The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (95 page)

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 play
⁴⁵⁴⁰
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 propitious
⁴⁵⁴⁴
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

Tedious
⁴⁵⁴⁸
alike.
⁴⁵⁴⁹
Of fellowship I speak

390

Such as I seek, fit to participate
⁴⁵⁵⁰

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 fitly
⁴⁵⁵²
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 nice
⁴⁵⁵⁴
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 conversation
⁴⁵⁵⁶
with his like to help

419

Or solace
⁴⁵⁵⁷
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 manifest
⁴⁵⁵⁹

423

His single imperfection,
⁴⁵⁶⁰
and beget

424

Like of his like, his image multiplied,

425

In unity defective, which requires

426

Collateral
⁴⁵⁶¹
love, and dearest amity.
⁴⁵⁶²

427

Thou in Thy secrecy
⁴⁵⁶³
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 these
⁴⁵⁶⁴
erect

433

From prone, nor in their ways complacence
⁴⁵⁶⁵
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 try
⁴⁵⁶⁶
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.