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 brightnd, thus replid.

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; knowst thou not

Thir language and thir wayes? 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 inferiour farr beneath me set?

Among unequals what societie

Can sort, what harmonie 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 combind;

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.