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
In reas’on, and is judicious, is the scale
Ry 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 grateful 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 Heaven, 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

615

620

Celestial 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 limh, exclusive bars ;
Easier than air with air, if Spi'rits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with pure
Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need
As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.
But I can now no more; the parting sun
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.
Iin thy persevering shall rejoice,
And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall
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,
Sent from whose sov’reign goodness I adore.
Gentle to me and affable hath been
Thy condescension, and shall be honour'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 shade, and Adam to his bower.

END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK : IX.

ARGUMENT.

Satan, having compassed the Earth, with meditated guile

returns as a mist, by night, into Paradise ; enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart. Adam consents not, alleging the danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarned, should attempt her found alone. Eve, loth to be thought not circumspect or fim enough, urges her going 'apart, the rather desirous to 'make trial, of her strength: Adam at last yields. The serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the Serpeut speak, asks how he attained to human speech and such understanding not till now: the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both. Eve requires him to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden. The Serpent, now grown holder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat: she, pleased with the taste, deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not; at last brings him to the fruit, relates what persuaded her to eat thereof. Adam at first amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love, to perish with her; and, extenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit. The effects thereof in them both: they seek to cover their nakedness; then fall to variance and accusation of one another.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK IX.

NO more of talk, where God or Angel guest
With Man, as with his friend, familiar us'd
To sit indulgent, and with him partake
Rural repast, permitting him the while
Venial discourse unblam’d: I now must change
Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach
Disloyal, on the part of Man, revolt,
And disobedience; on the part of Heaven, »
Now alienated, distance and distaste,
Anger and just rebuke, and judgment giv'n,
That brought into this world a world of woe,
Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery,
Death's harbinger. Sad task! yet argument
Not less, but more heroic, than the wrath
Of stern Achilles on his foe pursu'd,
Thrice fugitive, about Troy wall; or rage
Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous’d;
Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long
Perplex'd the Greek and Cytherea's Son;
If answerable style I can obtain
Of my celestial patroness, who deigns
Her nightly visitation unimplor'd,
And dictates to me slumb'ring, or inspires
Easy my unpremeditated verse:
Since first this subject for heroic song
Pleas’d me, long choosing, and beginning late;
Not sedulous by nature to indite
Wars, hitherto the only argument