Book VII

Descend from Heav’n Urania, by that nameIf rightly thou art call’d, whose Voice divineFollowing, above th’ Olympian Hill I soare,Above the flight of Pegasean wing.The meaning, not the Name I call: for thouNor of the Muses nine, nor on the topOf old Olympus dwell’st, but Heav’nlie borne,Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow’d,Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst playIn presence of th’ Almightie Father, pleas’dWith thy Celestial Song. Up led by theeInto the Heav’n of Heav’ns I have presum’d,An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,Thy tempring; with like safetie guided downReturn me to my Native Element:Least from this flying Steed unrein’d, (as onceBellerophon, though from a lower Clime)Dismounted, on th’ Aleian Field I fallErroneous, there to wander and forlorne.Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower boundWithin the visible Diurnal Spheare;Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang’dTo hoarce or mute, though fall’n on evil dayes,On evil dayes though fall’n, and evil tongues;In darkness, and with dangers compast rouud,And solitude; yet not alone, while thouVisit’st my slumbers Nightly, or when MornPurples the East: still govern thou my Song,Urania, and fit audience find, though few.But drive farr off the barbarous dissonanceOf Bacchus and his Revellers, the RaceOf that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian BardIn Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had EaresTo rapture, till the savage clamor droundBoth Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defendHer Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:For thou art Heav’nlie, shee an empty dreame.

Say Goddess, what ensu’d when Raphael,The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn’dAdam by dire example to bewareApostasie, by what befell in HeavenTo those Apostates, least the like befallIn Paradise to Adam or his Race,Charg’d not to touch the interdicted Tree,If they transgress, and slight that sole command,So easily obeyd amid the choiceOf all tasts else to please thir appetite,Though wandring. He with his consorted EveThe storie heard attentive, and was fill’dWith admiration, and deep Muse to heareOf things so high and strange, things to thir thoughtSo unimaginable as hate in Heav’n,And Warr so neer the Peace of God in blissWith such confusion: but the evil soonDriv’n back redounded as a flood on thoseFrom whom it sprung, impossible to mixWith Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal’dThe doubts that in his heart arose: and nowLed on, yet sinless, with desire to knowWhat neerer might concern him, how this WorldOf Heav’n and Earth conspicuous first began,When, and whereof created, for what cause,What within Eden or without was doneBefore his memorie, as one whose drouthYet scarce allay’d still eyes the current streame,Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,Proceeded thus to ask his Heav’nly Guest.

Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal’dDivine Interpreter, by favour sentDown from the Empyrean to forewarneUs timely of what might else have bin our loss,Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:For which to the infinitly Good we oweImmortal thanks, and his admonishmentReceave with solemne purpose to observeImmutably his sovran will, the endOf what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf’tGently for our instruction to impartThings above Earthly thought, which yet concerndOur knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,Deign to descend now lower, and relateWhat may no less perhaps availe us known,How first began this Heav’n which we beholdDistant so high, with moving Fires adorndInnumerable, and this which yeelds or fillsAll space, the ambient Aire wide interfus’dImbracing round this florid Earth, what causeMov’d the Creator in his holy RestThrough all Eternitie so late to buildIn Chaos, and the work begun, how soonAbsolv’d, if unforbid thou maist unfouldWhat wee, not to explore the secrets askeOf his Eternal Empire, but the moreTo magnifie his works, the more we know.And the great Light of Day yet wants to runMuch of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav’nHeld by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares,And longer will delay to heare thee tellHis Generation, and the rising BirthOf Nature from the unapparent Deep:Or if the Starr of Eevning and the MoonHaste to thy audience, Night with her will bringSilence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,Or we can bid his absence, till thy SongEnd, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.

And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde.This also thy request with caution asktObtaine: though to recount Almightie worksWhat words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serveTo glorifie the Maker, and inferrThee also happier, shall not be withheldThy hearing, such Commission from aboveI have receav’d, to answer thy desireOf knowledge within bounds; beyond abstainTo ask, nor let thine own inventions hopeThings not reveal’d, which th’ invisible King,Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:Anough is left besides to search and know.But Knowledge is as food, and needs no lessHer Temperance over Appetite, to knowIn measure what the mind may well contain,Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turnsWisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde.

Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav’n(So call him, brighter once amidst the HostOf Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)Fell with his flaming Legions through the DeepInto his place, and the great Son returndVictorious with his Saints, th’ OmnipotentEternal Father from his Throne beheldThir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.

At least our envious Foe hath fail’d, who thoughtAll like himself rebellious, by whose aidThis inaccessible high strength, the seatOf Deitie supream, us dispossest,He trusted to have seis’d, and into fraudDrew many, whom thir place knows here no more;Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,Thir station, Heav’n yet populous retainesNumber sufficient to possess her RealmesThough wide, and this high Temple to frequentWith Ministeries due and solemn Rites:But least his heart exalt him in the harmeAlready done, to have dispeopl’d Heav’n,My damage fondly deem’d, I can repaireThat detriment, if such it be to loseSelf-lost, and in a moment will createAnother World, out of one man a RaceOf men innumerable, there to dwell,Not here, till by degrees of merit rais’dThey open to themselves at length the wayUp hither, under long obedience tri’d,And Earth be chang’d to Heavn, & Heav’n to Earth,One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav’n,And thou my Word, begotten Son, by theeThis I perform, speak thou, and be it don:My overshadowing Spirit and might with theeI send along, ride forth, and bid the DeepWithin appointed bounds be Heav’n and Earth,Boundless the Deep, because I am who fillInfinitude, nor vacuous the space.Though I uncircumscrib’d my self retire,And put not forth my goodness, which is freeTo act or not, Necessitie and ChanceApproach not mee, and what I will is Fate.

So spake th’ Almightie, and to what he spakeHis Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.Immediate are the Acts of God, more swiftThen time or motion, but to human earsCannot without process of speech be told,So told as earthly notion can receave.Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav’nWhen such was heard declar’d the Almightie’s will;Glorie they sung to the most High, good willTo future men, and in thir dwellings peace:Glorie to him whose just avenging ireHad driven out th’ ungodly from his sightAnd th’ habitations of the just; to himGlorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain’dGood out of evil to create, in steadOf Spirits maligne a better Race to bringInto thir vacant room, and thence diffuseHis good to Worlds and Ages infinite.So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the SonOn his great Expedition now appeer’d,Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown’dOf Majestie Divine, Sapience and LoveImmense, and all his Father in him shon.About his Chariot numberless were pour’dCherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing’d,From the Armoury of God, where stand of oldMyriads between two brazen Mountains lodg’dAgainst a solemn day, harnest at hand,Celestial Equipage; and now came forthSpontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,Attendant on thir Lord: Heav’n op’nd wideHer ever during Gates, Harmonious soundOn golden Hinges moving, to let forthThe King of Glorie in his powerful WordAnd Spirit coming to create new Worlds.On heav’nly ground they stood, and from the shoreThey view’d the vast immeasurable AbyssOutrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,Up from the bottom turn’d by furious windesAnd surging waves, as Mountains to assaultHeav’ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.

Silence, ye troubl’d waves, and thou Deep, peace,Said then th’ Omnific Word, your discord end:

Nor staid, but on the Wings of CherubimUplifted, in Paternal Glorie rodeFarr into Chaos, and the World unborn;For Chaos heard his voice: him all his TraineFollow’d in bright procession to beholdCreation, and the wonders of his might.Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his handHe took the golden Compasses, prepar’dIn Gods Eternal store, to circumscribeThis Universe, and all created things:One foot he center’d, and the other turn’dRound through the vast profunditie obscure,And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,This be thy just Circumference, O World.Thus God the Heav’n created, thus the Earth,Matter unform’d and void: Darkness profoundCover’d th’ Abyss: but on the watrie calmeHis brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,And vital vertue infus’d, and vital warmthThroughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg’dThe black tartareous cold infernal dregsAdverse to life: then founded, then conglob’dLike things to like, the rest to several placeDisparted, and between spun out the Air,And Earth self-ballanc’t on her Center hung.

Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith LightEthereal, first of things, quintessence pureSprung from the Deep, and from her Native EastTo journie through the airie gloom began,Sphear’d in a radiant Cloud, for yet the SunWas not; shee in a cloudie TabernacleSojourn’d the while. God saw the Light was good;And light from darkness by the HemisphereDivided: Light the Day, and Darkness NightHe nam’d. Thus was the first Day Eev’n and Morn:Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsungBy the Celestial Quires, when Orient LightExhaling first from Darkness they beheld;Birth-day of Heav’n and Earth; with joy and shoutThe hollow Universal Orb they fill’d,And touch’t thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais’dGod and his works, Creatour him they sung,Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn.

Again, God said, let ther be FirmamentAmid the Waters, and let it divideThe Waters from the Waters: and God madeThe Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus’dIn circuit to the uttermost convexOf this great Round: partition firm and sure,The Waters underneath from those aboveDividing: for as Earth, so hee the WorldBuilt on circumfluous Waters calme, in wideCrystallin Ocean, and the loud misruleOf Chaos farr remov’d, least fierce extreamesContiguous might distemper the whole frame:And Heav’n he nam’d the Firmament: So Eev’nAnd Morning Chorus sung the second Day.

The Earth was form’d, but in the Womb as yetOf Waters, Embryon immature involv’d,Appeer’d not: over all the face of EarthMain Ocean flow’d, not idle, but with warmeProlific humour soft’ning all her Globe,Fermented the great Mother to conceave,Satiate with genial moisture, when God saidBe gather’d now ye Waters under Heav’nInto one place, and let dry Land appeer.Immediately the Mountains huge appeerEmergent, and thir broad bare backs upheaveInto the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:So high as heav’d the tumid Hills, so lowDown sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,Capacious bed of Waters: thither theyHasted with glad precipitance, uprowldAs drops on dust conglobing from the drie;Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,For haste; such flight the great command impress’dOn the swift flouds: as Armies at the callOf Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill,But they, or under ground, or circuit wideWith Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;Easie, e’re God had bid the ground be drie,All but within those banks, where Rivers nowStream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacleOf congregated Waters he call’d Seas:And saw that it was good, and said, Let th’ EarthPut forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed,And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind;Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth.He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till thenDesert and bare, unsightly, unadorn’d,Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure cladHer Universal Face with pleasant green,Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour’dOp’ning thir various colours, and made gayHer bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,Forth flourish’t thick the clustring Vine, forth creptThe smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie ReedEmbattell’d in her field: add the humble Shrub,And Bush with frizl’d hair implicit: lastRose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spredThir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm’dThir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd,With tufts the vallies & each fountain side,With borders long the Rivers. That Earth nowSeemd like to Heav’n, a seat where Gods might dwell,Or wander with delight, and love to hauntHer sacred shades: though God had yet not rain’dUpon the Earth, and man to till the groundNone was, but from the Earth a dewie MistWent up and waterd all the ground, and eachPlant of the field, which e’re it was in the EarthGod made, and every Herb, before it grewOn the green stemm; God saw that it was good:So Eev’n and Morn recorded the Third Day.

Again th’ Almightie spake: Let there be LightsHigh in th’ expanse of Heaven to divideThe Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,And let them be for Lights as I ordaineThir Office in the Firmament of Heav’nTo give Light on the Earth; and it was so.And God made two great Lights, great for thir useTo Man, the greater to have rule by Day,The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,And set them in the Firmament of Heav’nTo illuminate the Earth, and rule the DayIn thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,Surveying his great Work, that it was good:For of Celestial Bodies first the SunA mightie Spheare he fram’d, unlightsom first,Though of Ethereal Mould: then form’d the MoonGlobose, and everie magnitude of Starrs,And sowd with Starrs the Heav’n thick as a field:Of Light by farr the greater part he took,Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac’dIn the Suns Orb, made porous to receiveAnd drink the liquid Light, firm to retaineHer gather’d beams, great Palace now of Light.Hither as to thir Fountain other StarrsRepairing, in thir gold’n Urns draw Light,And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns;By tincture or reflection they augmentThir small peculiar, though from human sightSo farr remote, with diminution seen.First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,Regent of Day, and all th’ Horizon roundInvested with bright Rayes, jocond to runHis Longitude through Heav’ns high rode: the grayDawn, and the Pleiades before him danc’dShedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,But opposite in leveld West was setHis mirror, with full face borrowing her LightFrom him, for other light she needed noneIn that aspect, and still that distance keepesTill night, then in the East her turn she shines,Revolvd on Heav’ns great Axle, and her ReignWith thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer’dSpangling the Hemisphere: then first adorndWith thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day.

And God said, let the Waters generateReptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule:And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wingsDisplayd on the op’n Firmament of Heav’n.And God created the great Whales, and eachSoul living, each that crept, which plenteouslyThe waters generated by thir kindes,And every Bird of wing after his kinde;And saw that it was good, and bless’d them, saying,Be fruitful, multiply, and in the SeasAnd Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;And let the Fowle be multiply’d on the Earth.Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & BayWith Frie innumerable swarme, and ShoalesOf Fish that with thir Finns and shining ScalesGlide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oftBank the mid Sea: part single or with mateGraze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through GrovesOf Coral stray, or sporting with quick glanceShow to the Sun thir wav’d coats dropt with Gold,Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attendMoist nutriment, or under Rocks thir foodIn jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale,And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulkWallowing unweildie, enormous in thir GateTempest the Ocean: there LeviathanHugest of living Creatures, on the DeepStretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes,And seems a moving Land, and at his GillesDraws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoaresThir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soonBursting with kindly rupture forth disclos’dThir callow young, but featherd soon and fledgeThey summ’d thir Penns, and soaring th’ air sublimeWith clang despis’d the ground, under a cloudIn prospect; there the Eagle and the StorkOn Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:Part loosly wing the Region, part more wiseIn common, rang’d in figure wedge thir way,Intelligent of seasons, and set forthThir Aierie Caravan high over Sea’sFlying, and over Lands with mutual wingEasing thir flight; so stears the prudent CraneHer annual Voiage, born on Windes; the AireFloats, as they pass, fann’d with unnumber’d plumes:From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with songSolac’d the Woods, and spred thir painted wingsTill Ev’n, nor then the solemn NightingalCeas’d warbling, but all night tun’d her soft layes:Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath’dThir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neckBetween her white wings mantling proudly, RowesHer state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quitThe Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towreThe mid Aereal Skie: Others on groundWalk’d firm; the crested Cock whose clarion soundsThe silent hours, and th’ other whose gay TraineAdorns him, colour’d with the Florid hueOf Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thusWith Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle,Ev’ning and Morn solemniz’d the Fift day.

The Sixt, and of Creation last aroseWith Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said,Let th’ Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde,Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth,Each in their kinde. The Earth obey’d, and straitOp’ning her fertil Woomb teem’d at a BirthInnumerous living Creatures, perfet formes,Limb’d and full grown: out of the ground up-roseAs from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonnsIn Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk’d:The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green:Those rare and solitarie, these in flocksPasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung:The grassie Clods now Calv’d, now half appeer’dThe Tawnie Lion, pawing to get freeHis hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the MoaleRising, the crumbl’d Earth above them threwIn Hillocks; the swift Stag from under groundBore up his branching head: scarse from his mouldBehemoth biggest born of Earth upheav’dHis vastness: Fleec’t the Flocks and bleating rose,As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and LandThe River Horse and scalie Crocodile.At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,Insect or Worme; those wav’d thir limber fansFor wings, and smallest Lineaments exactIn all the Liveries dect of Summers prideWith spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:These as a line thir long dimension drew,Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not allMinims of Nature; some of Serpent kindeWondrous in length and corpulence involv’dThir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First creptThe Parsimonious Emmet, providentOf future, in small room large heart enclos’d,Pattern of just equalitie perhapsHereafter, join’d in her popular TribesOf Commonaltie: swarming next appeer’dThe Femal Bee that feeds her Husband DroneDeliciously, and builds her waxen CellsWith Honey stor’d: the rest are numberless,And thou thir Natures know’st, and gav’st them Names,Needlest to thee repeaed; nor unknownThe Serpent suttl’st Beast of all the field,Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen EyesAnd hairie Main terrific, though to theeNot noxious, but obedient at thy call.Now Heav’n in all her Glorie shon, and rowldHer motions, as the great first-Movers handFirst wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attireConsummate lovly smil’d; Aire, Water, Earth,By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walktFrequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain’d;There wanted yet the Master work, the endOf all yet don; a Creature who not proneAnd Brute as other Creatures, but endu’dWith Sanctitie of Reason, might erectHis Stature, and upright with Front sereneGovern the rest, self-knowing, and from thenceMagnanimous to correspond with Heav’n,But grateful to acknowledge whence his goodDescends, thither with heart and voice and eyesDirected in Devotion, to adoreAnd worship God Supream, who made him chiefOf all his works: therefore the OmnipotentEternal Father (For where is not heePresent) thus to his Son audibly spake.

Let us make now Man in our image, ManIn our similitude, and let them ruleOver the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.This said, he formd thee, Adam, thee O ManDust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath’dThe breath of Life; in his own Image heeCreated thee, in the Image of GodExpress, and thou becam’st a living Soul.Male he created thee, but thy consortFemal for Race; then bless’d Mankinde, and said,Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,Subdue it, and throughout Dominion holdOver Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire,And every living thing that moves on the Earth.Wherever thus created, for no placeIs yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know’stHe brought thee into this delicious Grove,This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,Delectable both to behold and taste;And freely all thir pleasant fruit for foodGave thee, all sorts are here that all th’ Earth yeelds,Varietie without end; but of the TreeWhich tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,Thou mai’st not; in the day thou eat’st, thou di’st;Death is the penaltie impos’d, beware,And govern well thy appetite, least sinSurprise thee, and her black attendant Death.Here finish’d hee, and all that he had madeView’d, and behold all was entirely good;So Ev’n and Morn accomplish’d the Sixt day:Yet not till the Creator from his workDesisting, though unwearied, up returndUp to the Heav’n of Heav’ns his high abode,Thence to behold this new created WorldTh’ addition of his Empire, how it shew’dIn prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,Answering his great Idea. Up he rodeFollowd with acclamation and the soundSymphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun’dAngelic harmonies: the Earth, the AireResounded, (thou remember’st, for thou heardst)The Heav’ns and all the Constellations rung,The Planets in thir stations list’ning stood,While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung,Open, ye Heav’ns, your living dores; let inThe great Creator from his work returndMagnificent, his Six days work, a World;Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigneTo visit oft the dwellings of just MenDelighted, and with frequent intercourseThither will send his winged MessengersOn errands of supernal Grace. So sungThe glorious Train ascending: He through Heav’n,That open’d wide her blazing Portals, ledTo Gods Eternal house direct the way,A broad and ample rode, whose dust is GoldAnd pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie wayWhich nightly as a circling Zone thou seestPouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the SeaventhEev’ning arose in Eden, for the SunWas set, and twilight from the East came on,Forerunning Night; when at the holy mountOf Heav’ns high-seated top, th’ Impereal ThroneOf Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,The Filial Power arriv’d, and sate him downWith his great Father (for he also wentInvisible, yet staid (such priviledgeHath Omnipresence) and the work ordain’d,Author and end of all things, and from workNow resting, bless’d and hallowd the Seav’nth day,As resting on that day from all his work,But not in silence holy kept; the HarpHad work and rested not, the solemn Pipe,And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,All sounds on Fret by String or Golden WireTemper’d soft Tunings, intermixt with VoiceChoral or Unison: of incense CloudsFuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount.Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung,Great are thy works, Jehovah, infiniteThy power; what thought can measure thee or tongueRelate thee; greater now in thy returnThen from the Giant Angels; thee that dayThy Thunders magnifi’d; but to createIs greater then created to destroy.Who can impair thee, mighty King, or boundThy Empire? easily the proud attemptOf Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaineThou hast repeld, while impiously they thoughtThee to diminish, and from thee withdrawThe number of thy worshippers. Who seekesTo lessen thee, against his purpose servesTo manifest the more thy might: his evilThou usest, and from thence creat’st more good.Witness this new-made World, another Heav’nFrom Heaven Gate not farr, founded in viewOn the cleer Hyaline, the Glassie Sea;Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr’sNumerous, and every Starr perhaps a WorldOf destind habitation; but thou know’stThir seasons: among these the seat of men,Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus’d,Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men,And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc’t,Created in his Image, there to dwellAnd worship him, and in reward to ruleOver his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,And multiply a Race of WorshippersHoly and just: thrice happie if they knowThir happiness, and persevere upright.

So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept.And thy request think now fulfill’d, that ask’dHow first this World and face of things began,And what before thy memorie was donFrom the beginning, that posteritieInformd by thee might know; if else thou seekstAught, not surpassing human measure, say.

To whom thus Adam gratefully repli’d.What thanks sufficient, or what recompenceEqual have I to render thee, DivineHystorian, who thus largely hast allaydThe thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsaf’tThis friendly condescention to relateThings else by me unsearchable, now heardVVith wonder, but delight, and, as is due,With glorie attributed to the highCreator; some thing yet of doubt remaines,VVhich onely thy solution can resolve.VVhen I behold this goodly Frame, this VVorldOf Heav’n and Earth consisting, and compute,Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine,An Atom, with the Firmament compar’dAnd all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowleSpaces incomprehensible (for suchThir distance argues and thir swift returnDiurnal) meerly to officiate lightRound this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,One day and night; in all thir vast surveyUseless besides, reasoning I oft admire,How Nature wise and frugal could commitSuch disproportions, with superfluous handSo many nobler Bodies to create,Greater so manifold to this one use,For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs imposeSuch restless revolution day by dayRepeated, while the sedentarie Earth,That better might with farr less compass move,Serv’d by more noble then her self, attainesHer end without least motion, and receaves,As Tribute such a sumless journey broughtOf incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;Speed, to describe whose swiftness Number failes.

So spake our Sire, and by his count’nance seemdEntring on studious thoughts abstruse, which EvePerceaving where she sat retir’d in sight,With lowliness Majestic from her seat,And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay,Rose, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours,To visit how they prosper’d, bud and bloom,Her Nurserie; they at her coming sprungAnd toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew.Yet went she not, as not with such discourseDelighted, or not capable her eareOf what was high: such pleasure she reserv’d,Adam relating, she sole Auditress;Her Husband the Relater she preferr’dBefore the Angel, and of him to askChose rather; hee, she knew would intermixGrateful digressions, and solve high disputeWith conjugal Caresses, from his LipNot Words alone pleas’d her. O when meet nowSuch pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn’d?With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went;Not unattended, for on her as QueenA pomp of winning Graces waited still,And from about her shot Darts of desireInto all Eyes to wish her still in sight.And Raphael now to Adam’s doubt propos’dBenevolent and facil thus repli’d.

To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heav’nIs as the Book of God before thee set,Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learneHis Seasons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeares:This to attain, whether Heav’n move or Earth,Imports not, if thou reck’n right, the restFrom Man or Angel the great ArchitectDid wisely to conceal, and not divulgeHis secrets to be scann’d by them who oughtRather admire; or if they list to tryConjecture, he his Fabric of the Heav’nsHath left to thir disputes, perhaps to moveHis laughter at thir quaint Opinions wideHereafter, when they come to model Heav’nAnd calculate the Starrs, how they will weildThe mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contriveTo save appeerances, how gird the SphearWith Centric and Eccentric scribl’d o’re,Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb:Alreadie by thy reasoning this I guess,Who art to lead thy ofspring, and supposestThat Bodies bright and greater should not serveThe less not bright, nor Heav’n such journies run,Earth sitting still, when she alone receavesThe benefit: consider first, that GreatOr Bright inferrs not Excellence: the EarthThough, in comparison of Heav’n, so small,Nor glistering, may of solid good containeMore plenty then the Sun that barren shines,Whose vertue on it self workes no effect,But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavdHis beams, unactive else, thir vigor find.Yet not to Earth are those bright LuminariesOfficious, but to thee Earths habitant.And for the Heav’ns wide Circuit, let it speakThe Makers high magnificence, who builtSo spacious, and his Line stretcht out so farr;That Man may know he dwells not in his own;An Edifice too large for him to fill,Lodg’d in a small partition, and the restOrdain’d for uses to his Lord best known.The swiftness of those Circles attribute,Though numberless, to his Omnipotence,That to corporeal substances could addeSpeed almost Spiritual; mee thou thinkst not slow,Who since the Morning hour set out from Heav’nWhere God resides, and ere mid-day arriv’dIn Eden, distance inexpressibleBy Numbers that have name. But this I urge,Admitting Motion in the Heav’ns, to shewInvalid that which thee to doubt it mov’d;Not that I so affirm, though so it seemTo thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.God to remove his wayes from human sense,Plac’d Heav’n from Earth so farr, that earthly sight,If it presume, might erre in things too high,And no advantage gaine. What if the SunBe Center to the World, and other StarrsBy his attractive vertue and thir ownIncited, dance about him various rounds?Thir wandring course now high, now low, then hid,Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,In six thou seest, and what if sev’nth to theseThe Planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem,Insensibly three different Motions move?Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe,Mov’d contrarie with thwart obliquities,Or save the Sun his labour, and that swiftNocturnal and Diurnal rhomb suppos’d,Invisible else above all Starrs, the WheeleOf Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe,If Earth industrious of her self fetch DayTravelling East, and with her part averseFrom the Suns beam meet Night, her other partStill luminous by his ray. What if that lightSent from her through the wide transpicuous aire,To the terrestrial Moon be as a StarrEnlightning her by Day, as she by NightThis Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there,Feilds and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seestAs Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produceFruits in her soft’nd Soile, for some to eateAllotted there; and other Suns perhapsWith thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrieCommunicating Male and Femal Light,Which two great Sexes animate the World,Stor’d in each Orb perhaps with some that live.For such vast room in Nature unpossestBy living Soule, desert and desolate,Onely to shine, yet scarce to contributeEach Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd so farrDown to this habitable, which returnesLight back to them, is obvious to dispute.But whether thus these things, or whether not,Whether the Sun predominant in Heav’nRise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun,Hee from the East his flaming rode begin,Or Shee from West her silent course advanceWith inoffensive pace that spinning sleepsOn her soft Axle, while she paces Eev’n,And bears thee soft with the smooth Air along,Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid,Leave them to God above, him serve and feare;Of other Creatures, as him pleases best,Wherever plac’t, let him dispose: joy thouIn what he gives to thee, this ParadiseAnd thy faire Eve; Heav’n is for thee too highTo know what passes there; be lowlie wise:Think onely what concernes thee and thy being;Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures thereLive, in what state, condition or degree,Contented that thus farr hath been reveal’dNot of Earth onely but of highest Heav’n.

To whom thus Adam cleerd of doubt, repli’d.How fully hast thou satisfi’d mee, pureIntelligence of Heav’n, Angel serene,And freed from intricacies, taught to live,The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughtsTo interrupt the sweet of Life, from whichGod hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares,And not molest us, unless we our selvesSeek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine.But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roaveUncheckt, and of her roaving is no end;Till warn’d, or by experience taught, she learne,That not to know at large of things remoteFrom use, obscure and suttle, but to knowThat which before us lies in daily life,Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume,Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,And renders us in things that most concerneUnpractis’d, unprepar’d, and still to seek.Therefore from this high pitch let us descendA lower flight, and speak of things at handUseful, whence haply mention may ariseOf somthing not unseasonable to askBy sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign’d.Thee I have heard relating what was donEre my remembrance: now hear mee relateMy Storie, which perhaps thou hast not heard;And Day is yet not spent; till then thou seestHow suttly to detaine thee I devise,Inviting thee to hear while I relate,Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav’n,And sweeter thy discourse is to my eareThen Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirstAnd hunger both, from labour, at the houreOf sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill,Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace DivineImbu’d, bring to thir sweetness no satietie.

To whom thus Raphael answer’d heav’nly meek.Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on theeAbundantly his gifts hath also pour’d,Inward and outward both, his image faire:Speaking or mute all comliness and graceAttends thee, and each word, each motion formes.Nor less think wee in Heav’n of thee on EarthThen of our fellow servant, and inquireGladly into the wayes of God with Man:For God we see hath honour’d thee, and setOn Man his equal Love: say therefore on;For I that Day was absent, as befell,Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell;Squar’d in full Legion (such command we had)To see that none thence issu’d forth a spie,Or enemie, while God was in his work,Least hee incenst at such eruption bold,Destruction with Creation might have mixt.Not that they durst without his leave attempt,But us he sends upon his high behestsFor state, as Sovran King, and to enureOur prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shutThe dismal Gates, and barricado’d strong;But long ere our approaching heard withinNoise, other then the sound of Dance or Song,Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage.Glad we return’d up to the coasts of LightEre Sabbath Eev’ning: so we had in charge.But thy relation now; for I attend,Pleas’d with thy words no less then thou with mine.

So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire.For Man to tell how human Life beganIs hard; for who himself beginning knew?Desire with thee still longer to converseInduc’d me. As new wak’t from soundest sleepSoft on the flourie herb I found me laidIn Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the SunSoon dri’d, and on the reaking moisture fed.Strait toward Heav’n my wondring Eyes I turnd,And gaz’d a while the ample Skie, till rais’dBy quick instinctive motion up I sprung,As thitherward endevoring, and uprightStood on my feet; about me round I sawHill, Dale, and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plaines,And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these,Creatures that livd, and movd, and walk’d, or flew,Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil’d,With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow’d.My self I then perus’d, and Limb by LimbSurvey’d, and sometimes went, and sometimes ranWith supple joints, as lively vigour led:But who I was, or where, or from what cause,Knew not; to speak I tri’d, and forthwith spake,My Tongue obey’d and readily could nameWhat e’re I saw. Thou Sun, said I, faire Light,And thou enlight’nd Earth, so fresh and gay,Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines,And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell,Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here?Not of my self; by some great Maker then,In goodness and in power praeeminent;Tell me, how may I know him, how adore,From whom I have that thus I move and live,And feel that I am happier then I know.While thus I call’d, and stray’d I knew not whither,From where I first drew Aire, and first beheldThis happie Light, when answer none return’d,On a green shadie Bank profuse of FloursPensive I sate me down; there gentle sleepFirst found me, and with soft oppression seis’dMy droused sense, untroubl’d, though I thoughtI then was passing to my former stateInsensible, and forthwith to dissolve:When suddenly stood at my Head a dream,Whose inward apparition gently mov’dMy Fancy to believe I yet had being,And livd: One came, methought, of shape Divine,And said, thy Mansion wants thee, Adam, rise,First Man, of Men innumerable ordain’dFirst Father, call’d by thee I come thy GuideTo the Garden of bliss, thy seat prepar’d.So saying, by the hand he took me rais’d,And over Fields and Waters, as in AireSmooth sliding without step, last led me upA woodie Mountain; whose high top was plaine,A Circuit wide, enclos’d, with goodliest TreesPlanted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I sawOf Earth before scarse pleasant seemd. Each TreeLoad’n with fairest Fruit, that hung to the EyeTempting, stirr’d in me sudden appetiteTo pluck and eate; whereat I wak’d, and foundBefore mine Eyes all real, as the dreamHad lively shadowd: Here had new begunMy wandring, had not hee who was my GuideUp hither, from among the Trees appeer’d,Presence Divine. Rejoycing, but with awIn adoration at his feet I fellSubmiss: he rear’d me, & Whom thou soughtst I am,Said mildely, Author of all this thou seestAbove, or round about thee or beneath.This Paradise I give thee, count it thineTo Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate:Of every Tree that in the Garden growesEate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:But of the Tree whose operation bringsKnowledg of good and ill, which I have setThe Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith,Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life,Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste,And shun the bitter consequence: for know,The day thou eat’st thereof, my sole commandTransgrest, inevitably thou shalt dye;From that day mortal, and this happie StateShalt loose, expell’d from hence into a WorldOf woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounc’dThe rigid interdiction, which resoundsYet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choiceNot to incur; but soon his cleer aspectReturn’d and gratious purpose thus renew’d.Not onely these fair bounds, but all the EarthTo thee and to thy Race I give; as LordsPossess it, and all things that therein live,Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle.In signe whereof each Bird and Beast beholdAfter thir kindes; I bring them to receaveFrom thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtieWith low subjection; understand the sameOf Fish within thir watry residence,Not hither summond, since they cannot changeThir Element to draw the thinner Aire.As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast beholdApproaching two and two, These cowring lowWith blandishment, each Bird stoop’d on his wing.I nam’d them, as they pass’d, and understoodThir Nature, with such knowledg God endu’dMy sudden apprehension: but in theseI found not what me thought I wanted still;And to the Heav’nly vision thus presum’d.

O by what Name, for thou above all these,Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher,Surpassest farr my naming, how may IAdore thee, Author of this Universe,And all this good to man, for whose well beingSo amply, and with hands so liberalThou hast provided all things: but with meeI see not who partakes. In solitudeWhat happiness, who can enjoy alone,Or all enjoying, what contentment find?Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright,As with a smile more bright’nd, thus repli’d.

What call’st thou solitude, is not the EarthWith various living creatures, and the AireReplenisht, and all these at thy commandTo come and play before thee, know’st thou notThir language and thir wayes, they also know,And reason not contemptibly; with theseFind pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large.So spake the Universal Lord, and seem’dSo ordering. I with leave of speech implor’d,And humble deprecation thus repli’d.

Let not my words offend thee, Heav’nly Power,My Maker, be propitious while I speak.Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,And these inferiour farr beneath me set?Among unequals what societieCan sort, what harmonie or true delight?Which must be mutual, in proportion dueGiv’n and receiv’d; but in disparitieThe one intense, the other still remissCannot well suite with either, but soon proveTedious alike: Of fellowship I speakSuch as I seek, fit to participateAll rational delight, wherein the bruteCannot be human consort; they rejoyceEach with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness;So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin’d;Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with FowleSo well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape;Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all.

Whereto th’ Almighty answer’d, not displeas’d.A nice and suttle happiness I seeThou to thy self proposest, in the choiceOf thy Associates, Adam, and wilt tasteNo pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie.What thinkst thou then of mee, and this my State,Seem I to thee sufficiently possestOf happiness, or not? who am aloneFrom all Eternitie, for none I knowSecond to mee or like, equal much less.How have I then with whom to hold converseSave with the Creatures which I made, and thoseTo me inferiour, infinite descentsBeneath what other Creatures are to thee?

He ceas’d, I lowly answer’d. To attaineThe highth and depth of thy Eternal wayesAll human thoughts come short, Supream of things;Thou in thy self art perfet, and in theeIs no deficience found; not so is Man,But in degree, the cause of his desireBy conversation with his like to help,Or solace his defects. No need that thouShouldst propagat, already infinite;And through all numbers absolute, though One;But Man by number is to manifestHis single imperfection, and begetLike of his like, his Image multipli’d,In unitie defective, which requiresCollateral love, and deerest amitie.Thou in thy secresie although alone,Best with thy self accompanied, seek’st notSocial communication, yet so pleas’d,Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wiltOf Union or Communion, deifi’d;I by conversing cannot these erectFrom prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find.Thus I embold’nd spake, and freedom us’dPermissive, and acceptance found, which gain’dThis answer from the gratious voice Divine.

Thus farr to try thee, Adam, I was pleas’d,And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone,Which thou hast rightly nam’d, but of thy self,Expressing well the spirit within thee free,My Image, not imparted to the Brute,Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for theeGood 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 companie as then thou saw’stIntended thee, for trial onely brought,To see how thou could’st judge of fit and meet:What next I bring shall please thee, be assur’d,Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,Thy wish, exactly to thy hearts desire.

Hee ended, or I heard no more, for nowMy earthly by his Heav’nly overpowerd,Which it had long stood under, streind to the highthIn that celestial Colloquie sublime,As with an object that excels the sense,Dazl’d and spent, sunk down, and sought repairOf sleep, which instantly fell on me, call’dBy Nature as in aide, and clos’d mine eyes.Mine eyes he clos’d, but op’n left the CellOf Fancie my internal sight, by whichAbstract as in a transe methought I saw,Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shapeStill glorious before whom awake I stood;Who stooping op’nd my left side, and tookFrom thence a Rib, with cordial spirits warme,And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,But suddenly with flesh fill’d up & heal’d:The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands;Under his forming hands a Creature grew,Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire,That what seemd fair in all the World, seemd nowMean, or in her summd up, in her containdAnd in her looks, which from that time infus’dSweetness into my heart, unfelt before,And into all things from her Aire inspir’dThe spirit of love and amorous delight.She disappeerd, and left me dark, I wak’dTo find her, or for ever to deploreHer loss, and other pleasures all abjure:When out of hope, behold her, not farr off,Such as I saw her in my dream, adorndWith what all Earth or Heaven could bestowTo make her amiable: On she came,Led by her Heav’nly Maker, though unseen,And guided by his voice, nor uninformdOf nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites:Grace was in all her steps, Heav’n in her Eye,In every gesture dignitie and love.I overjoyd could not forbear aloud.

This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill’dThy words, Creator bounteous and benigne,Giver of all things faire, but fairest thisOf all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now seeBone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my SelfBefore me; Woman is her Name, of ManExtracted; for this cause he shall forgoeFather and Mother, and to his Wife adhere;And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule.

She heard me thus, and though divinely brought,Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie,Her vertue and the conscience of her worth,That would be woo’d, and not unsought be won,Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir’d,The more desirable, or to say all,Nature her self, 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 Majestie approv’dMy pleaded reason. To the Nuptial BowreI led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav’n,And happie Constellations on that houreShed thir selectest influence; the EarthGave sign of gratulation, and each Hill;Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle AiresWhisper’d it to the Woods, and from thir wingsFlung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub,Disporting, till the amorous Bird of NightSung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning StarrOn his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp.Thus I have told thee all my State, and broughtMy Storie to the sum of earthly blissWhich I enjoy, and must confess to findIn all things else delight indeed, but suchAs us’d or not, works in the mind no change,Nor vehement desire, these delicaciesI mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours,Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but hereFarr otherwise, transported I behold,Transported touch; here passion first I felt,Commotion strange, in all enjoyments elseSuperiour and unmov’d, here onely weakeAgainst the charm of Beauties powerful glance.Or Nature faild in mee, and left some partNot proof enough such Object to sustain,Or from my side subducting, took perhapsMore then enough; at least on her bestow’dToo much of Ornament, in outward shewElaborate, of inward less exact.For well I understand in the prime endOf Nature her th’ inferiour, in the mindAnd inward Faculties, which most excell,In outward also her resembling lessHis Image who made both, and less expressingThe character of that Dominion giv’nO’re other Creatures; yet when I approachHer loveliness, so absolute she seemsAnd in her self compleat, so well to knowHer own, that what she wills to do or say,Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best;All higher knowledge in her presence fallsDegraded, Wisdom in discourse with herLooses discount’nanc’t, and like folly shewes;Authoritie and Reason on her waite,As one intended first, not after madeOccasionally; and to consummate all,Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seatBuild in her loveliest, and create an aweAbout her, as a guard Angelic plac’t.To whom the Angel with contracted brow.

Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part;Do thou but thine, and be not diffidentOf Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thouDismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh,By attributing overmuch to thingsLess excellent, as thou thy self perceav’st.For what admir’st thou, what transports thee so,An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy wellThy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy self;Then value: Oft times nothing profits moreThen self-esteem, grounded on just and rightWell manag’d; of that skill the more thou know’st,The more she will acknowledge thee her Head,And to realities yeild all her shows;Made so adorn for thy delight the more,So awful, that with honour thou maist loveThy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.But if the sense of touch whereby mankindIs propagated seem such dear delightBeyond all other, think the same voutsaf’tTo Cattel and each Beast; which would not beTo them made common & divulg’d, if aughtTherein enjoy’d were worthy to subdueThe Soule of Man, or passion in him move.What higher in her societie thou findstAttractive, human, rational, love still;In loving thou dost well, in passion not,Wherein true Love consists not; love refinesThe thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seatIn Reason, and is judicious, is the scaleBy which to heav’nly Love thou maist ascend,Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which causeAmong the Beasts no Mate for thee was found.

To whom thus half abash’t Adam repli’d.Neither her out-side formd so fair, nor aughtIn procreation common to all kindes(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 flowFrom all her words and actions, mixt with LoveAnd sweet compliance, which declare unfeign’dUnion of Mind, or in us both one Soule;Harmonie to behold in wedded pairMore grateful then harmonious sound to the eare.Yet these subject not; I to thee discloseWhat inward thence I feel, not therefore foild,Who meet with various objects, from the senseVariously representing; yet still freeApprove the best, and follow what I approve.To love thou blam’st me not, for love thou saistLeads 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 thir LoveExpress they, by looks onely, or do they mixIrradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

To whom the Angel with a smile that glow’dCelestial rosie red, Loves proper hue,Answer’d. Let it suffice thee that thou know’stUs happie, and without Love no happiness.Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy’st(And pure thou wert created) we enjoyIn eminence, and obstacle find noneOf membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs:Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace,Total they mix, Union of Pure with PureDesiring; nor restrain’d conveyance needAs Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul.But I can now no more; the parting SunBeyond the Earths green Cape and verdant IslesHesperean sets, my Signal to depart.Be strong, live happie, and love, but first of allHim whom to love is to obey, and keepHis great command; take heed least Passion swayThy Judgement to do aught, which else free WillWould not admit; thine and of all thy SonsThe weal or woe in thee is plac’t; beware.I in thy persevering shall rejoyce,And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fallFree in thine own Arbitrement it lies.Perfet within, no outward aid require;And all temptation to transgress repel.

So saying, he arose; whom Adam thusFollow’d with benediction. Since to part,Go heavenly Guest, Ethereal Messenger,Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.Gentle to me and affable hath beenThy condescension, and shall be honour’d everWith grateful Memorie: thou to mankindBe good and friendly still, and oft return.

So parted they, the Angel up to Heav’nFrom the thick shade, and Adam to his Bowre.