soon

Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal, Insect or worm : those wav'd their limber fans And bended dolphins play : part huge of bulk For wings, and smallest lineaments exact Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, In all the liveries deck'd of summer's pride, Tempest the ocean : there leviathan,

With spots of gold and purple, azure and green : Hugest of living creatures, on the deep

These, as a line, their long dimension drew, Stretch'd like a promontory sleeps or swims, Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all And seems a moving land; and at his gills Minims of nature ; some of serpent-kind, Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. Wonderous in length and corpulence, involv'd Meanwhile the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, Their snaky folds, and added wings. First erept Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that The parsimonious emmet, provident

Of future ; in small room large heart enclos'd;
Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos’d Pattern of just equality perhaps
Their callow young; but feather'd soon and fledge Hereafter, join'd in her popular tribes
They summ'd their pens; and, soaring the air Of commonalty: swarming next appear'd
sublime,

The female bee, that feeds her husband drone
With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells
In prospect ; there the eagle and the stork

With honey stor’d: the rest are numberless,
On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build :

And thou their natures know'st, and gav'st them Part loosely wing the region, part more wise

names, In common, rang'd in figure, wedge their way, Needless to thee repeated : nor unknown Intelligent of seasons, and set forth

The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, Their aery caravan, high over seas

Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing

And hairy mane terrific, though to thee Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air

“ Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rollid Floats as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand plumes :

First wheel'd their course: Earth in her rich attire From branch to branch the smaller birds with song Consummate lovely smild; air, water, earth, Solac'd the woods, and spread their painted wings By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale

walk'd Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun’d her soft lays : Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remain'd: Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bath'd

There wanted yet the master-work, the end
Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, Of all yet done ; a creature, who, not prone
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows And brute as other creatures, but endued
Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit

With sanctity of reason, might erect
The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower His stature, and upright with front serene
The mid aëreal sky: others on ground

Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence
Walk'd firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven,
The silent hours, and the other whose gay train But grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Adorns him, colour'd with the florid hue

Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus Directed in devotion, to adore With fish replenish'd, and the air with fowl, And worship God Supreme, who made him chief Evening and morn solemniz'd the fifth day. Of all his works : therefore the Omnipotent The sixth, and of creation last, arose

Eternal Father (for where is not he
With evening harps and matin ; when God said, Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake.
• Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, “ • Let us make now Man in our image, Man
Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth, In our similitude, and let them rule
Each in their kind.' The Earth obey'd, and straight Over the fish and fowl of sea and air,
Opening her fertile womb teem'd at a birth Beast of the field, and over all the Earth,
Innumerous living creatures; perfect forms, And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.'
Limb'd and full grown : out of the ground up rose, This said, he form’d thee, Adam, thee, O Man,
As from his lair, the wild beast, where he wons Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd
In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den ;

The breath of life ; in his own image he
Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walk'd: Created thee, in the image of God
The cattle in the fields and meadows green : Express; and thou becam’st a living soul.
Those rare and solitary, these in Hocks

Male he created thee; but thy consort
Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. Female, for race; then bless'd mankind, and said,
The grassy clods now calv'd ; now half appear’d • Be fruitful, multiply, and fill th’ Earth;
The tawny lion, pawing to get free

Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold His hinder parts, then springs, as broke from bonds, Over fish of the sea, and fowl of th' air, And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce, And every living thing that moves on th' Earth The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole

Wherever thus created, for no place Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st, In hillocks : the swift stag from under ground He brought thee into this delicious grove,

his branching head; scarce from his mould This garden, planted with the trees of God, Behemoth, biggest born of Earth, upbeav'd Delectable both to behold and taste; His vastness : fleec'd the flocks and bleating rose, And freely all their pleasant fruit for food As plants : ambiguous between sea and land Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth The river-horse, and scaly crocodile.

yields,

Bore up

Variety without end; but of the tree,

Thou hast repellid; whilc impiously they thought Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw Thou may'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou diest ; The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks Death is the penalty imposed; beware,

To lessen thee, against his purpose serves And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin

To manifest the more thy might : his evil Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.' Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.

