Chapter 10 9
O by what Name, for thou above all these,
Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher,
Surpassest farr my naming, how may I
Adore thee, Author of this Universe, [360]
And all this good to man, for whose well being
So amply, and with hands so liberal
Thou hast provided all things: but with mee
I see not who partakes. In solitude
What happiness, who can enjoy alone, [ 365 ]
Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright,
As with a smile more bright, thus replied.
What callst thou solitude, is not the Earth
With various living creatures, and the Aire [ 370 ]
Replenisht, and all these at thy command
To come and play before thee; knowt thou not
Thir language and thir ways? They also know,
And reason not contemptibly; with these
Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large. [ 375 ]
So spake the Universal Lord, and seemd
So ordering. I with leave of speech implord,
And humble deprecation thus replid.
Let not my words offend thee, Heavnly Power,
My Maker, be propitious while I speak. [ 380 ]
Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,
And these inferior farr beneath me set?
Among unequals what society
Can sort, what harmony or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due [ 385 ]
Givn and receivd; but in disparitie
The one intense, the other still remiss
Cannot well suite with either, but soon prove
Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak
Such as I seek, fit to participate [ 390 ]
All rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human consort; they rejoyce
Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness;
So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined;
Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle [395]
So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape;
Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all.