Of amplitude almoft immenfe, with ftars
Numerous, and every ftar perhaps a world
Of destin❜d habitation; but thou know'ft
Their feafons: among these the feat of men,
Earth, with her nether ocean circumfus'd,

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Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men,
And fons of men, whom God hath thus advance'd
Created in his image, there to dwell,

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

630

So fung they, and the empyréan rung, With Hallelujahs: thus was Sabbath kept. And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd How first this world and face of things began,

635

And what before thy memory was done

From the beginning, that posterity,

640

Inform'd by thee, might know; if else thou seek'st
Aught, not surpaffing human measure fay.

END of the SEVENTH BOOK.

N

ARGUMENT of BooK VIII.

Adam inquires concerning celeftial motions; is doubtfully anfwered, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adam assents; and, ftill defirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remembered fince his own creation, his placing in Paradife, his talk with God concerning folitude and fit fociety, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve; his difcourfe. with the angel thereupon; who, after admonitions re peated, departs.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK VIII.

HE angel ended, and in Adam's ear

THE

So charming left his voice, that he a while Thought him still speaking, still stood fix'd to hear; Then, as new wak'd, thus gratefully reply'd.

What thanks fufficient, or what recompenfe
Equal have I to render thee, divine
Historian, who thus largely hast allay'd
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchfaf'd
This friendly condefcenfion to relate

Things elfe by me unfearchable, now heard
With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,
With glory attributed to the High
Creator? Something yet of doubt remains,
Which only thy folution can refolve.

ΤΟ

When I behold this goodly frame, this world,
Of heaven and earth confifting, and compute
Their magnitudes, this earth a spot, a grain,
An atom, with the firmament compar'd,
And all her number'd ftars, that feem to roll
Spaces incomprehenfible, (for fuch
Their distance argues, and their fwift return
Diurnal), merely to officiate light

Round this opacous earth, this punctual fpot,
One day and night, in all their vast survey

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