Here finish'd he, and all that he had made Witness this new-made world, another Heaven View'd, and behold all was entirely good;

From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view
So erea and morn accomplish'd the sixth day : On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea ;
Yet dot till the Creator from his work

Of amplitude almost immense, with stars
Desisting, though unwearied, up return'd,

Numerous, and every star perhaps a world Co w tbe Heaven of Heavens, bis high abode ; Of destin'd habitation; but thou know'st Thoce to behold this new created world,

Their seasons: among these the seat of men, The addition of his empire, how it show'd

Earth, with her nether ocean circumfusid, In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men, Answering his great idea. Up he rode

And sons of men, whom God hatủ thus advanc'd ! Follow'd with acclamation, and the sound

Created in his image there to dwell
Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tun'd And worship him; and in reward to rule
Hagelic harmonies: the Earth, the air

Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air,
Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st,) And multiply a race of worshippers
The Heavens and all the constellations rung, Holy and just : thrice happy, if they know
The planets in their station listening stood, Their happiness, and persevere upright!
While the bright pomp ascended jubilant.

“ So sung they, and the empyréan rung Open, ye everlasting gates !' they sung,

With halleluiahs : thus was sabbath kept. Open, ve Heavens! your living doors ; let in And thy request think now fulfill’d, that ask'd The great Creator from his work return'd

How first this world and face of things began, Magnificent, his six days' work, a world ;

And what before thy memory was done
Op.n, and henceforth oft ; for God will deign From the beginning; that posterity,
To visit oft the dwellings of just men,

Inform’d by thee, might know: if else thou seek'st Delighted ; and with frequent intercourse

Aught not surpassing human measure, say.”
Thither will send his winged messengers
0errands of supernal grace.' So sung
Te glorious train ascending : he through Heaven,

Book VIII.
That open'd wide her blazing portals, led
To God's eternal house direct the way;

The Argument.
A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold
And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, Adam inquires concerning celestial motions ; is
Ses in the galaxy, that milky way,

doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest

rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adam Powder'd with stars. And now on Earth the assents; and, still desirous to detain Raphael, seventh

relates to him what he remembered since his own Evening arose in Eden, for the Sun

creation ; his placing in Paradise ; his talk with Was set, and twilight from the east came on,

God concerning solitude and fit society: his first Forerunning night ; when at the holy mount meeting and nuptials with Eve : his discourse ( Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne with the angel thereupon; who, after admonitions of Godhead fix'd for ever firm and sure,

repeated, departs. The blial Power arriv'd, and sat him down With his great Father! for he also went

The angel ended, and in Adam's ear Inviable, yet staid, (such privilege

So charming left his voice, that he a while Hath Omnipresence,) and the work ordain'd, Thought him still speaking, still stood fix'd to hear; futhor and End of all things; and, from work Then, as new wak’d, thus gratefully replied. gw rating, bless'd and hallow'd the seventh day

“ What thanks suficient, or what recompense is resting on that day from all his work,

Equal, have I to rer'der thee, divine But not in silence holy kept : the harp

Historian, who thus largely hast allay'd
Hnd work and rested not; the solemn pipe, The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafra
And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop,

This friendly condescension to relate
Ill sounds on fret by string or golden wire, Things else by me unsearchable; now heard
Tetoper'd soft tunings, intermix'd with voice With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,
Clural or unison : of incense clouds,

With glory attributed to the high
Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. Creator ? Something yet of doubt remains,
Creation and the six days' acts they sung :

Which only thy solution can resolve.
* Great are thy works, Jehovah ! infinite (tongue When I behold this goodly frame, this world,
Thay power! what thought can measure thee, or Of Heaven and Earth consisting ; and compute
Relate thee? Greater now in thy return

Their magnitudes; this Earth a spot, a grain, Than from the giant angels: thee that day

An atom, with the firmament compar'd Thy thunders magnified; but to create

And all her number'd stars, that seem to roll greater than created to destroy.

