Of heav'n's high-feated top, th' imperial throne 585 Hath Omniprefence), and the work, ordain'd, 590 295 600 Fuming from golden cenfers, hid the mount. 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 605 Thy thunders magnify'd; but to create Is greater than created to deftroy. Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound 610 Of spirits apoftate, and their counfels vain, 615 Of 620 Of amplitude almoft immenfe, with stars. And worship him; and in reward to rule 624 630 So fung they, and the empyréan rung With hallelujahs: thus was Sabbath kept. And thy request think now fulfill'd, that afk'd 635 How firft this world and face of things began, And what before thy memory was done From the beginning, that pofterity, Inform'd by thee, might know; if elfe thou feek'ft Ought, not surpaffing human measure, fay. END of the SEVENTH BOOK. 640 M ARGU ARGUMENT of Book VIII. Adam inquires concerning celeftial motions; is doubt. fully anfwered, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adam affents; and, fiill 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, bis firft meeting and nuptials with Eve: his difcourfe with the angel thereupon, who, after admonitions repeated, departs. PARADISE PARADISE LOS T. BOOK VIII. HE angel ended, and in Adam's ear So charming left his voice, that he a while. Thought him still speaking, ftill 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 Hiftorian, who thus largely haft allay'd The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsaf'd This friendly condefcenfion to relate Things elfe by me unfearchable, now heard With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, With glory attribúted to the high Creator? Something yet of doubt remains, Which only thy folution can refolve. When I behold this goodly frame, this world 15 Of heav'n 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 stars, that feem to roll Spaces incomprehenfible, (for fuch Their distance argues, and their swift return Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot, 20 Ufelels Ufelefs befides; reasoning I oft admire, 25 How Nature wife and frugal could commit Such disproportions, with fuperfluous hand For ought appears, and on their orbs impofe 30 That better might with far lefs compass move, 35 So fpake our fire, and by his count'nance feem'd Ent'ring on studious thoughts abftrufe; which Eve40 Perceiving where the fat retir'd in fight, With lowliness majestic from her feat, And grace that won who faw to with her stay, And touch'd by her fair tendence gladlier grew. 45 Her nursery; they at her coming fprung, Yet went the not, as not with fuch difcourfe Delighted, or not capable her ear Of what was high: fuch pleasure she referv'd, 50 Adam relating, the fole auditress; Her husband the relator the preferr'd Before the angel, and of him to ask Chofe rather; he, fhe knew, would intermix Grateful digreffions, and folve high difpute Not words alone pleas'd her. O when meet now Such pairs, in love and mutual honour join'd? With goddefs-like demeanor forth the went, 55 Not |