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And liquid lapse of murm'ring streams: by these, Creatures that lived, and moved, and walk'd, or flew: Birds on the branches warbling: all things smiled; With fragrance and with joy my heart 'erflow'd. Myself I then perused, and limb by limb

Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran With supple joints, as lively vigour led:

270

But who I was, or where, or from what cause,
Knew not. To speak I try'd, and forthwith spake;
My tongue obey'd, and readily could name
Whate'er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light,
And thou enlighten'd Earth, so fresh and gay;
Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains,
And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, 276
Tell if ye saw, how came I thus? how here?
Not of myself: by some great Maker then,

In goodness and in pow'r pre-eminent !
Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,

280

From whom I have that thus I move and live,
And feel that I am happier than I know.
While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither,
From where I first drew air, and first beheld
This happy light, when answer none return'd,
On a green shady bank profuse of flow'rs,
Pensive I sat me down; there gentle sleep
First found me, and with soft oppression seized

295

My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought

I then was passing to my former state
Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:

290

When suddenly stood at my head a dream,

Whose inward apparition gently moved

My fancy to believe I yet had being,

294

And lived. One came, methought, of shape divine,

And said, Thy mansion wants thee Adam; rise,

First man, of men innumerable ordain'd

First Father; call'd by thee, I come thy guide

266. With fragrance, with a joy like that of nature in spring

time.

272. There is no contradiction between this line and line 352, &c. as Warburton asserts. Adam was able to name things generally, that is, according to their several kinds of bein, as soon as he behel. then, but it was by a more immediate inspiration, Milton intimates, that he was taught to give names to the several species of animals, &c.

To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.
So saying, by the hand he took me raised,
And over fields and waters, as in air

800

Smooth sliding without step, last led me up
A woody mountain, whose high top was plain;
A circuit wide, inclosed, with goodliest trees 30.1
Planted, with walks and bow'rs, that what I saw
Of earth before scarce pleasant seem'd.
Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to th' eye
Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite

Each tree

To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively shadow'd. Here had new begun
My wand'ring, had not he who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Presence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell

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315

[I am,

Submiss he rear'd me', and Whom thou sought'st
Said mildly; Author of all this thou seest
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
This Paradise I give thee: count it thine

320

To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat.

Of every tree that in the garden grows

Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth;
But of the tree whose operation brings
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set
The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,
Amid the garden, by the tree of life,
Remember what I warn thee: Shun to taste,
And shun the bitter consequence; for know,
The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command
Transgress'd, inevitably thou shalt die;
From that day mortal, and this happy state
Shalt lose; expell'd from hence into a world
Of woe and sorrow. Steruly he pronounced
The rigid interdiction, which resounds

325

330

Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 335

300. Gen. iii. 15. It is supposed by a great number of commen tators that Adam was not formed in Paradise, but in some othe. part of the earth, without the inclosure of the sacred garden, into which he was carried by God after his creation.

220. To till; to cultivate in any way which the nature of a
country, or its productions, may require.
330. Gen. i. 17.

Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect

Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd:
Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth
To thee and to thy race I give: as lords
Possess it, and all things that therein live,
Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl.
In sign whereof each bird and beast behold
After their kinds: I bring them to receive
From thee their names, and pay thee fealty
With low subjection. Understand the same
Of fish within their wat'ry residence,

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345

Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change
Their element to draw the thinner air.

As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold Approaching two and two; these cow'ring low With blandishment, each bird stoop'd on his wing. I named them as they pass'd, and understood Their nature; with such knowledge God indued My sudden apprehension: but in these

350

I found not what methought I wanted still,

355

And to the heav'nly Vision thus presumed:

O by what name, for thou above all these,
Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher,
Surpassest far my naming, how may I
Adore thee, Author of this universe,

360

And all this good to man? for whose well being

So amply, and with hands so liberal

Thou hast provided all things! but with me

365

I see not who partakes. In solitude
What happiness? Who can enjoy alone,
Or all enjoying, what contentment, find?
Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright,
As with a smile more brighten'd, thus reply'd:
What call'st thou solitude? Is not the earth
With various living creatures, and the air
Replenish'd? and all these at thy command
To come and play before thee? Know'st thou not
Their language and their ways? They also know,
And reason not contemptibly. With these
Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large.
So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd
So ordering. I, with leave of speech implored,
342. Gen. ii. 19, 20.

370

376

And humble deprecation, thus reply'd:

Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Pow'r!

My Maker, be propitious while I speak!

380

Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,

And these inferior far beneath me set?

Among unequals what society

Can sort? what harmony or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Giv'n and received; but in disparity,
The one intense, the other still remiss

385

Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove
Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak
Such as I seek, fit to participate

390

All rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human consort: they rejoice
Each with their kind; lion with lioness;
So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined;

Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl 395

So well converse; nor with the ox the ape:

Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. Whereto th' Almighty answer'd not displeased: A nice and subtle happiness I see

Thou to thyself proposest in the choice

Of thy associates, Adam, and wilt taste

No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary.

400

What think'st thou then of me, and this my state? Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd

Of happiness, or not, who am alone

405

From all eternity? for nune I know

Second to me, or like, equal much less.

How have I then with whom to hold converse Save with the creatures which I made? and those To me inferior! infinite descents

410

Beneath what other creatures are to thee.

He ceased; I lowly answer'd: To attain

The height and depth of thy eternal ways,
All human though's come short, Supreme of things!
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
413. Rom. xi. 33.

415

Should'st 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 multiply'd

In unity defective, which requires
Collat❜ral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy secrecy, although alone,

Best with thyself accompany'd, seek'st not

Social communication; yet so pleased,

420

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Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt 430 Of union or communion, deify'd:

I by conversing cannot these erect

From prone, nor in their ways complacence find.

Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom used

440

Permissive, and acceptance found; which gain'd 435
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 should'st 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 saw'st
Intended thee; for trial only brought,

445

To see how thou could st judge of fit and meet.

What next I bring shall please thee, be assured;

Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,

450

Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.

He ended, or I heard no more, for now

My earthly by his heav'nly overpower'd,

Which it had long stood under, strain'd to th' highth In that celestial colloquy sublime,

Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair

As with an object that excels the sense

Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd

Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell

By nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.

455

460

421. And through, &c. perfect, complete in all its parts. 453. A beautiful idea to express the cause of Adam'e deep s.eep.

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