Spaces incomprehensible, (for such
Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound Their distance argues, and their swift return
Thy empire? Easily the proud attempt

Diurnal,) merely to officiate light
Of spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,

One day and night; in all their vast survey More plenty than the Sun that barren shines; Useless besides ; reasoning I oft admire,

Whose virtue on itself works no effect, How Nature wise and frugal could commit But in the fruitful Earth; there first receisid, Such disproportions, with superfluous hand His beams, unactive else, their vigour find. So many nobler bodies to create,

Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries Greater so manifold, to this one use,

Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant. For aught appears, and on their orbs impose And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak Such restless revolution day by day

The Maker's high magnificence, who built Repeated; while the sedentary Earth,

So spacious, and his line stretch'd out so far, That better might with far less compass move, That man may know he dwells not in his own; Serv'd by more noble than herself, attains

An edifice too large for him to fill,
Her end without least motion, and receives, Lodg'd in a small partition; and the rest
As tribute, such a sumless journey brought

Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known.
Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; The swiftness of those circles attribute,
Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails." Though numberless, to his omnipotence,

So spake our sire, and by his countenance seem'd That to corporeal substances could add, Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve Speed almost spiritual : me thou think’si not slow, Perceiving, where she sat retir'd in sight,

Who since the inorning-hour set out from Heaven With lowliness majestic from her seat,

Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, In Eden ; distance inexpressible Rose, and went forth among her fruits and Howers, By numbers that have name.

But this I urge, To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom, Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show Her nursery ; they at her coming sprung,

Invalid that which thee to doubt mov’d; And, touch'd by her fair tendance, gladlier grew.

Not that I so affirm, though so it seem Yet went she not, as not with such discourse To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. Delighted, or not capable her ear

God, to remove his ways from human sense, Of what was high: such pleasure she reserv'd, Plac'd Ileaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, Adam relating, she sole auditress:

If it

presume, inight err in things too high, Her husband the relater she preferr'd

And no advantage gain. What the Sun Before the angel, and of him to ask

Be centre to the world ; and other stars, Chose rather ; he, she knew, would intermix By his attractive virtue and their own Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute Incited, dance about him various rounds ? [hid, With conjugal caresses; from his lip

Their wandering course new high, now low, then Not words alone pleas'd her. O! when meet now Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, Such pairs, in love and mutual honour join'd ? In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these With goddess-like demeanour forth she went, The planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem, Not unattended ; for on her, as queen,

Insensibly three different motions inove ? A pomp of winning graces waited still,

Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, And from about her shot darts of desire

Mov'd contrary with thwat obliquities; Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight.

Or save the Sun his labour, and that swift And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt propos’d, Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb suppos’d, Benevolent and facile thus replied.

Invisible else above all stars, the wheel “ To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven Of day and night; which needs not thy belief, Is as the book of God before thee set,

If Earth, industrious of herself, fetch day Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn Travelling east, and with her part averse His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years : From the Sun's beam meet night, her other part This to attain, whether Heaven more or Earth, Still luminous by his ray. What if that light, Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest

Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, From man or angel the great Architect

To the terrestrial Moon be as a star, Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge

Enlightening her by day as she by night His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought This Earth? reciprocal if land be there, Rather admire ; or, if they list to try

Fields and inhabitants : her spots thou seest Conjecture, he his fabric of the Heavens

As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move Fruits in her soften'd soil, for some to eat His laughter at their quaint opinions wide

Allotted there : and other suns perhaps, Hereafter ; when they come to model Heaven With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry And calculate the stars, how they will wield Communicating male and female light ; The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive Which two great sexes animate the world, To save appearances ; how gird the sphere

Stor’d in each orb perhaps with some that live. With centric and eccentric scribbled o'er,

For such vast room in Nature unpossess'd Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb :

By living soul, desert, and desolate, Already by thy reasoning this I guess,

Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest Each orb a glimpse of light, convey'd so far That bodies bright and greater should not serve Down to this habitable, which returns The less not bright, nor Licaven such journeys run, Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. Earth sitting still, when she alone receives

But whether thus these things, or whether not ; The benefit: consider first, that great

