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 obtrusive, 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 honour knew, And with obsequious majesty approv'd My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn: all Heaven, 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 air, 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
Imean 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 pow'rful 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, virtuosest, discreetest, best; All higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded, wisdom in discourse with her Loses discount'nanc'd, and like folly shows; 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 ss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh, By attributing 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 honouring, and thy love, Not thy subjection: weigh with her thyself; 570 Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more Than self-esteeem, 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 so adorn for thy delight the more,
So awful, that with honour 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 ought 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 seat 590 In reas'on, and is judicious, is the scale
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 ought 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
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; Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask, Love not the heav'nly Spi’rits, and how their love Express they, by looks only", or do they mix
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?
To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd Celestial I rosy red, love's proper hue,
Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that thou know'st Us happy', and without love no happiness. Whatever pure thou in the body' enjoy'st (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy 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
Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. Biti can now no more; the parting sun 630 Beyond the earth's green Cape and verdant Isles Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.
Be strong, live happy', and love, but first of all Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed lest passion sway Thy judgment to do ought, which else free-will Would not admit: thine and of all thy sons The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware. I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
And all the blest: stand fast; to stand or fall 640 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 Follow'd with benediction. Since to part, Go heav'nly Guest, ethereal Messenger,
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