Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Power, My Maker, be propitious while I speak.

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 Giv'n and receiv'd; 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 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 combin'd; Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape; Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all.

Whereto th' Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd.

A nice and suttle happiness I see Thou to thy self proposest, in the choice Of thy Associates, ADAM, and wilt taste No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie.

What thinkst thou then of mee, and this my State, Seem I to thee sufficiently possest Of happiness, or not?
who am alone From all Eternitie, for none I know Second to mee or like, equal much less.