Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee
Is no deficience found; not so is man,
But in degree; the cause of his desire

By conversation with his like to help,

Or solace his defects. No need that thou

Shouldst propagate, already infinite,

And through all numbers absolute, though one;
But man by number is to manifest

His single imperfection,† and beget
Like of his like, his image multiplied,
In unity defective, which requires
Collateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy secresy although alone,

420

Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not

Social communication, yet so pleased

Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt
Of union or communion, deified:

430

I by conversing cannot these erect

From prone, nor in their ways complacence find.'

Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used
Permissive, and acceptance found, which gained
This answer from the gracious voice divine:

"Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased,
And find thee knowing not of beasts alone,
Which thou hast rightly named; but of thyself,
Expressing well the spirit within thee free,
My image, not imparted to the brute:
Whose fellowship therefore, unmeet for thee,
Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike,
And be so minded still: I, ere thou spak'st,
Knew it not good for man to be alone,‡
And no such company as then thou sawest
Intended thee, for trial only brought,

To see how thou couldst judge of fit and meet:

What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,

Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,

Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.'

"He ended, or I heard no more, for now

My earthly by his heavenly overpowered,§

440

450

Which it had long stood under, strained to the height

In that celestial colloquy sublime,

As with an object that excels the sense

Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair

Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called

* A Latin term, "omnibus numeris absolutus," to denote great and complete perfection.

That is, the imperfection of him single.

↑ Cf. Genesis ii. 18.

The Scripture says only, that "the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam"(Gen. ií. 21), and our author endeavours to give some account how it was effected.