11

Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficd [ 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 effulgence, 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 favour, in this honour 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 replid.

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 spiritous, and pure, [ 475 ]

As neerer to him plact or neerer tending

Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,

Till body up to spirit work, in bounds

Proportiond 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 breathes: flours and thir fruit

Mans nourishment, 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; discourse

Is oftest 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 corporal nutriments 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 happie state

Can comprehend, incapable of more. [ 505 ]

To whom the Patriarch of mankind replid,

O favourable spirit, propitious guest,

Well hast thou taught the way that might direct

Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set

From center to circumference, whereon [ 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 utmost measure of what bliss

Human desires can seek or apprehend?