By nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes. Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell 460 Of fancy my internal fight: by which, Abstract as in a trance, methought I faw, Though fleeping, where I lay, and faw the shape Still glorious, before whom awake I ftood: Who ftooping open'd my left fide, and took 465 From thence a rib, with cordial fpirits warm, And life-blood streaming frefh: wide was the wound, But fuddenly with flefh fill'd up and heal'd. The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands: Under his forming hands a creature grew 470 Man like, but different fex: fo lovely fair! That, what feem'd fair in all the world, feem'd NOW Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd, Her lofs, and other pleafures all abjure. 480 Led by her heav'nly Maker, though unseen, 485 I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud. fulfill'd 490 Thou haft Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign! Of all thy gifts, nor envieft. I now see Extracted for this caufe he fhall forego Father and mother, and t' his wife adhere; And they shall be one flesh, one heart, foul. one She heard me thus, and tho' divinely brought, Yet innocence, and virgin modefty, 500 Her virtue, and the confcience of her worth, won, Not obvions, not obtrufive, but retir'd, The more defirable: or, to fay all, 505 Nature herself, though pure of finful thought, My pleaded reafon. bow'r To the nuptial 510 I led her blushing like the morn: all Heav'n, air's 515 Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wing Flung rofe, flung odors from the fpicy fhrub, My story to the fum of earthly bliss, Which I enjoy; and must confefs to find In all things elfe delight indeed, but fuch As us'd or not, works in the mind no change, Nor vehement defire; theese delicacies 525 I mean of taste, fight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flow'rs, Walks, and the melody of birds: but here. 535 Or Nature fail'd in me, and left some part For well I understand in the prime end 549 His image who made both; and lefs expreffing 555 As one intended first, not after made Occasionally: and, to confummate all, Greatnels of mind, and noblenefs, their feat Build in her lovelieft, and create an awe About her, as a guard Angelic plac'd. To whom the Angel with contracted browi 560 Accufe not Nature, fhe hath done her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident Of wifdom: The deferts thee not, if thou Dismiss not her, when most thou need's her nigh; By attributing over-much to things 565 Lefs excellent, as thou thyfelf perceiv'st. Then value: oft-times nothing profits more Than felf'efteem, grounded on juft an right, Well manag'd: of that fhill the more thou know'ft, The more fhe will acknowledge thee her Head, And to relaties yield all her shows: Made fo adorn for thy delight the more; 575 So awful, that with honor thou may'ft love Thy mate; who fees, when thou art feen leaft wife. 589 But if the fenfe of touch, whereby mankind To them made common, and divulg'd, if ought |