BOOK VIII

THE ARGUMENT

Adam inquires concerning celestial motions, is doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge. Adam assents, and still desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remembered since his own creation, his placing in Paradise, his talk with God concerning solitude and fit society, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve, his discourse with the Angel thereupon, who after admonitions repeated departs.

1	The Angel ended, and in Adam’s ear
2	So charming4372 left his voice, that he a while
3	Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed 4373 to hear,
4	Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied:
5	“What thanks sufficient, or what recompence
6	Equal, have I to render thee, divine
7	Historian,4374 who thus largely 4375 hast allayed
8	The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed
9	This friendly condescension to relate
10	Things else by me unsearchable?4376 now heard
11	With wonder, but delight, and as is due
12	With glory attributed to the high
13	Creator! Something yet of doubt remains,
14	Which only thy solution4377 can resolve.
15	When I behold this goodly frame, 4378 this world,
16	Of Heav’n and earth consisting, and compute
17	Their magnitudes, this earth, a spot, a grain,
18	An atom, with the firmament compared
19	And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll
20	Spaces incomprehensible ( for such
21	Their distance argues,4379 and their swift return
22	Diurnal)4380 merely to officiate4381 light
23	Round this opaceous4382 earth, this punctual 4383 spot,
24	One day and night, in all her vast survey 4384
25	Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire4385
26	How Nature wise and frugal could commit
27	Such disproportions, with superfluous hand
28	So many nobler bodies to create,
29	Greater so manifold, to this one use
30	(For aught appears), and on their orbs impose
31	Such restless4386 revolution4387 day by day
32	Repeated, while the sedentary4388 earth,
33	That better might with far less compass4389 move,
34	Served by more4390 noble than herself, attains
35	Her end without least motion, and receives,
36	As tribute, such a sumless4391 journey brought 4392
37	Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light—
38	Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails.
39	So spoke our sire, and by his count’nance seemed
40	Entering on studious thoughts abstruse, 4393 which Eve
41	Perceiving, where she sat retired in4394 sight,
42	With lowliness4395 majestic from her seat,
43	And grace that won4396 who4397 saw to wish her stay,
44	Rose and went forth among her fruits and flow’rs,
45	To visit 4398 how they prospered, bud and bloom,
46	Her nursery. They at her coming sprung
47	And, touched by her fair tendance, 4399 gladlier grew.
48	Yet went she not, as not with such discourse
49	Delighted, or not capable her ear
50	Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved,4400
51	Adam relating, 4401 she sole auditress.4402
52	Her husband the relater she preferred
53	Before the Angel, and of him to ask
54	Chose4403 rather. He, she knew, would intermix
55	Grateful4404 digressions, and solve high dispute
56	With conjugal caresses: from his lip
57	Not words alone pleased her. (O! when meet 4405 now
58	Such pairs, in love and mutual honor joined?
59	With goddess-like demeanor forth she went,
60	Not unattended, for on her, as queen,
61	A pomp4406 of winning graces waited still,
62	And from about her shot darts of desire
63	Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight.
