If they tranfgrefs, and flight that fole, com
So easily obey'd, amid the choice
Of all taftes elfe to please their appetite, Though wand'ring. He with his consorted
The story heard attentive, and was fill'd
With admiration and deep mufe, to hear
Of things so high and strange, things to their
thought
So unimaginable, as hate in' Heav'n,
And war fo near the peace of God in blifs, 55 With fuch confufion: but the evil soon
Driv'n bak redounded as a flood on those, From whom it fprung; impoffible to mix With blefledness. Whence Adam foon re
The doubts, that in his heart arofe: and
Led on, yet finless, with defire to know,
What nearer might concern him, how this
Of Heav'n and earth confpicuous firft began;
When, and whereof created, for what cause,
What within Eden or without was done
Before his memory, as one whose drouth
Yet fcarce allay'd, ftill eyes the current stream,
Whofe liquid murmur heard, new thirft exites,
Proceeded thus to afk his heav'nly guest.
Great things, and full of wonder in our
Far diff'ring from this world, thou haft reveal'd.
Divine interpreter! by favor fent
Down from the empyréan, to forewarn
Us timely, of what might else have been our lofs, Unknown; which human knowledge could not reach
For which to th' infinitely Good we owe
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receive with folemn purpose, to observe
Immutably his fovereign will, the end
Of what we are. But fince thou haft vouch-
faf'd
Gently, for our inftruction, to impart
Things above earthly thought, which yet concern'd
Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seem'd,
Deign to defcend now lower, and relate,
What may no lefs perhaps avail us known, 85
How first began this Heav'n, which we behold
Distant so high, with moving fires adorn'd
Innumerable; and this which yields or fills
All space, the ambient air wide interfus'd,
Imbracing round this florid earth; what
cause
Mov'd the Creator in his holy rest
Through all eternity so late to build
In Chaos; and the work begun, how foon
Abfolv'd, if unforbid thou may'st unfold
What we, not to explore the secret afk
Of his eternal empire, but the more
To magnify his works, the more we know.
And the great light of day yet wants to run
Much of his race, though steep; fufpenfe in
Heav'n,
Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he
And longer will delay to hear thee tell
His generation, and the rising birth
Of nature from the unapparent deep:
Or if the star of ev'ning, and the moon
Hafte to thy audience, night with her will
Silence, and fleep, lift'ning to thee, will watch;
Or we can bid his absence, 'till thy song
End, and difmifs thee, ere the morning shine.
Thus Adam his illuftrious guest besought;
And thus the Godlike Angel anfwer'd mild. 110
This allo thy request, with caution ask'd,
Obtain though to recount almighty works,
What words or tongue of Seraph can fuffice,
Or heart of man fuffice to comprehend?
Yet what thou can'st attain, which best may
Thee alfo happier, fhall not be withheld
Thy hearing: fuch commiffion from above
I have receiv'd, to answer thy defire
Of knowledge within bounds: beyond ab-
stain
To afk, nor let thine own invention hope
Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,
Only omniscient, hath fupprefs'd in night,
To none communicable in Earth or Heav'n:
Enough is left befides to search and known. 125
But knowledge is as food, and needs no less
Her temperance over appetite, to know
In measure, what the mind may well contain;
Oppreffes elfe with furfeit, and foon turns
Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. 130
Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav'n,
So call him, brighter once amidst the hoft
Of Angels, than that star the stars among,
Fell with his flaming legions through the deep
Into his place, and the great Son return'd 135
Victorious with his Saints, th' omnipotent
Eternal Father from his throne beheld
Their multitude, and to his Son thus fpake.
At least our envious foe hath fail'd, who
All like himself rebellious, by whofe aid 140-
This inacceffible high ftrength, the feat
Of deity fupreme, us difpoffefs'd,
He trufted to have feis'd, and into fraud
Drew many, whom their place knows here
Yet far the greater part have kept, I fee 145
Their station; Heav'n, yet populous, retains
Number fufficient to poffefs her realms
Though wide; and this high temple to frequent
With ministeries due and solemn rites.
But left his heart exalt him in the harm
Already done, to have difpeopled Heav'n,
My damage fondly deem'd, I can repair
That detriment, if fuch it be, to lofe
Self-loft, and in a moment will create
Another world; out of one man a race
Of men innumerable, there to dwell,.
Not here: 'till by degrees of merit rais'd
They open to themselves at length the way
Up hither; under long obedience try'd,
And Earth be chang'd to Heavn, and Heav'n
One kingdom, joy and union without end. Mean while inhabit lax, ye pow'rs of Heav'n! And thou my Word,, begotten Son! by thee This I perform, speak thou, and be it done. My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee
I send along: ride forth, and bid the deep Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth: Boundless the deep, because I am, who fill Infinituđe, nor vacuous the space.
|