Such Enlightening her by day, as she by night know. This Earth-reciprocal, if land be there, ledge is Fields and inhabitants? Her spots thou seest too high for thee As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce Fruits in her softened soil, for some to eat Allotted there; and other Suns, perhaps, With their attendant Moons, thou wilt descry, Communicating male and female lightWhich two great sexes animate the World, Stored in each Orb perhaps with some that live. For such vast room in Nature unpossessed By living soul, desert and desolate, Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute Each Orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far Down to this habitable, which returns Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. But whether thus these things, or whether notWhether the Sun, predominant in heaven, Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun; He from the east his flaming road begin, Or she from west her silent course advance With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft axle, while she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air alongSolicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; Leave them to God above; him serve and fear. Of other creatures as him pleases best, Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou 170 In what he gives to thee, this Paradise And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high To know what passes there. Be lowly wise; Think only what concerns thee and thy being; Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there Live, in what state, condition, or degree-

160

150

Contented that thus far hath been revealed
Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven.'
To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, re-

plied :

How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure
Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene,
And, freed from intricacies, taught to live
The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts
To interrupt the sweet of life, from which
God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,
And not molest us, unless we ourselves
Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions
vain!

180

But apt the mind or fancy is to rove
Unchecked; and of her roving is no end,
Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn 190
That not to know at large of things remote
From use, obscure and subtle, but to know
That which before us lies in daily life,
Is the prime wisdom: what is more is fume,
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most concern
Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek.
Therefore from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise 200
Of something not unseasonable to ask,
By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned.
Thee I have heard relating what was done
Ere my remembrance; now hear me relate
My story, which, perhaps, thou hast not heard.
And day is yet not spent ; till then thou seest
How subtly to detain thee I devise,
Inviting thee to hear while I relate-

Adam

proposes to relate his own

tale

for thee

Such Enlightening her by day, as she by night know- This Earth-reciprocal, if land be there, ledge is Fields and inhabitants? Her spots thou seest too high As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce Fruits in her softened soil, for some to eat Allotted there; and other Suns, perhaps, With their attendant Moons, thou wilt descry, Communicating male and female lightWhich two great sexes animate the World, Stored in each Orb perhaps with some that live. For such vast room in Nature unpossessed By living soul, desert and desolate, Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute Each Orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far Down to this habitable, which returns Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. But whether thus these things, or whether notWhether the Sun, predominant in heaven, Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun; He from the east his flaming road begin, Or she from west her silent course advance With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft axle, while she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air alongSolicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; Leave them to God above; him serve and fear. Of other creatures as him pleases best, Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou 170 In what he gives to thee, this Paradise And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high To know what passes there. Be lowly wise Think only what concerns thee and thy being; Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there Live, in what state, condition, or degree

160

;

150

Contented that thus far hath been revealed
Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven.'
To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, re-
plied :-

How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure
Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene,
And, freed from intricacies, taught to live
The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts
To interrupt the sweet of life, from which
God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,
And not molest us, unless we ourselves
Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions
vain!

180

But apt the mind or fancy is to rove
Unchecked; and of her roving is no end,
Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn 190
That not to know at large of things remote
From use, obscure and subtle, but to know
That which before us lies in daily life,
Is the prime wisdom: what is more is fume,
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most concern
Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek.
Therefore from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of things at hand
Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise 200
Of something not unseasonable to ask,
By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned.
Thee I have heard relating what was done
Ere my remembrance; now hear me relate
My story, which, perhaps, thou hast not heard.
And day is yet not spent; till then thou seest
How subtly to detain thee I devise,
Inviting thee to hear while I relate-

Adam

proposes to relate his own

tale

Raphael Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply.
heavenly For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven; 210
meek And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear
agrees Than fruits of palm-tree, pleasantest to thirst
And hunger both, from labour, at the hour
Of sweet repast.
They satiate, and soon fill,
Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace
divine

Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.'
To whom thus Raphael answered, heavenly
meek :-

Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of Men,
Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee
Abundantly his gifts hath also poured,
Inward and outward both, his image fair :
Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace
Attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms.
Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth
Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire
Gladly into the ways of God with Man;
For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set
On Man his equal love. Say therefore on;
For I that day was absent, as befell,
Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,
Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell,
Squared in full legion (such command we had),
To see that none thence issued forth a spy
Or enemy, while God was in his work,
Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold,
Destruction with Creation might have mixed.
Not that they durst without his leave attempt;
But us he sends upon his high behests
For state, as sovran King, and to inure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut,

239

820

230