64	And Raphael now, to Adam’s doubt proposed,
65	Benevolent and facile, 4407 thus replied:
66	“To ask or search, I blame thee not, for Heav’n
67	Is as the book of God before thee set,
68	Wherein to read His wondrous works, and learn
69	His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years.
70	This to attain,4408 whether Heav’n move or earth,
71	Imports4409 not if 4410 thou reckon4411 right. The rest
72	From man or Angel the great Architect
73	Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge
74	His secrets to be scanned4412 by them who ought
75	Rather admire, 4413 or if they list 4414 to try
76	Conjecture, He His fabric of the Heav’ns
77	Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move
78	His laughter at their quaint4415 opinions wide4416
79	Hereafter. When they come to model 4417 Heav’n
80	And calculate the stars, how they will wield 4418
81	The mighty frame, how build, unbuild, contrive
82	To save4419 appearances,4420 how gird 4421 the sphere
83	With centric4422 and eccentric4423 scribbled o’er,
84	Cycle4424 and epicycle, 4425 orb4426 in orb.
85	Already by thy reasoning this I guess,
86	Who4427 art to lead thy offspring, and supposest
87	That bodies bright and greater should not serve
88	The less not bright, nor Heav’n such journeys run,
89	Earth sitting still, when she alone receives
90	The benefit.
	“Consider, first, that great
91	Or bright infers4428 not excellence. The earth,
92	Though in comparison of Heav’n so small,
93	Nor glistering, 4429 may of solid good contain
94	More plenty than the sun that barren shines,
95	Whose virtue4430 on itself works no effect,
96	But in the fruitful earth, there first received,
97	His beams, unactive4431 else, 4432 their vigor4433 find.
98	Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries
99	Officious,4434 but to thee, earth’s habitant.
100	And for the Heav’n’s wide circuit, let it speak
101	The Maker’s high magnificence, who built
102	So spacious, and His line stretched out so far
103	That man may know he dwells not in his own,
104	An edifice too large for him to fill,
105	Lodged in a small partition,4435 and the rest
106	Ordained for uses to his Lord best known.
107	The swiftness of those circles attribute, 4436
108	Though numberless, to His Omnipotence,
109	That to corporeal substances could add
110	Speed almost spiritual. Me thou think’st not slow,
111	Who since the morning-hour set out from Heav’n
112	Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived
113	In Eden—distance inexpressible
114	By numbers that have name. But this I urge, 4437
115	Admitting4438 motion in the Heav’ns, to show
116	Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved.4439
117	Not that I so affirm,4440 though so it seem
118	To thee who hast thy dwelling here on earth.
119	God, to remove His ways from human sense,
120	Placed Heav’n from earth so far, that earthly sight,
121	If it presume, might err in things too high,
122	And no advantage gain. What if the sun
123	Be center to the world? and other stars,
124	By his4441 attractive4442 virtue4443 and their own
125	Incited, dance about him various rounds?
126	Their wand’ring course now high, now low, then hid,
127	Progressive, 4444 retrograde, 4445 or standing still,
128	In six4446 thou see’st? And what if sev’nth to these
129	The planet earth, so steadfast though she seem,
130	Insensibly three different motions move,
131	Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe,
132	Moved contrary with thwart4447 obliquities,4448
133	Or save the sun his labor, and that swift
134	Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb4449 supposed,
135	Invisible4450 else above all stars, the wheel
136	Of day and night, which needs not thy belief
137	If earth, industrious4451 of herself, fetch4452 day
138	Travelling east, and with her part averse
139	From the sun’s beam meet night, her other part
140	Still luminous by his4453 ray? What if that light,
141	Sent from her 4454 through the wide transpicuous4455 air,
142	To the terrestrial moon be as a star,
143	Enlight’ning her4456 by day, as she 4457 by night
144	This earth, reciprocal, if land be there,
145	Fields and inhabitants? Her spots thou see’st
146	As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce
147	Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat
148	Allotted 4458 there. And other suns perhaps,
149	With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry,
150	Communicating male and female light,4459
151	Which two great sexes animate the world,
152	Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live.
