The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (97 page)

538

Too much of ornament, in outward show

539

Elaborate,
⁴⁶¹²
of inward less exact.

540

For well I understand in the prime end
⁴⁶¹³

541

Of Nature her th’ inferior, in the mind

542

And inward faculties, which most excel.
⁴⁶¹⁴

543

In outward also her resembling less

544

His image who made both, and less expressing

545

The character of that dominion giv’n

546

O’er other creatures. Yet when I approach

547

Her loveliness, so absolute
⁴⁶¹⁵
she seems

548

And in herself complete, so well to know

549

Her own, that what she wills to do or say

550

Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best.

551

All higher knowledge in her presence falls

552

Degraded,
⁴⁶¹⁶
wisdom in discourse with her

553

Looses
⁴⁶¹⁷
discount’nanced,
⁴⁶¹⁸
and like folly shows.
⁴⁶¹⁹

554

Authority and reason on her wait,

555

As
⁴⁶²⁰
one intended first, not after made
⁴⁶²¹

556

Occasionally.
⁴⁶²²
And, to consummate
⁴⁶²³
all,

557

Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat

558

Build in her loveliest, and create an awe

559

About her, as
⁴⁶²⁴
a guard Angelic placed.

560

To whom the Angel with contracted brow:

561

   
“Accuse not Nature. She hath done her part;

562

Do thou but thine, and be not diffident
⁴⁶²⁵

563

Of wisdom. She deserts thee not, if thou

564

Dismiss
⁴⁶²⁶
not her, when most thou need’st her nigh,

565

By attributing
⁴⁶²⁷
overmuch to things

566

Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv’st.

567

For what admir’st thou, what transports thee so?

568

An outside? Fair, no doubt, and worthy well

569

Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love.

570

Not thy subjection. Weigh with her thyself,

571

Then value. Oft-times nothing profits more

572

Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right

573

Well managed. Of that skill
⁴⁶²⁸
the more thou know’st

574

The more she will acknowledge thee her head,
⁴⁶²⁹

575

And to realities yield all her shows,
⁴⁶³⁰

576

Made so adorn for thy delight the more,

577

So awful
⁴⁶³¹
that with honor thou may’st love

578

Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.

579

But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind

580

Is propagated, seem such dear delight

581

Beyond all other, think the same vouchsafed

582

To cattle and each beast, which would not be

583

To them made common and divulged, if aught

584

Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue

585

The soul of man, or passion in him move.

586

What higher in her society thou find’st

587

Attractive, human, rational, love still.
⁴⁶³²

588

In loving thou dost well, in passion not,

589

Wherein true love consists not. Love refines

590

The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat

591

In reason, and is judicious, is the scale

592

By which to Heav’nly love thou may’st ascend,

593

Not sunk in carnal pleasure. For which cause

594

Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.

595

To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied:

596

   
“Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught

597

In procreation common to all kinds

598

( Though higher of the genial
⁴⁶³³
bed by far,

599

And with mysterious reverence, I deem)
⁴⁶³⁴

600

So much delights me as those graceful
⁴⁶³⁵
acts,

601

Those thousand decencies,
⁴⁶³⁶
that daily flow

602

From all her words and actions, mixed with love

603

And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned

604

Union of mind, or in us both one soul.

605

Harmony to behold in wedded pair

606

More grateful
⁴⁶³⁷
than harmonious sound to th’ ear.

607

Yet these subject
⁴⁶³⁸
not. I to thee disclose

608

What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled,
⁴⁶³⁹

609

Who meet with various objects
⁴⁶⁴⁰
from the sense

610

Variously representing,
⁴⁶⁴¹
yet still free

611

Approve the best, and follow what I approve.

612

To love, thou blam’st me not, for love, thou say’st,

613

Leads up to Heav’n, is both the way and guide.

614

Bear with me, then, if lawful what I ask:

615

Love not the Heav’nly Spirits, and how their love

616

Express they? by looks only? or do they mix

617

Irradiance,
⁴⁶⁴²
virtual
⁴⁶⁴³
or immediate touch?

618

To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed

619

Celestial rosy red, love’s proper hue,

620

Answered:

“Let it suffice thee that thou know’st

621

Us happy, and without love no happiness.

622

Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy’st

623

(And pure thou wert created), we enjoy

624

In eminence,
⁴⁶⁴⁴
and obstacle find none

625

Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive
⁴⁶⁴⁵
bars.

626

Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace:

627

Total they mix, union of pure with pure