Whether the Sun, predominant in Heaven, Or bright infers not excellence : the Earth, Rise on the Earth ; or Earth rise on the Sun; Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small, He from the east lis flaming road begin; Nor glistering, may of solid good contain

Or she from west her silent course advance,

With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps Or enemy, while God was in his work;
On her soft axle, while she paces even,

Lest he, incens'd at such eruption bold,
And bears thee soft with the smooth air along; Destruction with creation might have mix'd.
Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid;

Not that they durst without his leave attenpt ; Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear! But us he sends upon his high behests of other creatures, as him pleases best,

For state, as Sovran King ; and to inure Wherever plac'd, let him dispose ; joy thou Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, In what he gives to thee, this Paradise

The dismal gates, and barricado'd strong ; And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high But long ere our approaching heard within To know what passes there ; be lowly wise : Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, Think only what concerns thee, and thy being ; Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Dreare not of other worlds, what creatures there Glad we return'd up to the coasts of light Live, in what state, condition, or degree ;

Ere sabbath-evening : so we had in charge. Contented that thus far hath been reveal'd

But thy relation now ; for I attend, {mine." Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven.” Pleas’d with thy words no less than thou with

To whom thus Adam, clear'd of doubt, replied. So spake the godlike power, and thus our sire. “ How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure

“ For Man to tell how human life began Intelligence of Heaven, angel serene!

Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? And freed from intricacies, taught to live

Desire with thee still longer to converse The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts

Induc'd me. As new wak'd from soundest sleep, To interrupt the sweet of life, from which

Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, In balmy sweat; which with his beams the Sun And not molest us ; unless we ourselves (vain. Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions Straight toward Hearen my wondering eyes I But apt the mind or fancy is to rove

turn'd, Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end;

And gaz'd a while the ample sky; till, rais'd Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learn, By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, That not to know at large of things remote

As thitherward endeavouring, and upright From use, obscure and subtle; but to know Stocd on my feet : about me round I saw That which before us lies in daily life,

Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, Is the prime wisdom : what is more, is fume, And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, Or emptiness, or fond impertinence :

Creatures that liv'd and mov*d, and walk'd, or Hew; And renders us, in things that most concern, Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd; Cnpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek.

With fragrance and with joy my heart o'verflow'd. Therefore from this high pitch let us descend Myself I then perus’d, and limb by liinb A kuwer flight, and speak of things at hand Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise With supple joints, as lively vigour led : Of something not unseasonable to ask,

But who I was, or where, or from what cause, By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign’d. Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake; Thee I have heard relating what was done

My tongue obey'd, and readily could name Ere my remembrance : now, hear me relate Whate'er I saw. « Thou Sun,' said I, •fair light, Jy story, which perhaps thou hast not heard ; And thou enlighten'd Earth, so fresh and gay, And day is not yet spent : till then thou seest Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, How subtly to detain thee I devise;

And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell, loviting thee to hear while I relate ;

Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?
Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply :

Not of myself;— by some great Maker then,
For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven ; In goodness and in power pre-eminent :
And sweeter thy discourse is to my car

Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst From whom I have that thus I move and live, And hunger both, from labour at the hour

And feel that I am happier than I know.'Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, While thus I call’d, and stray'd I knew not whither, Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine From wliere I first drew air, and first beheld Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.” This happy light; when answer none return’d,

To whom thus Raphael answer'd heavenly meek. On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, “ Sor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men,

Pensive I sat me down ; there gentle sleep Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee

First found me, and with soft oppression seiz'd Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd

My drowsed sense, untroubled, though I thought Inward and outward both, his image fair :

I then was passing to my former state Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve : Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms; When suddenly stood at my head a dream, Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth Whose inward apparition gently mov'd Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire

My fancy to believe I yet had being, Gladly into the ways of God with Nan:

And liv’d: one came, methought, of shape divine, For God, we see, hath honour'd thee, and set And said, “ Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, On Jian huis equal love : say therefore on;

First man, of men innumerable ordain'd For I that day was absent, as befel,

First father! call'd by thee, I come thy guide Pruund on a voyage uncouth and obscure,