153	For such vast room4460 in Nature unpossessed
154	By living soul, desert 4461 and desolate,
155	Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute4462
156	Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far
157	Down to this habitable, 4463 which returns
158	Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. 4464
159	But whether thus these things, or whether not—
160	But whether the sun, predominant in Heav’n,
161	Rise on the earth, or earth rise on the sun—
162	He from the east his flaming road begin,
163	Or she from west her silent course advance,
164	With inoffensive4465 pace that spinning sleeps
165	On her soft axle, while she paces ev’n,4466
166	And bears thee soft with the smooth air along—
167	Solicit4467 not thy thoughts with matters hid.
168	Leave them to God above. Him serve, and fear!
169	Of other creatures, as Him pleases best,
170	Wherever placed, let Him dispose. Joy thou
171	In what He gives to thee, this Paradise
172	And thy fair Eve. Heav’n is for thee too high
173	To know what passes there. Be lowly 4468 wise,
174	Think only what concerns thee, and thy being.
175	Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there
176	Live, in what state, 4469 condition,4470 or degree,4471
177	Contented that thus far hath been revealed
178	Not of earth only, but of highest Heav’n.
179	To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied:
180	“How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure
181	Intelligence of Heav’n, Angel serene!
182	And, freed from intricacies,4472 taught to live
183	The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts
184	To interrupt the sweet of life, from which
185	God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,
186	And not molest4473 us, unless we ourselves
187	Seek them with wand’ring thoughts, and notions vain.
188	But apt the mind or fancy is to rove
189	Unchecked, and of her roving is no end,
190	Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn
191	That not to know at large4474 of things remote
192	From use, obscure and subtle, 4475 but to know
193	That which before us lies in daily life,
194	Is the prime wisdom. What is more, is fume4476
195	Or emptiness, or fond 4477 impertinence, 4478
196	And renders us, in things that most concern
197	Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek.
198	Therefore from this high pitch4479 let us descend 4480
199	A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
200	Useful, whence haply, 4481 mention may arise
201	Of something not unseasonable to ask,
202	By sufferance, 4482 and thy wonted 4483 favor, deigned.
203	“Thee I have heard relating what was done
204	Ere my remembrance. Now, hear me relate
205	My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard.
206	And day is not yet spent—till then thou see’st
207	How subtly to detain thee I devise,
208	Inviting thee to hear while I relate.
209	Fond! 4484 were it not in hope of thy reply,
210	For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav’n,
211	And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear
212	Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst
213	And hunger both, from4485 labor, at the hour
214	Of sweet repast.4486 They satiate, 4487 and soon fill,
215	Though pleasant, but thy words, with grace divine
216	Imbued,4488 bring to their sweetness no satiety.”4489
217	To whom thus Raphael answered, Heav’nly meek:4490
218	“Nor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men,
219	Nor tongue ineloquent. For God on thee
220	Abundantly His gifts hath also poured
221	Inward and outward both, His image fair.
222	Speaking or mute, 4491 all comeliness and grace
223	Attends thee, and each word, each motion4492 forms.4493
224	Nor less think we in Heav’n of thee on earth
225	Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire
226	Gladly into the ways of God with man,
227	For God, we see, hath honored thee, and set
228	On man His equal love. Say therefore on,
229	For I that day was absent, as befell,4494
230	Bound on a voyage uncouth4495 and obscure, 4496
231	Far on excursion4497 toward the gates of Hell,
232	Squared 4498 in full legion4499 (such command we had)
233	To see that none thence issued forth a spy
234	Or enemy, while God was in His work,
235	Lest He, incensed at such eruption4500 bold,
236	Destruction with creation might have mixed.
237	Not that they durst without His leave attempt—
238	But us He sends upon His high behests
239	For state, as Sov’reign King, and to inure4501
240	Our prompt obedience. 4502 Fast we found, fast shut,
241	The dismal gates, and barricado’d 4503 strong,
242	But long ere our approaching heard within
243	Noise, other than the sound of dance or song,
244	Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.
245	Glad we returned up to the coasts of light
246	Ere sabbath-ev’ning: so we had in charge. 4504
247	But thy relation4505 now, for I attend,4506
248	Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine.
249	So spoke the godlike Power, and thus our sire:
250	“For man to tell how human life began
251	Is hard, for who himself beginning knew?
252	Desire with thee still longer to converse
253	Induced 4507 me. As new waked from soundest sleep,
254	Soft on the flow’ry herb4508 I found me laid,
255	In balmy4509 sweat, which with his beams the sun
256	Soon dried, and on the reeking4510 moisture fed.
257	Straight toward Heav’n my wond’ring eyes I turned,
258	And gazed a while the ample sky, till raised
259	By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung,
260	As thitherward endeavoring, and upright
261	Stood on my feet. About me round I saw
262	Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,
263	And liquid lapse4511 of murmuring streams. By4512 these,
264	Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew,
265	Birds on the branches warbling—all things smiled.
266	With fragrance and with joy my heart o’erflowed.
267	Myself I then perused, and limb by limb
268	Surveyed, and sometimes went,4513 and sometimes ran
269	With supple joints, as lively vigor led.
270	But who I was, or where, or from what cause,
271	Knew not. To speak I tried, and forthwith spoke.
272	My tongue obeyed, and readily could name
273	Whate’er I saw. ‘Thou Sun,’ said I, ‘fair light,
274	And thou enlight’ned 4514 earth, so fresh and gay,
275	Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains,
276	And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell,
277	Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?
