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.