66 Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned “ Resounded—(thou rememberst, for thou heardst, — Open, ye everlasting gates they sung: 4 Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign "To visit oft the dwellings of just men, Delighted; and with frequent intercourse *Thither will send his winged messengers "On errands of supernal grace? So sung “The glorious train ascending. He through Heaven, 500 565 570 175 “ Wnich nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest "Powdered with stars. 550 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 moum "Of Heaven's high-seated top-the imperial throne 585 "Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure,— "The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down * With his great Father; for he also went 1 The frequent repetition of the word as, in the preceding limes, in conjunction with jugi., prospec: from ins throne, and the origit pong (proces sion ascending, serve to give an exaltet ides of the surpassing exaltation of the Heaver of Heavens the imbitation of the Aimiguty's turone. 2 Open, pe everlasting gates-borrowed from the twenty-fourti. Psaim which was sung when the ark of God was carried my im the sanctusty on Mount Zion 3 Galazy, the Greek term for the milky way, si “alked "Invisible, yet staid,1 (such privilege "Hath Omnipresence,) and the work ordained, 66 590 595 "Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. "Creation and the six days' acts they sung: 600 "Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite 66 "Thy power! What thought can measure thee, or tongue "Relate thee? Greater now in thy return "Than from the giant Angels ;6 thee that day 605 "Thy thunders magnified; but to create "Is greater, than created to destroy.? "Who can impair thee, Mighty King! or bound "Thy empire? easily the proud attempt 610 "Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, Who seeks "To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 1 Went... yet staid.—Being omnipresent, he was in Heaven and at the creation of the world at the same time. 2 See Gen. ii. 2, 3. 3 Stop,-that part of the mechanism of an organ by means of which the admission of air to the various pipes is regulated, or cut off when not required. 4 Fret, a slight ridge across the finger-board of stringed instruments to regulate the length of string required for the various notes. 5 Choral, singing in concert, the various parts being in harmony: Unison, the same notes sounded by all. 6 Giant angels;-probably in allusion to the heathen fables of the wars of the giants against the gods: as if it were insinuated that these fables derived their origin from the rebellion of the angels. 7 Created to destroy.-the expression inverted as in Latin; i. e. to destroy (what has been) created. "To manifest the more thy might:1 his evil 615 620 "Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, 625 "And sons of Men, whom God has thus advanced! "Created in his image, there to dwell "And worship him; and, in reward, to rule1 "Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, 630 "And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked 635 "How first this world and face of things began, "And what, before thy memory, was done "From the beginning; that posterity, "Informed by thee, might know: if else thou seekst "Aught, not surpassing human measure, say." 640 1 Against his purpose serves to manifest the more thy might,-Ps. xxxiii. 10. 2 Hyaline.--the Greek word for glassy; the clear expanse, called in the end of the line the glassy sea: the crystalline ocean,-above the firmament, 1. 271. See Rev. iv. 6. 3 Nether ocean, to distinguish it from the crystalline ocean, or the waters above the firmament. 4 See Psalm viii. 6, 7, 8. 5 Empyrean, the highest Heaven; so called from the Greek word for fire, which was supposed to subsist there as a pure element. P BOOK VIII. THE ARGUMENT. ADAM inquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search rather things 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. THE angel ended, and in Adam's ear So charming left his voice, that he awhile Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed1 to hear; "This friendly condescension to relate "With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, "With glory attributed to the high "Creator? Something yet of doubt remains, "Which only thy solution can resolve. “When I behold this goodly frame, this world, "Of Heaven and Earth consisting, and compute "Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, "An atom, with the firmament compared "And all her numbered 2 stars, that seem to roll 15 1 Stood fixed,-continued immoveable; the phrase denotes his riveted attention, not his attitude. 2 Numbered, though by the Creator only, Ps. cxlvii. 4; though in vast multitudes they are numbered, taken account of, and carefully arranged. 'Spaces incomprehensible,1 (for such "Their distance argues, and their swift return "Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,2 Repeated; while the sedentary earth, "That better might with far less compass move, So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed 75 And grace, that won who saw to wish her stay, 45 Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, 50 1 Spaces incomprehensible,— i. e. to roll through spaces incomprehensible. 2 Punctual spot,-a spot no bigger than a point (punctum), compared with the firmament and fixed stars. 3 One day and night,-in the compass of one day and night. 4 Incorporeal speed,-speed so great as spirits might be supposed to use; speed almost spiritual, as in line 110. 3 Won who saw,-won those who saw. |