278	Not of myself—by some great Maker, then,
279	In goodness and in power preëminent.
280	Tell me, how may I know Him, how adore,
281	From whom I have that thus I move and live,
282	And feel that I am happier than I know.
283	While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither
284	From where I first drew air, and first beheld
285	This happy light—when, answer none returned,
286	On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers,
287	Pensive I sat me down. There gentle sleep
288	First found me, and with soft oppression4515 seized
289	My drowsèd 4516 sense, untroubled, though I thought
290	I then was passing to my former state
291	Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve.
292	When suddenly stood at my head a dream,
293	Whose inward apparition4517 gently moved
294	My fancy to believe I yet had being,
295	And lived. One came, methought, of shape divine,
296	And said, ‘Thy mansion4518 wants4519 thee, Adam. Rise,
297	First man, of men innumerable ordained
298	First father! Called by thee, I come thy guide
299	To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.
300	So saying, by the hand He took me raised,
301	And over fields and waters, as in air
302	Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up
303	A woody mountain, whose high top was plain,
304	A circuit wide, enclosed with goodliest trees
305	Planted, with walks, and bowers, that what I saw
306	Of earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree,
307	Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye
308	Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite
309	To pluck and eat, whereat I waked, and found
310	Before mine eyes all real,4520 as the dream
311	Had lively4521 shadowed.4522 Here had new begun
312	My wand’ring, had not He, who was my guide
313	Up hither, from among the trees appeared,
314	Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
315	In adoration at His feet I fell
316	Submiss. He reared me, and ‘Whom thou sought’st I am,
317	Said mildly, ‘Author of all this thou see’st
318	Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
319	This Paradise I give thee, count it thine
320	To till 4523 and keep, and of the fruit to eat.
321	Of every tree that in the garden grows
322	Eat freely with glad heart, fear here no dearth.4524
323	But of the tree whose operation4525 brings
324	Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set
325	The pledge4526 of thy obedience and thy faith,
326	Amid the garden by4527 the Tree of Life,
327	Remember what I warn thee: shun to taste,
328	And shun the bitter consequence. For know,
329	The day thou eat’st thereof, my sole command
330	Transgressed, inevitably4528 thou shalt die,
331	From that day mortal, and this happy state
332	Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world
333	Of woe and sorrow. ’ Sternly He pronounced
334	The rigid interdiction, which resounds
335	Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice
336	Not to incur. But soon His clear aspect4529
337	Returned, and gracious purpose4530 thus renewed:
338	‘Not only these fair bounds,4531 but all the earth
339	To thee and to thy race I give. As lords
340	Possess it, and all things that therein live,
341	Or live in sea, or air, beast, fish, and fowl.
342	In sign whereof each bird and beast behold
343	After their kinds; I bring them to receive
344	From thee their names, and pay thee fealty4532
345	With low subjection. Understand the same
346	Of fish within their wat’ry residence,
347	Not hither summoned, since they cannot change
348	Their element, to draw4533 the thinner air.
349	As thus he spoke, each bird and beast behold
350	Approaching two and two, these4534 cowering low
351	With blandishment,4535 each bird stooped on his wing.
352	I named them, as they passed, and understood
353	Their nature, with such knowledge God endued 4536
354	My sudden apprehension.4537 But in these
355	I found not what methought I wanted still,
356	And to the Heav’nly vision thus presumed:4538
357	“‘O by what name, for Thou above all these,
358	Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher,
359	Surpassest far my naming? How may I
360	Adore Thee, Author of this universe,
361	And all this good to man? for whose well being
362	So amply, and with hands so liberal,
