The doubts that in his heart arofe: and now
Led on, yet finlefs, with defire to know
What nearer might concern him, how this World
Of Heav'n and Earth confpicuous firft began,
When, and whereof created, for what caufe,
What within Eden or without was done
Before his memorie, as one whofe drouth
Yet fcarce allay'd ftill eyes the current stream,
Whofe liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Gueft.
Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,
Far differing from this World, thou haft reveal'd
Divine interpreter, by favour fent
Down from the Empyrean to forewarn
Us timely of what might elfe have been our lofs,
Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach,
For which to the infinitly Good we owe
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receive with folemn purpose to obferve
Immutably his fovereign will, the end
Of what we are. But fince thou haft vouchfaft .80
Gently for our inftruction to impart
Things above Earthly thought, which yet concern'd
Our knowing, as to the highest wisdom feem'd,
Deign to defceud now lower, and relate
What may no lefs perhaps avail us known,
How firft began this Heav'n which we behold
Distant fo high, with moving Fires adorn'd
Innumerable, and this which yields or fills
All space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'd
Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause
Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest
Through all Eternity fo late to build
In Chaos, and the work begun, how foon
Abfolv'd, if unforbid thou maift unfould
What we, not to explore the fecrets ask
Of his Eternal Empire, but the more
To magnifie his works, the more we know.
And the great Light of Day yet wants to run.
Much of his Race though fteep, fufpens in Heav'n
Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he hears, 100
And longer will delay to hear thee tell
His Generation, and the rifing Birth
Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:
Or if the Star of Eevning and the Moon
Hafte to thy audience, Night with her will bring
Silence, and Sleep liftning to thee will watch, 1c6
Or we can bid his abfence, till thy Song
End, and difmifs thee e'er the Morning shine.
Thus Adam his illuftrious Gueft besought:
And thus the Godlike Angel anfwer'd mild.
This alfo thy request with caution askt
Obtain: though to recount Almighty works
What words or tongue of Seraph can fuffice,
Or heart of man fuffice to comprehend?
Yet what thou canft attain, which beft may ferve 115. To glorifie the Maker, and infer
Thee alfo happier, fhall not be with-held
Thy hearing, fuch Commiffion from above
I have receiv'd, to anfwer thy defire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain 120
To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope
Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,
Only Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,
To none communicable in Earth or Heav'n:
Anough is left befides to search and know.
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 Surfeit, and foon turns
Wifdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Wind.
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
Victorious with his Saints, th'Omnipotent
Eternal Father from his Throne beheld
Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake.
At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought All like himself rebellious, by whose aid
This inacceffible high strength, the feat
Of Deity fupream, us difpoffeft,
He trufted to have feis'd, and into fraud
Drew many, whom their place knows here no more;
Yet far the greater part have kept, I fee,
Their ftation, Heav'n yet populous retains
Number fufficient to poffefs her Realms
Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent
With Minifteries due and folemn Rites:
But left his heart exalt him in the harm
Already done, to have difpeopl'd Heav'n
My damage fondly deem'd, I can repair
That detriment, if such it be to lose
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 Heav'n, and Heav'n to Earth,
One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.
Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers 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 165
I fend along, ride forth, and bid the Deep
Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,
Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill
Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.
Though I uncircumfcrib'd my felf retire,
And put not forth my goodness, which is free
To act or not, Neceffity and Chance
Approach not me, and what I will is Fate.
So fpake th' Almighty, and to what he spake
His Word, the filial Godhead, gave effect.
Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift
Than time or motion, but to human ears
Cannot without process of speech be told,
So told as earthly motion can receive,
Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n
When fuch was heard declar'd the Almighty's will;
Glory they fung to the most High, good will
To future men, and in their dwellings peace:
Glory to him whofe juft avenging ire
Had driv'n out th' ungodly from his fight
And th' habitations of the juft; to him
Glory and praife, whose wisdom had ordain'd
Good out of evil to create, instead
Of Spirits malign a better Race to bring
Into their vacant room, and thence diffufe
His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.
So fang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
On his great Expedition now appear'd,
Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'd
Of Majefty Divine, Sapience and Love
Immenfe, and all his Father in him fhon.
About his Chariot numberless were pour'd
Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
And Virtues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,
From the Armoury of God, where ftand of old 200
Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg❜d.
Against a folemn day, harneft at hand,
Celeftial Equipage; and now came forth
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit liv'd,
Attendant on their Lord: Heav'n open'd wide 205
Her ever during Gates, Harmonicus found
On golden Hinges moving, to let forth
The King of Glory in his powerful Word
And Spirit coming to create new Worlds,
|