As resting on that day from all his work,
But not in filence holy kept; the harp
Had work and rested not, the solemn pipe, 595
And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop,
All sounds on fret by string or golden wire
Temper'd soft tunings, intermix'd with voice
Choral or unifon : of incense clouds
Fuming from golden censers hid the mount. 600
Creation and the six days acts they sung,
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 destroy.
Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound
Thy empire ? easily the proud attempt
Of Spi'rits apoftate and their counsels vain

610 Thou hast repell’d, while impiously they thought Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw The number of thy worshipers. Who seeks To lessen thee, against his purpose serves To manifest the more thy might: his evil Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good. Witness this new-made world, another Heaven From Heaven gate not far, founded in view On the clear hyaline, the glasly sea ; Of amplitude almost immense, with stars

620 Numerous, and every star perhaps a world Of destin'd habitation; but thou know'st

Q2

Their

615

Their seasons: among these the seat of Men,
Earth with her nether ocean circumfus’d,
Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men,
And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanc'd,
Created in his image, there to dwell
And worship him, and in reward to rule
Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air,
And multiply a race of worshipers

630 Holy and just : thrice happy if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright.

So sung they, and the empyréan rung With halleluiahs : Thus was sabbath kept. And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd llow first 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 else thou seek'st Ought, not surpassing human measure, say. 640

635

THE END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK.

THE ARGUMENT.

Adam inquires concerning celestial motions, is doubt.

fully answer'd, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge : Adam assents; and, ftill desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he 'remember'd since his own creation, his placing in Paradise, his talk with God concerning folitude and fit fociety, his firit meeting and nuptials with Eve, his discourse with the Angel thereupon ; who

i after admonitions repeated departs.

PARADISE

LOST.

в оок

VIII.

10

T
'HE Angel ended, and in Adam's ear

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

What thanks sufficient, or what recompense 5
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 condescension to relate
Things else by me unsearchable, 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 resolve.
When I behold this goodly frame, this world 15
Of Heav'n and Earth consisting, and compute
Their magnitudes, this earth, a spot, a grain,
An atom, with the firmament compar'd
And all her number'd stars, that seem to roll
Spaces incomprehensible (for such
Their distance argues and their swift return
Diurnal) merely to officiate light

24

Round