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Save with the creatures which I made, and those

To me inferior, infinite descents,

Beneath what other creatures are to thee?

He ceas'd, I lowly answer'd. To attain

The height and depth of thy internal ways
All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things;
Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee

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Is no deficiency found; not so is Man,
But in degree, the cause of his desire

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Like of his like, his image multiply'd,

In unity defective, which requires
Collateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy secrecy although alone,

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Best with thyself accompanied, scek'st not

Social communication, yet so pleas'd,

Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt of union or communion, deify'd;

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I by conversing cannot these erect

From prone, nor in their ways complacence find,
Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom us'd

Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd
This answer from the gracious voice divine.

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THUS far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd, And find thee knowing not of beasts alone,

Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thyself,
Expressing well the spi'rit within thee free,
My image, not imparted to the brute,
Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee
Good reason was thou freely should'st dislike,
And be so minded still; I, ere thou spak'st,
Knew it not good for man to be alone,
And no such company as then thou saw'st
Intended thee, for trial only brought,

To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet :
What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.

He ended, or I heard no more, for now

My earthly by his heav'nly overpower'd,

Which it had long stood under, strain'd to th' height
In that celestial colloquy sublime,

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As with an object that excels the sense

Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair

Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd

By nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes.

Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell

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Of fancy my internal sight, by which
Abstract as in a trance methought I saw,
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I stood;

Who stooping open'd my left side, and took

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From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm,

And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd :

The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands;

Under his forming hands a creature grew,

Manlike, but different sex so lovely fair,

That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd now Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd

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And in her looks, which from that time infus'd

Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,

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And into all things from her air inspir'd
The spirit of love and amorous delight.

She disappear'd, and left me dark; I wak'd
To find her, or for ever to deplore

Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure :

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When out of hope, behold her, not far off,
Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
To make her amiable: On she came,

Led by her heav'nly Maker, though unseen,
And guided by his voice, nor uninform'd

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Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites:

Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her eye,

In every gesture dignity and love.

I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud.

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THIS turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd

Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,

Giver of all things fair, but fairest this

Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself
Before me; Woman is her name, of Man
Extracted; for this cause he shall forego

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Father and mother, and to' his wife adhere;

And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.

SHE heard me thus, and though divinely brought, 500 Yet innocence and virgin modesty,

Her virtue and the conscience of her worth,

That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won,

Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd,

The more desirable, or to say all,

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Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,

Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd;

I follow'd her, she what was honour knew,

And with obsequious majesty approv'd

My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower

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I led her blushing like the morn: all Heaven,

And happy constellations on that hour

Shed their selectest influence; the earth

Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;

Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle air
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub,

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Disporting, till the amorous bird of night

Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening star

On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp.

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THUS have I told thee all my state, and brought

My story to the sum of earthly bliss

Which I enjoy, and must confess to find

In all things else delight indeed, but such

As us❜d or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement desire, these delicacies

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I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Walks, and the melody of birds; but here

Far otherwise, transported I behold,

Transported touch; here passion first I felt,
Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else
Superior and unmov'd, here only weak

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Against the charm of beauty's pow'rful glance.
Or nature fail'd in me, and left some part
Not proof enough such object to sustain,
Or from my side subducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at least on her bestow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward show
Elaborate, of inward less exact.

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For well I understand in the prime end

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Of nature her th' inferior, in the mind

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And in herself complete, so well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say,
Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded, wisdom in discourse with her
Loses discount'nanc'd, and like folly shows;
Authority and reason on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made
Occasionally; and to consummate all,

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