The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (69 page)

439		Through Spirits with ease—nor wonder, if by fire
440		Of sooty coal the empiric 3497 alchemist
441		Can turn, or holds it possible to turn,
442		Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold,
443		As from 3498 the mine. Meanwhile at table Eve
444		Ministered 3499 naked, and their flowing cups
445		With pleasant liquors crowned. 3500 O innocence
446		Deserving Paradise! If ever, then,
447		Then had the sons of God excuse to have been
448		Enamored at that sight. But in those hearts
449		Love unlibidinous 3501 reigned, nor jealousy
450		Was understood, the injured lover’s hell.
451

   
Thus when with meats
³⁵⁰²
and drinks they had sufficed,

452

      

Not burdened Nature,
³⁵⁰³
sudden mind arose

453

      

In Adam, not to let th’ occasion pass

454

      

Giv’n him by this great conference
³⁵⁰⁴
to know

455

      

Of things above his world, and of their being

456

      

Who dwell in Heav’n, whose excellence he saw

457

      

Transcend his own so far, whose radiant forms,

458

      

Divine effulgence,
³⁵⁰⁵
whose high power, so far

459

      

Exceeded human. And his wary
³⁵⁰⁶
speech

460

      

Thus to the empyreal minister he framed:
³⁵⁰⁷

461

      

   
“Inhabitant with God, now know I well

462

      

Thy favor, in this honor done to man,

463

      

Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed
³⁵⁰⁸

464

      

To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,

465

      

Food not of Angels, yet accepted so

466

      

As that more willingly thou could’st not seem

467

      

At Heav’n’s high feasts t’ have fed. Yet what compare?

468

      

To whom the wingèd Hierarch
³⁵⁰⁹
replied:

469

      

   
“O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom

470

      

All things proceed, and up to Him return,

471

      

If not depraved
³⁵¹⁰
from good, created all

472

      

Such to perfection, one first
³⁵¹¹
matter all,

473

      

Endued
³⁵¹²
with various forms, various degrees

474

      

Of substance and, in things that live, of life,

475

      

But more refined, more spiritous, and pure,

476

      

As nearer to Him placed, or nearer tending

477

      

Each in their several active spheres assigned,

478

      

Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
³⁵¹³

479

      

Proportioned to each kind. So from the root

480

      

Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves

481

      

More airy, last the bright consummate
³⁵¹⁴
flower

482

      

Spirits odorous breathes. Flow’rs and their fruit,

483

      

Man’s nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed,
³⁵¹⁵

484

      

To vital spirits aspire, to animal,

485

      

To intellectual, give both life and sense,

486

      

Fancy and understanding, whence the soul

487

      

Reason receives, and reason is her being,

488

      

Discursive, or intuitive.
³⁵¹⁶
Discourse

489

      

Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,

490

      

Differing but in degree, of kind the same.

491

      

Wonder not then, what God for you saw good

492

      

If I refuse not, but convert, as you,

493

      

To proper substance. Time may come when men

494

      

With Angels may participate, and find

495

      

No inconvenient
³⁵¹⁷
diet, nor too light fare.

496

      

And from these corporal nutriments perhaps

497

      

Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit,

498

      

Improved by tract
³⁵¹⁸
of time and, winged, ascend

499

      

Ethereal, as we. Or may, at choice,

500

      

Here or in Heav’nly Paradises dwell,

501

      

If ye be found obedient, and retain

502

      

Unalterably firm His love entire,

503

      

Whose
³⁵¹⁹
progeny
³⁵²⁰
you are. Meanwhile enjoy

504

      

Your fill what
³⁵²¹
happiness this happy state

505

      

Can comprehend, incapable of more.

506

      

To whom the patriarch of mankind replied:

507

      

   
“O favorable Spirit, propitious
³⁵²²
guest,

508

      

Well hast thou taught the way that might direct

509

      

Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set

510

      

From center to circumference, whereon,

511

      

In contemplation of created things,

512

      

By steps we may ascend to God. But say,

513

      

What meant that caution joined,
³⁵²³
‘If ye be found

514

      

Obedient?’ Can we want
³⁵²⁴
obedience then

515

      

To Him, or possibly His love desert,

516

      

Who formed us from the dust and placed us here

517

      

Full to the utmost measure of what bliss

518

      

Human desires can seek or apprehend?

519

      

To whom the Angel:

 

      

“Son of Heav’n and ear

520

      

Attend:
³⁵²⁵
that thou art happy, owe to God;

521

      

That thou continuest such, owe to thyself—

522

      

That is, to thy obedience: therein stand.
³⁵²⁶

523

      

This was that caution given thee: be advised.
³⁵²⁷

524

      

God made thee perfect,
³⁵²⁸
not immutable,
³⁵²⁹

525

      

And good He made thee, but to persevere

526

      

He left it in thy power, ordained thy will

527

      

By nature free, not overruled by fate

528

      

Inextricable,
³⁵³⁰
or strict necessity.