Union of mind, or in us both one foul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair 605 More grateful than harmonious found to th' ear. 610 What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd, 595. To whom thus half abash'd Adam reply'd.] Adam's dif- course, which follows the gentle rebuke he received from the Angel, -shows that his love, however violent it might appear, was still founded in reason, and confequently not improper for Paradise. Addison. To whom thus half abash'd Adam reply'd. This verse might have been turn'd otherwise, To whom thus Adam half abash'd reply'd, and many perhaps will think that it runs smoother thus. But let the reader consider again, whether the verse Irra as it is in Milton does not better express the shame and modest confufion of Adam. 598. Though higher of the genial bed by far,] The genial bed, so Horace, Ep. 1. 1. 87. lectus genialis. And with mysterious reverence 1 deem. He had applied this epithet to marriage before in IV. 743. Nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refus'd: And again, ver 750. Hail wedded love, mysterious law. He means by it fomething that was not proper to be divulg'd, but ought to be kept in religious filence and rever'd like the mysteries. H2 618. To Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue, Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 620 Us happy', and without love no happiness. Whatever pure thou in the body' enjoy'st (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence, and obstacle find none Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; 625 As these verses Dr. Bentley would throw out: he has several objections to them; but they will be all answer'd by confidering the sense of the pafsage. Raphael had said that Spirits mix total; that is one circumftance, in which they differ from men: here he adds another circumstance of their difference, viz. they are so unrestrain'd that they need no conveyancı, that is, need not move to meet one another, as our flesh does to mix with other flesh, and one foul with another foul, mediante corpore. In fewer words, Spirits (says Raphael) not only mix total, but they mix at a distance, and without approaching each other. This is Milton's sense; and now that unintelligible stuff (as the Doctor calls it) need conveyance, as foul to mix with foul, is become As flesh to mix with flesh, or foul with foul. 630 Be strong, live happy', and love, but first of all And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall very eafy to be understood. Pearce. 630. But I can now no more; the parting fun &c.] The conversation was now become of fuch a nature that it was proper to put an end to it: And now the parting fun beyond the earth's green Cape, beyond Cape de Verd the most western point of Africa, and verdant Iles, the ilands of Cape de Verd, a knot of small ilands lying off Cape de Verd, subject to the Portuguese, Hesperian fets, sets westward, from Hesperus the evening star appearing there, my fignal to depart, for he was only to stay till the evening, V. 376. for these mid hours, till evening I have at will. And he very properly closes his difcourse with those moral inftructions, 640 Free which should make the most lasting impression on the mind of Adam, and to deliver which was the principal end and design of the Angel's coming. 634. Him whom to love is to obey,] For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. 1 John V.3. His great command every body will readily understand to be the command not to eat of the forbidden tree, which was to be the trial of Adam's obedience. 637. Would not admit ;) Admit is used in the Latin sense, as in Terence, Heaut. V. II. 3. Quid ego tantum fceleris admifi miser? What great wickedness have I committed? 637.-thine and of all thy fons &c.] In te omnis domus inclinata recumbit. Virg. An. XII. 59. Η 3 644 whom Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus Thy condescension, and shall be honor'd ever Be good and friendly still, and oft return. 644.-whom Adam thus] Adam's speech at parting with the Angel has in it a deference and gratitude agreeable to an inferior nature, and at the fame time a certain dignity and greatness suitable to the father of mankind in his state of innocence. Addison. 645. Follow'd with benediction. Since to part,] What's here? says Dr. Bentley: Adam give benediction, his blessing to an ArchAngel, when the less is blessed of the better? But benediction does not fignify blessing here in the sense which the Doctor gives to the word. Benedicere Domino, to bless God is a common phrase in religious offices. And fo in a lower sense men may be faid to bless Angels; for bene diction is (properly speaking) only giving them good words, or wishing them well. See Pial. CIX. 17. In 645 650 So this sense therefore it is not improper Follow'd with valediction, loath to Benediction here is not blessing, as 'tis the word Parad. Reg. III. 127. Glory and benediction, that is thanks. Richardson. 652. Se So parted they, the Angel up to Heaven 652. So parted they, the Angel up to Heaven From the thick shade, and Adam to bis bower.] It is very true, as Dr. Bentley says, that this conversation between Adam and the Angel was held in the bower. For thither Adam had invited him. V. 367. But by bower in this place is meant his inmost bower, as it is call'd in IV. 738. his place of rest. There was a shady walk that led to Adam's bower. When the Angel arose ver. Vouchsafe with us in yonder shady 644. Adam follow'd him into this bower To reft. shady walk: and it was from this thick shade that they parted, and And the Angel had accepted the the Angel went up to Heaven, and invitation, ver. 375 Adam to his bower. The end of the Eighth Book. |
