God, in the nature of each being sounds
Its proper bliss, and sets its proper bounds: 110
But as he fram'd a whole, the whole to bless,
On mutual wants built mutual happiness:
So from the first eternal order ran,
And creature link'd to creature, man to man.
Whate'er of life all-quick'ning æther keeps, 115
Or breathes thro' air, or shoots beneath the deeps,
Or pours profuse on earth; on nature feeds
The vital flame, and swells the genial seeds.
Not man alone, but all that roam the wood,
Or wing the sky, or roll along the flood, 120
Each loves itself, but not itself alone,
Each sex desires alike, till two are one.
Nor ends the pleasure with the fierce embrace;
They love themselves, a third time, in their race.
Thus beast and bird their common charge attend, 125
The mothers nurse it, and the fires defend;
The young dismiss'd to wander earth or air,
There stops the instinct, and there ends the care;
The link dissolves, each seeks a fresh embrace,
Another love succeeds another race. 130
A longer care man's helpless kind demands;
That longer care contracts more lasting bands:
Reflection, reason, still the tyes improve,
At once extend the int'rest and the love;
With choice we fix, with sympathy we burn; 135
Each virtue in each passion takes its turn;
And
