Did wifely to conceal, and not divulge
His fecrets to be scann'd by them who ought
Rather admire; or if they lift to try
Conjecture, he his fabric of the Heav'ns
Hath left to their difputes, perhaps to move
His laughter at their quaint opinions wide
Hereafter, when they come to model Heav'n
And calculate the ftars, how they will wield
The mighty frame, how build, unbuild, contrive
To fave appearances, how gird the sphere
With centric and eccentric fcribled o'er.
Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb:
Already by thy reasoning this I guess,
Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest
That bodies bright and greater fhould not ferve
The lefs not bright, nor Heav'n fuch journeys run,
Earth fitting ftill, when she alone receives
'The benefit: Confider first, that great
Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth,
Though in comparison of Heav'n, so small,
Nor glift'ring, may of folid good contain
More plenty than the Sun that barren fhines,
Whofe virtue on itself works no effect,

But in the fruitful Earth; there first receiv'd
His beams, unactive elfe, their vigour find.
Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries
Officious, but to thee Earth's habitant.
And for the Heav'ns wide circuit, let it fpeak
The Maker's high magnificence, who built
So fpacious, and his line stretch'd out so far,
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 reft
Ordain'd for ufes to his Lord best known.
The swiftnefs of thofe circles attribute,
Though numberlefs, to his omnipotence,
That to corporeal substances could add
Speed almost spiritual; me thou think'ft not flow,
Who fince the morning hour fet out from Heav'n
Where God refides, and e'er mid day arriv'd
In Eden, distance inexpreffible

By numbers that have name. But this I urge,
Admitting motion in the Heav'ns, to fhew
Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd;
Not that I fo affirm, though so it seem
To thee who haft thy dwelling here on Earth,
God to remove his ways from human sense,
Plac'd Heav'n from Earth fo far, that earthly
fight,

[hid,

If it prefume, might err in things too high,
And no advantage gain. What if the fun
Be centre to the world, and other stars
By his attractive virtue and their own
Incited, dance about him various rounds?
Their wand'ring courfe now high, now low, then
Progreffive, retograde, or standing still,
In fix thou feeft, and what if seventh to thefe
The planet Earth, so stedfast though the feem,
Infenfibly three different motions move?
Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe
Mov'd contrary with thwart obliquities,
Or fave the Sun his labour, and that fwift
Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb fuppos'd,
Invisible elfe above all stars, the wheel
Of day and night; which needs not thy belief

If Earth industrious of herfelf fetch day Travelling east, and with her part averse From the fun's beam meet night, her other part Still luminous by his ray. What if that light Sent from her through the wild tranfpicuous air, To the terrestrial moon be as a star Inlightning her by day, as fhe by night This earth? reciprocal, if land be there, Fields and inhabitants: her spots thou seeft As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce Fruits in her foften'd foil, for fome to eat Allotted there; and other funs perhaps With their attendant moons thou wilt defcry Communicating male and female light, Which two great fexes animate the World, Stor'd in each orb perhaps with fome that live. For fuch vaft room in Nature unpoffefs'd By living foul defert and defolate, Only to fhine, yet fcarce to contribute Each orb a glimpfe of light, convey'd fo far Down to this habitable, which returns Light back to them, is obvious to difpute. But whether thus these things, or whether not, Whether the fun predominant in Heav'n Rife on Earth, or Earth rife on the fun, He from the Eaft his flaming road begin, Or fhe from weft her filent courfe advance With inoffenfive pace that spinning fleeps On her foft axle, while fhe paces even, And bears thee foft with the fmooth air along, Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; Leave them to God above, him ferve and fear; Of other creatures, as him pleases best, Wherever plac'd, let him difpofe : joy thou In what he gives to thee, this Paradife And thy fair Eve; Heav'n is for thee too high To know what paffes there; be lowly wife: Think only what concerns thee and thy being; Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there Live, in what ftate, condition or degree, Contented that thus far hath been reveal'd Not of Earth only but of highest Heav'n.

[vain.

