To them made common and divulg'd, if ought
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to fubdue
The foul of man, or paffion in him move.
What high'er in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still; In loving thou dost well, in passion not, Wherein true love confifts not; love refines The thoughts, and heart inlarges, hath his feat In rea'fon, and is judicious, is the scale By which to heav'nly love thou may'st ascend, Not funk in carnal pleasure, for which cause Among the beafts no mate for thee was found. To whom thus half abash'd Adam reply'd. Neither her outside form'd so fair, nor ought In procreation common to all kinds
(Though higher of the genial bed by far, And with myfterious reverence I deem)
So much delights me, as thofe graceful acts, Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions mix'd with love And fweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd Union of mind, or in us both one foul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair
More grateful than harmonious found 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 ftill free Approve the beft, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blam'ft me not, for love thou fay'st Leads up to Heav'n, is both the way and guide; Bear with me then, if lawful what I afk;
Love not the heav'nly Spi’rits, and how their love 615 Exprefs they, by looks only', or do they mix Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?
To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd Celestial rofy red, love's proper hue,
Anfwer'd. Let it fuffice thee that thou know'ft Us happy', and without love no happiness. Whatever pure thou in the body' enjoy'st
thou wert created) we enjoy
In eminence, and obstacle find none
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclufive bars; Eafier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with
Defiring; nor reftrain'd conveyance need As flesh to mix with flesh, or foul with foul. But I can now no more; the parting fun
Beyond the earth's green Cape and verdant Iles Hefperian fets, my fignal to depart.
Be ftrong, live happy', and love, but first of all Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed left paffion fway 635 Thy judgment to do ought, which else free will Would not admit; thine and of all thy fons The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware.
I in thy perfevering shall rejoice, And all the Bleft: ftand faft; to stand or fall
Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. Perfect within, no outward aid require; And all temptation to tranfgrefs repel.
So faying, he arofe; whom Adam thus Follow'd with benediction. Since to part, Go heav'nly Gueft, ethereal Meffenger, Sent from whofe sovran goodness I adore. Gentle to me and affable hath been
Thy condefcenfion, and shall be' honor'd ever With grateful memory: thou to mankind Be good and friendly still, and oft return.
So parted they, the Angel up to Heaven From the thick fhade, and Adam to his bower.
THE END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.
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