From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,
But suddenly 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 sex, so lovely fair,
That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd now Mean, or in her summ'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 inspir'd The spirit of love and amorous delight. She disappear'd, and left me dark; I wak'd To find her, or for ever to deplore Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure : When out of hope, behold her, not far off, Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow To make her amiable: on she came, Led by her heav'nly Maker, though unseen, And guided by his voice, nor uninform'd Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites: Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love.
I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud:
This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, Giver of all things fair, but fairest this Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself Before me; Woman is her name, of Man Extracted; for this cause he shall forego Father and mother, and to' his wife adhere; And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul. She heard me thus, and though divinely brought, Yet innocence and virgin modesty,
Her virtue and the conscience of her worth, That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, Not obvious, not obstrusive, but retir'd The more desirable, 'or to say all,
Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd; I follow'd her, she what was honor knew, And with obsequious majesty approv'd
I led her blushing like the Morn: all` Heav'n,
And happy constellations on that hour Shed their selectest influence; the Earth Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, Disporting till the amorous bird of night Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening star On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought My story to the sum of earthly bliss Which I enjoy, and must confess to find In all things else delight indeed, but such
As us'd 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, Transported touch; here passion first I felt, 530 Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else 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 such object to sustain, Or from my side subducting, took perhaps More than enough; at least on her bestow'd Too much of ornament, in outward show Elaborate, of inward less 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 also her resembling less
His image who made both, and less expressing The character of that dominion given O'er other creatures; yet when I approach Her loveliness, so absolute she seems And in herself complete, so well to know Her own, that what she wills to do or say Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best; All higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her Loses discountenanc'd, and like Folly shows; MILTON, VOL. II.
Authority and Reason on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made 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 plac'd.
To whom the Angel with contracted brow: 560 Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou Dismiss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh, By attribúting overmuch to things
Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st. For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love, Not thy subjection: weigh with her thyself; 570 Then value: oft-times nothing profits more Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st; The more she will acknowledge thee her head, And to realities yield all her shows: Made to adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honor thou may'st 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 Beyond all other, think the same vouchsaf'd To cattle and each beast; which would not be To them made common and divulg'd, if aught
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue The soul of man, or passion 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 consists not; Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his scat In rea'son, and is judicious, is the scale 591 By which to heav'nly love thou may'st ascend, Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.
To whom thus half abash'd Adam reply'd: Neither her outside form'd so fair, nor aught In procreation common to all kinds (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 flow From all her words and actions mix'd with love And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd Union of mind, or in us both one soul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair
More grateful than harmonious sound 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 still free 610 Approve the best, and follow' what I approve. To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou say'st Leads up to Heav'n, is both the way and guide;
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