O by what Name, for thou above all these,
Above mankinde, ht 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 enjoy alone, [ 365 ]
Or all enjoying, what te find?
Thus I presumptuous; and the visiht,
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 and
To e and play before thee; knowst thou not
Thir language and thir wayes? They also know,
And reason not ptibly; with these
Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large. [ 375 ]
So spake the Universal Lord, and seemd
So . 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 beh me set?
Among unequals what societie
sort, what harmonie or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due [ 385 ]
Givn and receivd; but in disparitie
The oehe other still remiss
ot 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
ot be human sort; they rejoyce
Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness;
So fitly them in pairs thou hast bind;
Much less Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle [ 395 ]
So well verse, nor with the Ox the Ape;
Wors then Man with Beast, a of all.