Chapter 12 11
Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed [ 450 ]
Not burdnd Nature, sudden mind arose
In Adam, not to let th occasion pass
Given him by this great Conference to know
Of things above his World, and of thir being [ 455 ]
Who dwell in Heavn, whose excellence he saw
Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms
Divine effect, whose high Power so far
Exceeded human, and his wary speech
Thus to th Empyreal Minister he framd. [ 460 ]
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favor, in this honor done to man,
Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaft
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, [ 465 ]
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
At Heavns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?
To whom the winged Hierarch replied.
O Adam, one Almightie is, from whom
All things proceed, and up to him return, [ 470 ]
If not depravd from good, created all
Such to perfection, one first matter all,
Indud with various forms, various degrees
Of substance, and in things that live, of life;
But more refind, more spiritual, and pure, [ 475 ]
As neerer to him plact or neerer tending
Each in thir several active Sphears assigned,
Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportioned to each kind. So from the root
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves [ 480 ]
More aerie, last the bright consummate floure
Spirits odorous breaths: flours and thir fruit
Man's nutrition, by gradual scale sublimd
To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,
To intellectual, give both life and sense, [ 485 ]
Fansie and understanding, whence the Soule
Reason receives, and reason is her being,
Discursive, or Intuitive;
Is oft yours, the latter most is ours,
Differing but in degree, of kind the same. [ 490 ]
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good
If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
To proper substance; time may come when men
With Angels may participate, and find
No Inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare: [ 495 ]
And from these corporate nutrients perhaps
Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit,
Improvd by tract of time, and wingd ascend
Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice
Here or in Heavnly Paradises dwell; [ 500 ]
If ye be found obedient, and retain
Unalterably firm his love entire
Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy
Your fill what happiness this happy state
Can comprehend, incapable of more. [ 505 ]
To whom the Patriarch of mankind replied,
O favorable spirit, propitious guest,
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set
From center to circumference, where on [ 510 ]
In contemplation of created things
By steps we may ascend to God. But say,
What meant that caution joind, if ye be found
Obedient? can we want obedience then
To him, or possibly his love desert [ 515 ]
Who formd us from the dust, and placd us here
Full to the ultimate measure of what bliss
Human desires can seek or apprehend?