363	Thou hast provided all things. But with me
364	I see not who partakes. In solitude
365	What happiness? Who can enjoy alone,
366	Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
367	Thus I presumptuous, and the Vision bright,
368	As with a smile more bright’ned, thus replied:
369	“‘What call’st thou solitude? Is not the earth
370	With various living creatures, and the air
371	Replenished,4539 and all these at thy command
372	To come and play4540 before thee? Know’st thou not
373	Their language and their ways? They also know,
374	And reason not contemptibly. With these
375	Find pastime, 4541 and bear 4542 rule. Thy realm is large.
376	So spoke the Universal Lord, and seemed
377	So ordering. I, with leave of speech implored,
378	And humble deprecation,4543 thus replied:
379	“‘Let not my words offend Thee, Heav’nly Power.
380	My Maker, be propitious4544 while I speak.
381	Hast Thou not made me here Thy substitute,
382	And these inferior far beneath me set?
383	Among inequals what society
384	Can sort,4545 what harmony or true delight?
385	Which must be mutual, in proportion due
386	Giv’n and received. But in disparity
387	The one intense, 4546 the other still remiss,4547
388	Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove
389	Tedious4548 alike. 4549 Of fellowship I speak
390	Such as I seek, fit to participate4550
391	All rational delight, wherein the brute
392	Cannot be human consort.4551 They rejoice
393	Each with their kind, lion with lioness,
394	So fitly4552 them in pairs Thou hast combined.
395	Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl
396	So well converse, 4553 nor with the ox the ape.
397	Worse then can man with beast, and least of
398	Whereto the Almighty answer
399	“‘A nice4554 and subtle happiness, I see,
400	Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice
401	Of thy associates, Adam! And wilt taste
402	No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary.
403	What think’st thou then of me, and this m
404	Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed
405	Of happiness, or not? who am alone
406	From all eternity? For none I know
407	Second to me or like, equal much less.
408	How have I then with whom to hold converse, 4555
409	Save with the creatures which I made
410	To me inferior, infinite descents
411	Beneath what other creatures are to thee?
412	He ceased; I lowly answered:
	“‘To attain
413	The height and depth of Thy eternal ways
414	All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things!
415	Thou in Thyself art perfect, and in Thee
416	Is no deficience found. Not so is man,
417	But in degree, the cause of his desire
418	By conversation4556 with his like to help
419	Or solace4557 his defects. No need that Thou
420	Should’st propagate, already Infinite,
421	And through all numbers Absolute, 4558 though One.
422	But man by number is to manifest4559
423	His single imperfection,4560 and beget
424	Like of his like, his image multiplied,
425	In unity defective, which requires
426	Collateral4561 love, and dearest amity. 4562
427	Thou in Thy secrecy4563 although alone,
428	Best with Thyself accompanied, seek’st not
429	Social communication, yet, so pleased,
430	Canst raise Thy creature to what height Thou wilt
431	Of union or communion, deified.
432	I by conversing cannot these4564 erect
433	From prone, nor in their ways complacence4565 find.
434	Thus I embold’ned spoke, and freedom used
435	Permissive, and acceptance found, which gained
436	This answer from the gracious voice Divine:
437	“‘Thus far to try4566 thee, Adam, I was pleased,
438	And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,
439	Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself,
440	Expressing well the spirit within thee free,
441	My image, not imparted to the brute,
442	Whose fellowship therefore unmeet 4567 for thee
443	Good reason was thou freely should’st dislike,
444	And be so minded still.4568 I ere thou spok’st
445	Knew it not good for man to be alone,
446	And no such company as then thou saw’st
447	Intended thee—for trial only brought,4569
448	To see how thou could’st judge of fit and meet.
449	What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,
550	Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
451	Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.
