The Poetical Works of John Milton


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The highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes  
All human thoughts come short, Supream of things;  
Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee  
Is no deficience found; not so is Man,  
But in degree, the cause of his desire  
By conversation with his like to help,  
Or solace his defects. No need that thou  
Shouldst propagat, already infinite;  
420  
And through all numbers absolute, though One;  
But Man by number is to manifest  
His single imperfection, and beget  
Like of his like, his Image multipli'd,  
In unitie defective, which requires  
Collateral love, and deerest amitie.  
Thou in thy secresie although alone,  
Best with thy self accompanied, seek'st not  
Social communication, yet so pleas'd,  
Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt  
Of Union or Communion, deifi'd;  
430  
I by conversing cannot these erect  
From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find.  
Thus I embold'nd spake, and freedom us'd  
Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd  
This answer from the gratious voice Divine.  
Thus farr to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd,  
And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone,  
464  


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462 463 464 465 466

Quick Jump
1 198 395 593 790