Paradise Lost

And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule. 
  She heard me thus, and though divinely brought, 
Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie, 
Her vertue and the conscience of her worth, 
That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, 
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, 
The more desirable, or to say all, 
Nature her self, though pure of sinful thought, 
Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd; 
I follow'd her, she what was Honour knew, 
And with obsequious Majestie approv'd 
My pleaded reason.  To the Nuptial Bowre 
I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n, 
And happie Constellations on that houre 
Shed thir selectest influence; the Earth 
Gave sign of gratulation, and each Hill; 
Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires 
Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from thir wings 
Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub, 
Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night 
Sung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr 
On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp. 
Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought 
My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss 
Which I enjoy, and must confess to find 
In all things else delight indeed, but such 
As us'd or not, works in the mind no change, 
Nor vehement desire, these delicacies 
I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours, 
Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here 
Farr otherwise, transported I behold, 
Transported touch; here passion first I felt, 
Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else 
Superiour and unmov'd, here onely weake 
Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance. 
Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part 
Not proof enough such Object to sustain, 
Or from my side subducting, took perhaps 
More then enough; at least on her bestow'd 
Too much of Ornament, in outward shew 
Elaborate, of inward less exact. 
For well I understand in the prime end 
Of Nature her th' inferiour, in the mind 
And inward Faculties, which most excell, 
In outward also her resembling less 
His Image who made both, and less expressing 
The character of that Dominion giv'n 
O're other Creatures; yet when I approach 
Her loveliness, so absolute she seems 
And in her self compleat, so well to know 
Her own, that what she wills to do or say, 
Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best; 
All higher knowledge in her presence falls 
Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her 
Looses discount'nanc't, and like folly shewes; 
Authoritie and Reason on her waite, 
As one intended first, not after made 
Occasionally; and to consummate all, 
Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat 
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe 
About her, as a guard Angelic plac't. 
To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 
  Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part; 
Do thou but thine, and be not diffident 
Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou 
Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh, 
By attributing overmuch to things 
Less excellent, as thou thy self perceav'st. 
For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, 
An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well 
Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love, 
Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy self; 
Then value: Oft times nothing profits more 
Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right 
Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st, 
The more she will acknowledge thee her Head, 
And to realities yeild all her shows; 
Made so adorn for thy delight the more, 
So awful, that with honour thou maist love 
Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. 
But if the sense of touch whereby mankind 
Is propagated seem such dear delight 
Beyond all other, think the same voutsaf't 
To Cattel and each Beast; which would not be 
To them made common & divulg'd, if aught 
Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue 
The Soule of Man, or passion in him move. 
What higher in her societie thou findst 
Attractive, human, rational, love still; 
In loving thou dost well, in passion not, 
Wherein true Love consists not; love refines 
The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat 
In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale 
By which to heav'nly Love thou maist ascend, 
Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause 
Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found. 
  To whom thus half abash't ADAM repli'd. 
Neither her out-side formd so fair, nor aught 
In procreation common to all kindes 
(Though higher of the genial Bed by far,