BOOK EIGHTH
��J 93
��An outside fair, no doubt, and worthy
well Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy
love;
Not thy subjection. Weigh with her thy- self; 570 Then value. Oft - times nothing profits
more Than self-esteem, grounded on just and
right Well managed. Of that skill the more
thou kuow'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 man- kind
Is propagated, seem such dear delight 580 Beyond all other, tbink the same voutsafed To cattle and each beast; which would not
be To them made common and divulged, if
aught
Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue The soul of Man, or passion in him move. What higher in her society thou fiud'st Attractive, human, rational, love still: In loving thou dost well ; in passion not, Wherein true Love consists not. Love re- fines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges hath his seat 590
In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale By which to Heavenly 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 abashed, Adam re- plied: " Neither her outside formed 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, 600
Those thousand decencies, that daily flow From all her words and actions, mixed with love
��And sweet compliance, which declare un- feigned
Union of mind, or in us both one soul Harmony to behold in wedded pair More grateful than harmonious sound to
the ear.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose What inward thence I feel, not therefore
foiled, Who meet with various objects, from the
sense
Variously representing, yet, still free, 6 > Approve the best, aud follow what I ap- prove. 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 Heavenly Spirits, 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
glowed
Celestial rosy-red, Love's proper hne, Answered: " Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 620
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 pure Desiring, nor restrained 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 ver- dant Isles 631 Hesperean 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 aught which else free- will
Would not admit; thine and of all thy sons The weal or woe in thee is placed; be- ware ! I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
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