Poem 8

thee still longer to converse Induced me. As new-waked from soundest sleep, Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, In balmy sweat, which with his beams the sun Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned, And gazed a while the ample sky, till raised By quick instinctive motion up I sprung, As thitherward endeavouring, and upright Stood on my feet. About me round I saw Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, Creatures that lived and moved, and walked or flew, Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled; With fragrance and with joy my heart o’erflowed. Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran With supple joints, as lively vigour led; But who I was, or where, or from what cause, Knew not. To speak I tried, and forthwith spake; My tongue obeyed, and readily could name Whate’er I saw. ‘Thou Sun,’ said I, ‘fair light, And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay, Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell, Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here! Not of myself; by some great Maker then, In goodness and in power pre-eminent. Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, From whom I have that thus I move and live, And feel that I am happier than I know!’ While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither, From where I first drew air, and first beheld This happy light, when answer none returned, On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, Pensive I sat me down; there gentle sleep First found me, and with soft oppression seized My drowsed sense, untroubled, though I thought I then was passing to my former state Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: When suddenly stood at my head a dream, Whose inward apparition gently moved My fancy to believe I yet had being, And lived. One came, methought, of shape divine, And said, ‘Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, First Man, of men innumerable ordained First father! called by thee, I come thy guide To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.’ So saying, by the hand he took me, raised, And over fields and waters, as in air Smooth sliding without step, last led me up A woody