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From all her words and actions, mix'd with love
And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd
Union of mind, or in us both one soul;
Harmony, to behold in wedded pair,
More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose
What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd,
Who meet with various objects from the sense
Variously representing; yet, still free,
Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blamest me not; for love, thou say'st,
Leads up to Heaven, is both the way, and guide;
Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask.
Love not the heavenly Spirits, & 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
Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue,
Answered. "Let it suffice thee, that thou know'st
Us happy; and without love, no happiness.
Whatever pure thou, in the body, enjoy'st,
And pure thou wert created, we enjoy
In eminence, and obstacle find none,
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars ;
Easier than air with air, if spirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with pure
Desiring; nor restrain'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 isles
Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.

Be strong, live happy, and love; but first of all,
Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed lest passion sway
Thy judgment to do aught which else free will
Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons
The weal or wo in thee is placed: beware.
I in thy persevering shall rejoice,

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And all the Blessed: stand fast; to stand, or fall,

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Free, in thine own arbitrement it lies.
Perfect within, no outward aid require;
And all temptation to transgress repel.

So saying, he arose whom Adam thus Follow'd with benediction. "Since to part, Go heavenly guest, ethereal messenger, Sent from whose sovereign goodness I adore. Gentle to me, and affable, hath been

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Thy condescension; and shall be honour'd ever,
With grateful memory: thou to mankind
Be good and friendly still, and oft return."
So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven,
From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower.

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THE END OF BOOK VI.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK IX.

THE ARGUMENT.

Satan, having compassed the earth, with meditated guile returns as a mist, by night, into Paradise, and enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart. Adam consents not, alleging the danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarned, should attempt her found alone. Eve, loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make trial of her strength; Adam at last yields. The serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks how he attained to human speech and such understanding, not till now: the serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both. Eve requires him to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden. The serpent, now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat; she pleased with the taste, deliberates awhile whether to impart thereof to Adam or not; at last brings him of the fruit, relates what persuaded her to eat thereof. Adam, at first amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love to perish with her, and, extenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit. The effects thereof in them both; they seek to cover their nakedness; then fall to variance and accusation of one another.

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