defiring; nor reftrain'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 Ifles
Hefperean fets, my Signal to depart.
Be strong, live happy, and love, but first of all
Him who to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed lest Passion sway 635
Thy Judgment to do ought, which else free Will
Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons
The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware.
I in thy perfevering fhall rejoyce,
And all the Bleft: ftand faft; to ftand or fall 640
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 Messenger,
Sent from whofe fov'reign goodness I adore,
Gentle to me and affable hath been
Thy condefcenfion, and shall be honour'd ever
With grateful Memorie: thou to mankind
Be good and friendly ftill, and oft return.
So parted they, the Angel up to Heav'n From the thick shade, and Adam to his Bowre.
The End of the Eighth Book.
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