What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd. 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 heav'nly over-power'd: Which it had long stood under, strain'd to th' 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, call'd By nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes. Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell Of fancy my internal sight, by which Abstract as in a trance methought I saw, Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shar Still glorious before whom awake I stood; Who stooping open'd my left side, and took From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was th But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his h Under his forming hands a creature grew, Manlike but different sex, so lovely fair,
That what seem'd fair in all the world, se n'd now Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her conta d And in her looks, which from that time in ‚us'd Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, And into all things from her air inspir'd The spirit of love and amorous delight. She disappear'd, and left me dark; I wak'd To find her, or for ever to deplore Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: When out of hope, behold her, not far off, Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd With what all earth or heavy could bestow
To make her amiable: on she came, Led by her heav'nly Maker, tough unser, And guided by his voice, nor uninform' Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites
Grace was in a her steps, heav'n in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love.
I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud:
This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfil'd Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, Giver of all things fair, but fairest this Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself Before me; woman is her name, of man Extracted; for this cause he shall forego Father and mother, and to his wife adhere And they shall be one flesh, one heart, on suui She heard me thus, and though divinely brougħi Yet innocence and virgin modesty,
Her virtue and the conscience of her worth, That would be woo'd, and not unsought be wou, Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, The more desirable, or to say all,
Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd; I follow'd her, she what was honour knew, And with obsequious majesty approved My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn: all heav'n, And happy constellations on that hour Shed their selectest influence; the earth Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, Disporting, till the amorous bird of night Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening star On his hill top, to light the bridal harp.
Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought
My story to the sum of earthly bliss 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, Nor vehement desire, these delicacies.
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flow'rs Walks, and the melody of birds; but here Far otherwise, transported I behold. Transported touch; here passion first I felt, Commotion strange, in all enjoyment else Superior and unmov'd, here only weak Against the charm of beauty's pow'rful glance Or nature fail'd in me, and left some part Not proof enough such object to sustain, Or from my side subducting, took perhaps More than enough; at least on her bestow'd Too much of ornament, in outward show Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For well I understand in the prime end Of nature her th' inferior, in the mind And inward faculties, which most excel, In outward also her resembling less
His image who made both, and less expressing The character of that dominion given O'er other creatures; yet when I approach Her loveliness, so absolute* she seems And in herself complete, so well to know Her own, that what she wills to do or say, Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best; All higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded, wisdom in discourse with her Loses discount'nanc'd, and like folly shows, Authority and reason on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made Occasionally; and to consummate all, Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat Build in her loveliest, and create an awe About her as a guard angelic plac'd.
To whom the angel with contracted brow: Accuse not nature, she hath done her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident Of wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou
"So absolute :" finished.
Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh, By attributing overmuch to things
Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st. For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy ove, Not thy subjection; weigh with her thyself, 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'st The more she will acknowledge thee her head, And to realities yield all her shows:
Made so adorn for thy delight the more, So awful, that with honour thou mayst love Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. But if the sense of touch whereby mankind Is propagated seem such dear delight
Beyond all other, think the same vouchsaf'd To cattle, and each beast; which would not be To them made common and divulg'd, if ought Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue The soul of man, or passion in him move. What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still; In loving thou dost well, in passion not Wherein true love consists not; love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat reason, and is judicious, is the scale
By which to heav'nly love thou inay'st ascend Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause Among the beasts no mate for thee was found
To whom thus half abash'd Adam, reply'd · Neither her outside form'd so 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 al! her words and actions, mix'd with love
And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign di Union of mind, or in us both one soul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair
More grateful than harmonious sound to th' 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 !
approve. To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou say'st Leads up to heav'n, is both the way and guide · Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask; Love 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 Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue,
Answer'd: 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 ǹnd 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 plac'd; beware. I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
And all the blest: stand fast; to stand or fall Free in thine own arbitrement it lies
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