To whom thus Adam, clear'd of doubt, reply'd, How fully haft thou fatisfied me pure Intelligence of Heav'n, Angel ferene, And freed from intricacies, taught to live The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts To interrupt the fweet of life, from which God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, And not moleft us, unless we ourselves Seck them with wand'ring thoughts, and notions But apt the mind or fancy is to rove Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end; Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learn, That not to know at large of things remote From ufe, obfcure and fubtile, but to know That which before us lies in daily life, Is the prime wifdom; what is more, is fume Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, And renders us in things that most concern Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and ftill to feek. Therefore from this high pitch let us defcend A lower flight, and speak of things at hand Ufeful, whence haply mention may arife Of fomething not unfeafonable to af

By luurance and thy wonted favour deign'd.
Thee I have heard relating what was done
E'er my remembrance: now hear me relate
My ftory, which perhaps thou haft not heard;
And day is not yet fpent; till then thou feeft
How fubtly to detain thee I devise,
laviting thee to hear while I relate,
Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:
For while I fit with thee, I feem in Heav'n,
And sweeter thy difcourfe is to my ear
Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst
And hunger both, from labour, at the hour
Of fweet repaft; they fatiate, and foon fill
Though pleasant, but thy words with grace divine
Imbued, bring to their sweetness no fatiety.

To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek.
Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of Men,
Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee
Abundantly his gifts hath alfo pour'd
Inward and outward both, his image fair:
Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace
Auds thee, and each word, each motion forms;
Nor is think we in Heav'n of thee on Earth
Than of our fellow-fervant, and inquire
Glady into the ways of God with Man:
For God we fee hath honour'd thee, and set
On man his equal love: fay therefore on;
For I that day was abfent, as befel,
Bound on a voyage uncouth and obfcure,
Far on excurfion tow'rd the gates of Hell;
Squar'd in full legion (fuch command we had)
To fee that none thence iffued forth a spy,
Or enemy, while God was in his work,
Let he, incens'd at fuch eruption bold,
Deftruction with creation might have mix'd.
Not that they durft without his leave attempt,
Bet us he fends upon his high behefts
For ftate, as Sov'reign King, and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Faft we found, fast shut,
The difmal gates, and barricado'd strong;
But long e'er our approaching heard within
Nede, other than the found of dance or fong,
Torment and loud lament, and furious rage.
Glad we return'd up to the Coafts of Light
E'er fabbath evening: fo we had in charge.
Est thy relation now; for I attend,

Pleal'd with thy words no lefs than thou with

mine.

So fpake the godlike Power; and thus our Sire. For man to tell how human life began 1s hard; for who himself beginning knew? Defire with thee still longer to converse Induc'd me. As new wak'd from foundeft fleep Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid In balmy fweat, which with his beams the fun Soon dry'd, and on the reeking moisture fed. Strait toward Heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turn'd, And gaz'd a while the ample fky, till rais'd By quick inftinctive motion up I fprung, As thitherward endeavouring, and upright Stood on my feet; about me round I faw Hill, dale, and fhady woods, and funny plains, And liquid lapfe of murm'ring ftreams; by thefe, Creatures that liv'd and mov'd, and walk'd, or Деж

Birds on the branches warbling; all things fimil'd,
With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd.
Myfelf I then perus'd, and limb by limb
Survey'd, and fometimes went, and fometimes ran
With fupple joints, as lively vigour led:
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 faw. Thou Sun, faid 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 teli,
Tell if ye faw, how came I thus, how here;
Not of myself; by fome great Maker then,
In goodness and in power præeminent;
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 than I know.

While thus I call'd, and stray'd, I knew not whi

ther,

From where I firft drew air, and first bcheld
This happy light, when answer none return'd,
On a green fhady bank profufe of flowers
Penfive I fat me down; there gentle Sleep
First found me, and with foft oppreffion feis'd
My droused fenfe, untroubled, though I thought

I then was pafling to my former state
Infenfible, and forthwith to diffolve:
When fuddenly stood at my head a Dream,
Whofe inward apparition gently mov'd

My fancy to believe I yet had being,

And liv'd: One came, methought of shape divine,
And faid, Thy manfion wants thee, Adam, rife,
First Man, of men innumerable ordain'd
First Father, call'd by thee I come thy guide
To the Garden of Blifs, thy feat prepar'd.
So faying, by the hand he took me rais'd,
And over fields and waters, as in air
Smooth fliding without ftep, laft led me up
A woody mountain, whofe high top was plain,
A circuit wide, inclos'd, with goodlieft trees
Planted, with walks, and bowers, that what I faw
Of Earth before fcarce pleasant seem'd. Each tree
Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to th' eye
Tempting, ftirr'd in me fudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream
Had lively fhadow'd: here had new begun
My wand'ring, had not he who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appear'd,
Prefence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submifs he rear'd me, and whom thou fought'
Said mildly, author of all this thou feeft
[I am,
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
This Paradife I give thee, count it thine
To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat
Of every tree that in the garden grows,
Eat freely with glad heart; for here no dearth:
But of the tree whofe operation brings
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have fet
The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,
Amid the garden by the tree of life,