452	He ended, or I heard no more, for now
453	My earthly by His Heav’nly overpowered,
454	Which it had long stood 4570 under, strained to the height
455	In that celestial colloquy 4571 sublime, 4572
456	As with an object that excels4573 the sense,
457	Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair 4574
458	Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called
459	By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.
460	“Mine eyes He closed, but open left the cell
461	Of fancy, my internal sight, by which,
462	Abstract 4575 as in a trance, methought I saw, 4576
463	Though sleeping where I lay, and saw the shape
464	Still glorious before whom awake I stood,
465	Who stooping op’ned my left side, and took
466	From thence a rib, with cordial 4577 spirits warm,
467	And life-blood streaming fresh. Wide was the wound,
468	But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed.
469	The rib He formed and fashioned with His hands.
470	Under His forming hands a creature grew,
471	Man-like, but different sex, so lovely fair
472	That what seemed fair in all the world seemed now
473	Mean4578 or in her summed up, in her contained
474	And in her looks, which from that time infused 4579
475	Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,
476	And into all things from her air 4580 inspired
477	The spirit of love and amorous delight.
478	She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked
479	To4581 find her, or for ever to deplore
480	Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure—4582
481	When, out of hope, behold her, not far off,
482	Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned
483	With what all earth or Heav’n could bestow
484	To make her amiable. 4583 On she came,
485	Led by her Heav’nly Maker, though unseen,
486	And guided by His voice, nor uninformed
487	Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites.
488	Grace was in all her steps, Heav’n in her eye,
489	In every gesture dignity and love.
490	I overjoyed could not forbear 4584 aloud:
491	“‘This turn4585 hath made amends! Thou hast fulfilled
492	Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,
493	Giver of all things fair! But fairest this
494	Of all Thy gifts, nor enviest.4586 I now see
495	Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself
496	Before me. Woman is her name, of man
497	Extracted.4587 For this cause he shall forego
498	Father and mother, and to his wife adhere,
499	And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.
500	“She heard me thus, and though divinely brought4588
501	Yet innocence, and virgin modesty,
502	Her virtue, and the conscience 4589 of her worth,
503	That would be wooed, and not unsought be won,
504	Not obvious,4590 not obtrusive, 4591 but retired,4592
505	The more desirable—or, to say all,
506	Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,
507	Wrought 4593 in her so that, seeing me, she turned.
508	I followed her. She what was honor knew,
509	And with obsequious4594 majesty approved 4595
510	My pleaded 4596 reason.4597 To the nuptial bow’r
511	I led her blushing like the morn. All Heav’n,
512	And happy constellations, on that hour
513	Shed their selected 4598 influence, the earth
514	Gave sign of gratulation,4599 and each hill;
515	Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
516	Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings
517	Flung rose, flung odors from the spicy 4600 shrub,
518	Disporting, 4601 till the amorous bird of night4602
519	Sung spousal,4603 and bid haste the ev’ning-star 4604
520	On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp.
521	“Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought
522	My story to the sum of earthly bliss
523	Which I enjoy, and must confess to find
524	In all things else delight indeed, but such
525	As, used or not, works in the mind no change,
526	Nor vehement 4605 desire—these delicacies
527	I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flow’rs,
528	Walks, and the melody of birds. But here
529	Far otherwise, transported 4606 I behold,
530	Transported touch;4607 here passion first I felt,
531	Commotion 4608 strange! in all enjoyments else
532	Superior and unmoved, here only weak
533	Against the charm of beauty’s powerful glance.
534	Or 4609 Nature failed in me, and left some part
535	Not proof enough such object to sustain,4610
536	Or, from my side subducting, 4611 took perhaps
537	More than enough, at least on her bestowed
538	Too much of ornament, in outward show
539	Elaborate, 4612 of inward less exact.
540	For well I understand in the prime end4613
541	Of Nature her th’ inferior, in the mind
542	And inward faculties, which most excel.4614
543	In outward also her resembling less
544	His image who made both, and less expressing
545	The character of that dominion giv’n
546	O’er other creatures. Yet when I approach
547	Her loveliness, so absolute4615 she seems
548	And in herself complete, so well to know
549	Her own, that what she wills to do or say
550	Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best.
