The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems

by John Milton; Burton Raffel

  Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,

  263

  And liquid lapse4511 of murmuring streams. By4512 these,

  264

  Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew,

  265

  Birds on the branches warbling—all things smiled.

  266

  With fragrance and with joy my heart o’erflowed.

  267

  Myself I then perused, and limb by limb

  268

  Surveyed, and sometimes went,4513 and sometimes ran

  269

  With supple joints, as lively vigor led.

  270

  But who I was, or where, or from what cause,

  271

  Knew not. To speak I tried, and forthwith spoke.

  272

  My tongue obeyed, and readily could name

  273

  Whate’er I saw. ‘Thou Sun,’ said I, ‘fair light,

  274

  And thou enlight’ned 4514 earth, so fresh and gay,

  275

  Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains,

  276

  And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell,

  277

  Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?

  278

  Not of myself—by some great Maker, then,

  279

  In goodness and in power preëminent.

  280

  Tell me, how may I know Him, how adore,

  281

  From whom I have that thus I move and live,

  282

  And feel that I am happier than I know.

  283

  While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither

  284

  From where I first drew air, and first beheld

  285

  This happy light—when, answer none returned,

  286

  On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers,

  287

  Pensive I sat me down. There gentle sleep

  288

  First found me, and with soft oppression4515 seized

  289

  My drowsèd 4516 sense, untroubled, though I thought

  290

  I then was passing to my former state

  291

  Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve.

  292

  When suddenly stood at my head a dream,

  293

  Whose inward apparition4517 gently moved

  294

  My fancy to believe I yet had being,

  295

  And lived. One came, methought, of shape divine,

  296

  And said, ‘Thy mansion4518 wants4519 thee, Adam. Rise,

  297

  First man, of men innumerable ordained

  298

  First father! Called by thee, I come thy guide

  299

  To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.

  300

  So saying, by the hand He took me raised,

  301

  And over fields and waters, as in air

  302

  Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up

  303

  A woody mountain, whose high top was plain,

  304

  A circuit wide, enclosed with goodliest trees

  305

  Planted, with walks, and bowers, that what I saw

  306

  Of earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree,

  307

  Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye

  308

  Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite

  309

  To pluck and eat, whereat I waked, and found

  310

  Before mine eyes all real,4520 as the dream

  311

  Had lively4521 shadowed.4522 Here had new begun

  312

  My wand’ring, had not He, who was my guide

  313

  Up hither, from among the trees appeared,

  314

  Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,

  315

  In adoration at His feet I fell

  316

  Submiss. He reared me, and ‘Whom thou sought’st I am,

  317

  Said mildly, ‘Author of all this thou see’st

  318

  Above, or round about thee, or beneath.

  319

  This Paradise I give thee, count it thine

  320

  To till 4523 and keep, and of the fruit to eat.

  321

  Of every tree that in the garden grows

  322

  Eat freely with glad heart, fear here no dearth.4524

  323

  But of the tree whose operation4525 brings

  324

  Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set

  325

  The pledge4526 of thy obedience and thy faith,

  326

  Amid the garden by4527 the Tree of Life,

  327

  Remember what I warn thee: shun to taste,

  328

  And shun the bitter consequence. For know,

  329

  The day thou eat’st thereof, my sole command

  330

  Transgressed, inevitably4528 thou shalt die,

  331

  From that day mortal, and this happy state

  332

  Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world

  333

  Of woe and sorrow. ’ Sternly He pronounced

  334

  The rigid interdiction, which resounds

  335

  Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice

  336

  Not to incur. But soon His clear aspect4529

  337

  Returned, and gracious purpose4530 thus renewed:

  338

  ‘Not only these fair bounds,4531 but all the earth

  339

  To thee and to thy race I give. As lords

  340

  Possess it, and all things that therein live,

  341

  Or live in sea, or air, beast, fish, and fowl.

  342

  In sign whereof each bird and beast behold

  343

  After their kinds; I bring them to receive

  344

  From thee their names, and pay thee fealty4532

  345

  With low subjection. Understand the same

  346

  Of fish within their wat’ry residence,

  347

  Not hither summoned, since they cannot change

  348

  Their element, to draw4533 the thinner air.

  349

  As thus he spoke, each bird and beast behold

  350

  Approaching two and two, these4534 cowering low

  351

  With blandishment,4535 each bird stooped on his wing.

  352

  I named them, as they passed, and understood

  353

  Their nature, with such knowledge God endued 4536

  354

  My sudden apprehension.4537 But in these

  355

  I found not what methought I wanted still,

  356

  And to the Heav’nly vision thus presumed:4538

  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? W
ho 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 play4540 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 propitious4544 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

  Tedious4548 alike. 4549 Of fellowship I speak

  390

  Such as I seek, fit to participate4550

  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 fitly4552 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 nice4554 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 conversation4556 with his like to help

  419

  Or solace4557 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 manifest4559

  423

  His single imperfection,4560 and beget

  424

  Like of his like, his image multiplied,

  425

  In unity defective, which requires

  426

  Collateral4561 love, and dearest amity. 4562

  427

  Thou in Thy secrecy4563 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 these4564 erect

  433

  From prone, nor in their ways complacence4565 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 try4566 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.

  449

  What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,

  550

  Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,

  451

  Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.

  452

  He ended, or I heard no more, for now

  453

  My earthly by His Heav’nly overpowered,

  454

  Which it had long stood 4570 under, strained to the height

  455

  In that celestial colloquy 4571 sublime, 4572

  456

  As with an object that excels4573 the sense,

  457

  Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair 4574

  458

  Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called

  459

  By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.

  460

  “Mine eyes He closed, but open left the cell

  461

  Of fancy, my internal sight, by which,

  462

  Abstract 4575 as in a trance, methought I saw, 4576

  463

  Though sleeping where I lay, and saw the shape

  464

  Still glorious before whom awake I stood,

  465

  Who stooping op’ned my left side, and took

  466

  From thence a rib, with cordial 4577 spirits warm,

  467

  And life-blood streaming fresh. Wide was the wound,

  468

  But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed.

  469

  The rib He formed and fashioned with His hands.

  470


  Under His forming hands a creature grew,

  471

  Man-like, but different sex, so lovely fair

  472

  That what seemed fair in all the world seemed now

  473

  Mean4578 or in her summed up, in her contained