The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, That open'd wide her blazing portals, led

To God's eternal house direct the way,

580

A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold
And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear,
Seen in the galaxy, that milky way,

Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest

585

Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the seventh Evening arose in Eden, for the sun

Was set, and twilight from the east came on,
Forerunning night; when at the holy mount

Of Heav'n's high-seated top, th' imperial throne
Of Godhead, fix'd for ever firm and sure,
The Filial Pow'r arriv'd, and sat him down
With his great Father, for he also went
Invisible, yet stay'd, (such privilege

591

Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd

595

Author and end of all things, and from work

Now resting, bless'd and hallow'd the seventh day
As resting on that day from all his work,
But not in silence holy kept; the harp

Had work and rested not, the solemn pipe,
And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop,
All sounds on fret by string or golden wire,
Temper'd soft tunings intermix'd with voice
Choral or unison: of incense clouds
Fuming from golden censers hid the mount.
Creation and the six days acts they sung,

600

605

'Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite

Thy pow'r; what thought can measure thee, or tongue

Relate thee? greater now in thy return

Than from the giant Angels; thee that day

610

Thy thunders magnify'd; but to create

Is greater than, created, to destroy.

Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound
Thy empire? easily the proud attempt
Of Spi'rits apostate and their counsels vain
Thou hast repell'd, while impiously they thought
Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw

615

620

625

The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks
To lessen thee, against his purpose serves
To manifest the more thy might: his evil
Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.
Witness this new-made world, another Heaven
From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view
On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea;
Of amplitude almost immense, with stars
Numerous, and every star perhaps a world
Of destin'd habitation; but thou know'st
Their seasons: among these the seat of Men,
Earth with her nether ocean circumfus'd,
Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men,
And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanc'd,
Created in his image there to dwell

And worship him, and in reward to rule
Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air,
And multiply a race of worshippers
Holy and just: thrice happy if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright.'

"So sung they, and the empyréan rung With Halleluiahs: thus was sabbath kept.

629

635

And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd 640
How first this world and face of things began,
And what before thy memory was done

From the beginning, that posterity

Inform'd by thee might know; if else thou seek'st Ought, not surpassing human measure, say."

645

END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK.

Paradise Lost.

BOOK VIII.

ARGUMENT.

Adam enquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search rather thing more worthy of knowledge: Adam assents, and, still desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remembered since his own creation, his placing in Paradise, his talk with God concerning solitude and fit society, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve: his discourse with the Angel thereupon, who, after admonitions repeated, departs.

CA

ILLU