Not obvious, not obtrufive, but retir'd,
The more defirable, or, to fay all,

Nature herfelf, though pure of finful thought,
Wrought in her fo, that feeing me, fhe turn'd:
I follow'd her; fhe what was honour knew,
And with obfequious majefty approv'd
My pleaded reafon. To the nuptial bow'r
I led her blushing like the morn : All heav'n,
And happy conftellations, on that hour
Shed their selecteft influence; the earth
Gave fign of gratulation, and each hill;
Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
Flung rofe, flung odors from the spicy shrub,
Difporting, till the amorous bird of night
Sung fpoufal, and bid hafte the ev'ning-star
On his hill-top, to light the bridal lamp.

Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought
My story to the fum of earthly blifs

Which I enjoy; and must confefs to find

In all things elfe delight indeed, but fuch

As us'd or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement defire; thefe delicacies

I mean of taste, fight, fmell, herbs, fruits, and flow'rs,
Walks, and the melody of birds: But here

Far otherwife, transported I behold,
Tranfported touch; here paffion first I felt,
Commotion ftrange, in all enjoyments elfe
Superior and unmov'd, here only weak
Against the charm of beauty's pow'rful glance.
Or nature fail'd in me, and left fome part
Not proof enough fuch 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 fhow
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 alfo her refembling lefs

His image who made both, and less expreffing
The character of that dominion given
O'er other creatures: Yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so abfolute she fems,

And in herself compleat, fo well to know
Her own, that what fhe wills to do or fay,
Seems wifeft, virtuousest, discreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded, wifdom in discourse with her
Lofes discount'nanc'd, and like folly shows;
Authority and reafon on her wait,
As one intended firft, not after made
Occafionally; and to confummate all,
Greatness of mind, and nobleness, their feat
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
About her, as a guard angelic plac'd.

To whom the Angel with contracted brow.
Accufe not nature, fhe hath done her part;
Do thou but thine; and be not diffident

Of wisdom; fhe deferts thee not, if thou
Difmifs not her, when moft thou need'ft her nigh,
By attributing overmuch to things

Lefs excellent, as thou thyfelf perceiv'st.

For what admir'ft thou, what tranfports thee fo,

An outfide? fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,
Not thy fubjection. Weigh with her thyself;
Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more
Than felf-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well-manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'it,
The more he will acknowledge thee her head,
And to realities yield all her fhows:

Made fo adorn for thy delight the more,

So awful, that with honour thou may'st love
Thy mate, who fees when thou art feen least wise.
But if the fenfe of touch, whereby mankind
Is propagated, feem fuch dear delight

Beyond all other, think the fame vouchfaf'd
To cattle and each beaft; which would not be
To them made common and divulg'd, if aught
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to fubdue
The foul of man, or paffion in him move.
What higher in her fociety thou find'st
Attractive, human, rationi love still;
In loving thou doft well, in paffion not;
Wherein true love confif's not: Love refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his feat
In reafon, and is judicious; is the fcale

By which to heav'nly love thou mayst ascend;
Not funk in carnal pleasure; for which cause
Among the beafts no mate for thee was found.

To whom thus half abafh'd Adam reply'd.
Neither her outfide form'd fo fair, nor aught
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,
Thofe 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 thefe fubject not: I to thee difclofe
What inward thence I feel; not therefore foil'd,
Who meet with various objects, from the fenfe
Variously reprefenting; yet ftill free

Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blam'st 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 fpirits, and how their love
Express they, by looks only, or do they mix
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

To whom the angel, with a fmile 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,
(And pure thou wert created), we enjoy
In eminence, and obftacle find none

Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclufive bars :
Easier than air with air, if fpirits embrace,
Total they mix, union of pure with pure
Defiring; no 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 ifles

Hefperian fets, my signal 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
Thy judgment to do aught, which elfe 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 blefs'd: Stand faft; to ftand 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 fov'reign goodness I adore.
Gentle to me and affable hath been

Thy condefcenfion, 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 heav'n
From the thick fhade, and Adam to his bow'r.

The end of the eighth book.