Remember what I warn thee, fhun to tafte,
And thun the bitter confequence: for know

The day thou eat'st thereof, my fole command
Tranfgrefs'd, inevitably thou fhalt die,
From that day mortal, and this happy state
Shalt lofe, expell'd from hence into a world
Of woe and forrow. Sternly he pronounc'd
The rigid interdiction, which refounds

Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice
Not to incur; but foon 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
Poffefs it, and all things that therein live,
Or live in fea, or air, beast, fish, and fowl.
In fign whereof each bird and beast behold
After their kinds; I bring them to receive
From thee their names, and pay thee fealty
With low fubjection; understand the fame
Of fish within their watry refidence,
Not hither fummon'd, fince they cannot change
Their element to draw the thinner air.
As thus he fpake, each bird and beaft behold
Approaching two and two; thefe cow'ring low,
With blandishment, each bird ftoop'd on his wing.
I nam'd them, as they pafs'd, and understood
'Their nature, with fuch knowledge God indued
My fudden apprehension: but in these
I found not what methought I wanted still;
And to the heav'nly Vision thus prefum'd.

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

And all this good to man? for whofe well being
So amply, and with hands fo liberal,
Thou haft provided all things: but with me
I fee not who partakes. In folitude
What happiness? who can enjoy alone,
Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
Thus I prefumptuous; 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 crcatures, 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 alfo know,
And reafon not contemptibly; with these
Find paftime and bear rule; thy realm is large.
So fpake the univerfal Lord, and feem'd
So ord'ring. I with leave of speech implor'd,
And humble deprecation thus reply'd.

Let not my words offend thee, heav'nly Power;
My maker, be propitious while I speak.
Haft thou not made me here thy fubftitute,
And these inferior far beneath me fet?
Among unequals what fociety

Can fort, what harmony or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Giv'n and receiv'd; but in difparity
The one intenfe, the other ftill remifs
Cannot well fuit with either, but foon prove
Tedious alike: of fellowship I speak
Such as I feek, fit to participate
All rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human confort; they rejoice
Each with their kind, lion with lion:fs;

So fitly them in pairs thou haft combin'd;
Much lefs can bird with beaft, or fish with fowl
So well converfe, nor with the ox the ape;
Worfe then can man with beast, and least of all.
Whereto th' Almighty answer'd not difpleas'd.
A nice and fubtile happiness I fee
Thou to thyfelf propofeft, in the choice
Of thy affociates, Adam, and wilt taste
No pleasure, though in pleasure, folitary.
What think'ft thou then of me, and this my state
Seem I to thee fufficiently poffefs'd

Of happiness or not? who am alone
From all eternity, for none 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 defcents
Beneath what other creatures are to thee?

He ceas'd; I lowly anfwer'd. To attain
The height and depth of thy eternal ways
All human thoughts come fhort, Supreme of things;
Thou in thyfelf art perfect, and in thee
Is no deficience found: not fo is man,
But in degree the caufe of his defire
By converfation with his like to help,
Or folace his defects. No need that thou
Should'ft propagate, already infinite,
And through all numbers abfolute, though one;
But man by number is to manifeft
His fingle imperfection, and beget
Like of his like, his image multiply'd,
In unity defective, which requires
Collateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy fecrefy although alone,
Beft with thyfelf accompanied, feek'st not
Social communication, yet fo pleas'd,

Canft raife thy creature to what height thou wilt
Of union or communion, deify'd;

I by converfing cannot thefe erect
From prone, nor in their ways complacence find.
Thus I imbolden'd spake, and freedom us'd
Permiffive, and acceptance found, which gain'd
This anfwer from the gracious voice divine.

Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd,
And find thee knowing not of beafts alone,
Which thou had rightly nam'd, but of thyself,
Expreffing well the fpirit within thee free,
My image, not imparted to the brute,
Whofe fellowship therefore unmeet for thee
Good reafon was thou freely fhouldst dislike
And be fo minded still; I, e'er thou spak'st,
Knew it not good for man to be alone,
And no fuch company as then thou faw'ft
Intended thee, for trial only brought,
To fee how thou could't judge of fit and meet:
What next I bring fhall please thee, be affur'd,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other felf,
Thy with exactly to thy heart's defire.

He ended, or I heard no more; for now My carthly by his heav'nly overpower'd, Which it had long ftood under, ftrain'd to th In that celestial colloquy fublime, [height As with an object that excells the fenfe Dazzled and spent, funk down and fought repair Of Sleep, which inftantly 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 fight, by which
Abstract as in a trance methought I saw,
Though fleeping, where I lay, and faw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I stood :
Who ftooping open'd my left side, and took
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm,
And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the
wound,

Bat fuddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd :
The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands;
Under his forming hands a creature grew
Manlike, but different fex, fo lovely fair,
That what feem'd fair in all the world, feem'd now
Man, or in her fumm'd up, in her contain'd
And in her looks, which from that time infus'd
Sweetness into my heart unfelt before,
And into all things from her air infpir'd
The spirit of love and amorous delight.
She disappear'd, and left me dark: I wak'd
To fed her, or for ever to deplore
Her lofs, and other pleasures all abjure:
When out of hope, behold her, not far off,
Such as I faw her in my dream, adorn'd
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
To make her amiable: on the came,
Led by her heav'nly Maker, though unfeen,
And guided by his voice, nor uninform'd
Of nuptial's fanctity and marriage rites:
Grace was in all her fteps, Heav'n in her eye,
In every gefture dignity and love.
I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud.

This turn hath made amends; thou haft fulfill'd
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,
Giver of all things fair, but fairest this
Of all thy gifts, nor envieft. I now fee
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myfelf
Before me; Woman is her name, of Man
Extracted; for this caufe he thail forego
Father and mother, and to his wife adhere;
And they shall be one ficfh, one heart, one foul.
she heard me thus; and tho' divinely brought
Yer innocence and virgin modefty,
Her virtue and the confcience of her worth,
That would be woo'd, and not unfought be won,
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd
The more defirable, or to fay all,
Nature herself, though pure of finful thought,
Wrought in her fo, that feeing me, the turn'd;
I follow'd her, the what was honour knew,
And with obfequous majefty approv'd
My pleaded reafon. To the nuptial bower
I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n,
And happy conftellations on that hour
Shed their felecteft influence; the Earth
Gave fign of gratulation, and each hill;
Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
Whifper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
big rofe, flung odours from the spicy fhrub,
aperting till the amorous bird of night
Sang Specfil, and bid hafte the evening flar
On bis Lill top, to light the bridal lamp.
This have I fold thee all my ftate, and brought
ply flory to the fum of earthly blifs

I mean of taste, fight, fmell, herbs, fruits, and flow-
Walks, and the melody of birds; but here
Far otherwife, transported I behold,
Tranfported touch; here paflion first I felt,
Commotion ftrange, in all enjoyments elfe
Superior and unmov'd, here only weak
Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance.
Or nature fail'd in me, and left some part
Not proof enough fuch object to fuftain,
Or from my fide fubducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at least on her beftow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward fhew
Elaborate, of inward lefs 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 alfo her refembling lefs.
His image who made both, and lefs expreffing
The character of that dominion given
O'er other creatures; yet when I approach
Her lovelinefs, fo abfolute fhe feems,
And in herfelf complete, fo well to know
Her own,
that what the wills to do or fay
Seems wifeft, virtuoufeft, discreeteft, best;
All higher knowledge in her prefence falls
Degraded, Wisdom in difcourfe with her
Lotes difcountenanc'd, and like Folly thews;
Authority and Reafon on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made
Occafionally; and to confummate all,
Greatness 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 brow.
Accufe not Nature, the hath done her part;
Do thou but thine, and be not diffident
Of Wildom; the deferts thee not, if thou
Difmifs not her, when most thou need'it her nigh,
By attributing over much to things
Lefs excellent, as thou thyfelf perceiv'ft.
For what admir'ft thou, what tranfports thee fo?
An outfide, fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,
Not thy fubjection: weigh with her thyself;
Then value: oft-times nothing profits more,
Than felf eftcem, grounded on juft and right
Well manag'd; of that fkill the more thou know'st,
The more the will acknowledge thee her head,
And to realities yield all her fhews:
Made fo adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honour thou may't love
Thy mate, who fees when thou art feen least wise,
But if the fenfe of touch whereby mankind
Is propagated feem fuch dear delight
Beyond all other, think the fame vouchfaf'd
To cattle and each beaft; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if ought
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to fubdue
The foul of man, or paflion in him move.
What higher in her fociety thou find'it
Attractive, human, rational, love still;