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
357 | | |
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 | | |
370 | | With various living creatures, and the air |
371 | | Replenished, |
372 | | To come and play |
373 | | Their language and their ways? They also know, |
374 | | And reason not contemptibly. With these |
375 | | |
376 | | So spoke the Universal Lord, and seemed |
377 | | So ordering. I, with leave of speech implored, |
378 | | And humble deprecation, |
379 | | |
380 | | My Maker, be propitious |
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, |
385 | | Which must be mutual, in proportion due |
386 | | Giv’n and received. But in disparity |
387 | | |
388 | | Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove |
389 | | |
390 | | Such as I seek, fit to participate |
391 | | All rational delight, wherein the brute |
392 | | Cannot be human consort. |
393 | | Each with their kind, lion with lioness, |
394 | | So fitly |
395 | | Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl |
396 | | So well converse, |
397 | | Worse then can man with beast, and least of |
398 | | Whereto the Almighty answer |
399 | | |
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, |
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 |
419 | | Or solace |
420 | | Should’st propagate, already Infinite, |
421 | | And through all numbers Absolute, |
422 | | But man by number is to manifest |
423 | | His single imperfection, |
424 | | Like of his like, his image multiplied, |
425 | | In unity defective, which requires |
426 | | |
427 | | Thou in Thy secrecy |
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 |
433 | | From prone, nor in their ways complacence |
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 | | |
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 |
443 | | Good reason was thou freely should’st dislike, |
444 | | And be so minded still. |
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, |
448 | | To see how thou could’st judge of fit and meet. |