To the Garden of Bliss, thy seat prepar'd.'
Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; So saying, by the hand he took me rais’d,
quard in full legion (such command we had) And over fields and waters, as in air
To see that none thence issued forth a spy, Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up

A woody mountain ; whose lugh top was plain, Their language and their ways? They also know,
A circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest trees And reason not contemptibly : with these
Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw Find pastime, and bear rule: thy realm is large.'
Of Earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree, So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd
Loaden with fairest fruit that bung to the eye So ordering: I, with leave of speech implor'd,
Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite

And humble deprecation; thus replied. (Power To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found « • Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Before mine eyes all real, as the dream

My Maker, be propitious while I speak.
Had lively shadow'd: here had new begun

Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
My wandering, had not he, who was my guide And these inferior far beneath me set ?
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,

Among unequals what society
Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, Can sort, what harmony, or true delight?
In adoration at his feet I fell

[I am,' Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Submiss : he rear'd me, and · Whom thou sought'st Given and receiv’d; but in disparity
Said mildly, · Author of all this thou seest The one intense, the other still remiss
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.

Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove
This Paradise I give thee, count it thine

Tedious alike: of fellowship I speak To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat :

Such as I seek, fit to participate Of every tree that in the garden grows

All rational delight : wherein the brute Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth : Cannot be human consort: they rejoice But of the tree whose operation brings

Each with their kind, lion with lioness; Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd: The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fow! Amid the garden by the tree of life,

So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste,

Worse then can man with beast, and least of all." And shun the bitter consequence : for know, “ Whereto the Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd. The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command • A nice and subtle happiness, I see, Transgress’d, inevitably thou shalt die,

Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice From that day mortal; and this happy state Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste Shalt lose, expell’d from hence into a world No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced What think'st thou then of me, and this my state? The rigid interdiction, which resounds

Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice Of happiness, or not? who am alone Not to incur ; but soon his clear aspect

From all eternity; for none I know Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd. Second to me or like, equal much less. • Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth How have I then with whom to hold convérse, To thee and to thy race I give; as lords

Save with the creatures which I made, and those Possess it, and all things that therein live,

To me inferior, infinite descents Or live in sea, or air ; beast, fish, and fowl.

Beneath what other creatures are to thee?" In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold He ceas'd; I lowly answered. • To attain After their kinds; I bring them to receive The height and depth of thy eternal ways From thee their names, and pay thee feälty All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! With low subjection ; understand the same Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Of fish within their watery residence,

Is no deficience found : not so is Man, Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change But in degree; the cause of his desire Their element, to draw the thinner air.'

By conversation with his like to help, As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold Or solace his defects. No need that thou Approaching two and two; these cowering low Shouldst propagate, already infinite ; With blandishment; each bird stoop'd on his wing. And through all numbers absolute, though one: I nam'd them as they pass'd, and understood But Man by number is to manifest Their nature, with such knowledge God endued His single imperfection, and beget My sudden apprehension : but in these

Like of his like, his image multiplied,
I found not what methought I wanted still ; In unity defective; which requires
And to the heavenly vision thus presum'd.

Collateral love, and dearest amity.
“ • 0, by wbat name, for thou above all these, Thou in thy secresy although alone,
Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not
Surpassest far my naming ; how may I

Social communication ; yet, so pleas'd,
Adore thee, Author of this universe,

Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt And all this good to Man? for whose well being Of union or communion, deities : So amply, and with hands so liberal,

I, by conversing, cannot these erect Thou hast provided all things : but with me From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.' I see not who partakes. In solitude

Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom us'd What happiness, who can enjoy alone,

Permissive, and acceptance found; which gain'd Or, all enjoying, what contentment find ?'

This answer from the gracious voice divine. Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright, “ • Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd ; As with a smile more brighten'd, thus replied. And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,

“ • What call'st thou solitude ? Is not the Earth Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thyself; With various living creatures, and the air

Expressing well the spirit within thee free,
Replenish’d, and all these at thy command

My image, not imparted to the brute :
To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee