"Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, "Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,— "Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought My story to the sum of earthly bliss, 510 520 "Which I enjoy; and must confess to find "In all things else delight indeed, but such "As, used or not, works in the mind no change, "Nor vehement desire; these delicacies "I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, "Walks, and the melody of birds: but here "Far otherwise! transported I behold, 66 Transported touch-here passion first I felt, "Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else Superior and unmoved-here only weak Against the charm of beauty's powerful glance. "Or nature failed 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 bestowed "Too much of ornament, in outward show "Elaborate, of inward less exact. 530 "For well I understand, in the prime end 540 "Of nature, her the inferior, in the mind "And inward faculties, which most excel; "In outward also her resembling less "His image who made both, and less expressing "O'er other creatures: yet, when I approach 66 "Loses discountenanced, and like folly shows: 'Authority and reason on her wait, 66 "As one intended first, not after made 66 '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 placed." 550 To whom the Angel, with contracted brow: 66 Accuse not nature; she hath done her part: "Do thou but thine; and be not diffident "Of wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou 560 "Dismiss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh, 66 66 66 'By attribúting overmuch to things Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest. For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so? "An outside! fair, no doubt, and worthy well 66 Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love; "Not thy subjection: weigh with her thyself; "Then value: oft-times nothing profits more "Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right, "Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowst, "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 66 Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed 570 580 "To cattle and each beast! which would not be "From all her words and actions, mixed with love 66 Harmony to behold in wedded pair “More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. 66 Approve the best, and follow what I approve. "To love, thou blamest me not; for love, thou sayst, "Leads up to Heaven-is both the way and guide; "Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask: 66 "Love not the heavenly spirits, and how their love To whom the angel, with a smile that glowed 590 600 610 620 "Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyst, -we enjoy "And pure thou wert created,— "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 66 Desiring; nor restrained conveyance need, "Be strong, live happy, and love! but, first of all, "The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware! 66 'I in thy persevering shall rejoice, "And all the blest. Stand fast! to stand, or fall, "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 Followed with benediction: "Since to part, "Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger, "Sent from whose soyran goodness I adore! "Gentle to me and affable hath been 630 640 66 Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever 650 "With grateful memory: thou to mankind SATAN having encompassed the Earth, with meditated guile returns, as a mist, by night into Paradise; 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, loth 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. No more of talk where God or angel guest I now must change Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach Disloyal, on the part of Man; revolt, And disobedience: on the part of Heaven Now alienated, distance and distaste; |