551	All higher knowledge in her presence falls
552	Degraded,4616 wisdom in discourse with her
553	Looses 4617 discount’nanced,4618 and like folly shows.4619
554	Authority and reason on her wait,
555	As 4620 one intended first, not after made4621
556	Occasionally. 4622 And, to consummate4623 all,
557	Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat
558	Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
559	About her, as 4624 a guard Angelic placed.
560	To whom the Angel with contracted brow:
561	“Accuse not Nature. She hath done her part;
562	Do thou but thine, and be not diffident4625
563	Of wisdom. She deserts thee not, if thou
564	Dismiss 4626 not her, when most thou need’st her nigh,
565	By attributing 4627 overmuch to things
566	Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv’st.
567	For what admir’st thou, what transports thee so?
568	An outside? Fair, no doubt, and worthy well
569	Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love.
570	Not thy subjection. Weigh with her thyself,
571	Then value. Oft-times nothing profits more
572	Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right
573	Well managed. Of that skill 4628 the more thou know’st
574	The more she will acknowledge thee her head,4629
575	And to realities yield all her shows,4630
576	Made so adorn for thy delight the more,
577	So awful 4631 that with honor thou may’st love
578	Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.
579	But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind
580	Is propagated, seem such dear delight
581	Beyond all other, think the same vouchsafed
582	To cattle and each beast, which would not be
583	To them made common and divulged, if aught
584	Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue
585	The soul of man, or passion in him move.
586	What higher in her society thou find’st
587	Attractive, human, rational, love still.4632
588	In loving thou dost well, in passion not,
589	Wherein true love consists not. Love refines
590	The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat
591	In reason, and is judicious, is the scale
592	By which to Heav’nly love thou may’st ascend,
593	Not sunk in carnal pleasure. For which cause
594	Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.
595	To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied:
596	“Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught
597	In procreation common to all kinds
598	( Though higher of the genial 4633 bed by far,
599	And with mysterious reverence, I deem)4634
600	So much delights me as those graceful4635 acts,
601	Those thousand decencies,4636 that daily flow
602	From all her words and actions, mixed with love
603	And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned
604	Union of mind, or in us both one soul.
605	Harmony to behold in wedded pair
606	More grateful 4637 than harmonious sound to th’ ear.
607	Yet these subject4638 not. I to thee disclose
608	What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled,4639
609	Who meet with various objects4640 from the sense
610	Variously representing, 4641 yet still free
611	Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
612	To love, thou blam’st me not, for love, thou say’st,
613	Leads up to Heav’n, is both the way and guide.
614	Bear with me, then, if lawful what I ask:
615	Love not the Heav’nly Spirits, and how their love
616	Express they? by looks only? or do they mix
617	Irradiance, 4642 virtual 4643 or immediate touch?
618	To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed
619	Celestial rosy red, love’s proper hue,
620	Answered:
	“Let it suffice thee that thou know’st
621	Us happy, and without love no happiness.
622	Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy’st
623	(And pure thou wert created), we enjoy
624	In eminence, 4644 and obstacle find none
625	Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive4645 bars.
626	Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace:
627	Total they mix, union of pure with pure
628	Desiring, nor restrained 4646 conveyance 4647 need,
629	As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.
630	But I can now no more. The parting sun
631	Beyond the earth’s green cape and verdant isles4648
632	Hesperian4649 sets: my signal to depart.
633	Be strong, live happy, and love! But first of all 4650
634	Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
635	His great command. Take heed lest passion sway
636	Thy judgment to do aught which else free will
637	Would not admit.4651 Thine, and of all thy sons,
638	The weal 4652 or woe in thee is placed. Beware!
639	I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
640	And all the Blest. Stand fast! To stand or fall
641	Free in thine own arbitrement 4653 it lies.
642	Perfect 4654 within, no outward aid require,
643	And all temptation to transgress repel.
644	So saying, he arose, whom Adam thus
645	Followed with benediction. “Since to part,
646	Go, Heav’nly guest, ethereal messenger,
647	Sent from whose sov’reign goodness I adore!
648	Gentle4655 to me and affable hath been
649	Thy condescension, and shall be honored ever
650	With grateful memory. Thou to mankind
651	Be good and friendly still,4656 and oft return!
652	So parted they, the Angel up to Heav’n
653	From the thick shade, and Adam to his bow’r.

The End of the Eighth Book