The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (95 page)

Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online

Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel

Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry

BOOK: The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems
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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.

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