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
538 | | Too much of ornament, in outward show |
539 | | Elaborate, |
540 | | For well I understand in the prime end |
541 | | Of Nature her th’ inferior, in the mind |
542 | | And inward faculties, which most excel. |
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 |
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, |
553 | | |
554 | | Authority and reason on her wait, |
555 | | |
556 | | |
557 | | Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat |
558 | | Build in her loveliest, and create an awe |
559 | | About her, as |
560 | | To whom the Angel with contracted brow: |
561 | | |
562 | | Do thou but thine, and be not diffident |
563 | | Of wisdom. She deserts thee not, if thou |
564 | | Dismiss |
565 | | By attributing |
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 |
574 | | The more she will acknowledge thee her head, |
575 | | And to realities yield all her shows, |
576 | | Made so adorn for thy delight the more, |
577 | | So awful |
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. |
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 | | |
597 | | In procreation common to all kinds |
598 | | ( Though higher of the genial |
599 | | And with mysterious reverence, I deem) |
600 | | So much delights me as those graceful |
601 | | Those thousand decencies, |
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 |
607 | | Yet these subject |
608 | | What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled, |
609 | | Who meet with various objects |
610 | | Variously representing, |
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 | | |
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, |
625 | | Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive |
626 | | Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace: |
627 | | Total they mix, union of pure with pure |