Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, Of that vile rout that tore the Thracian bard To those apostates: lest the like befal 45 In Paradise to Adam, or his race, Charg'd not to touch the interdicted tree, If they transgress, and slight that sole command, So easily obey'd, amid the choice Of all tastes else to please their appetite, 50 Though wand'ring. He, with his consorted Eve, The story heard attentive, and was fill'd With admiration, and deep muse, to hear Of things so high and strange-things, to their thought So unimaginable, as hate in heaven, 55 And war so near the peace of God in bliss, With such confusion: but the evil, soon With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'd 60 The doubts that in his heart arose and now, 70 Before his memory, as one whose drought "Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, "Down from the empyréan, to forewarn "Us timely of what might else have been our loss 75"Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach; "For which to the infinitely Good we owe "Immortal thanks, and his admonishment "Receive, with solemn purpose to observe Immutably his sov'reign will-the end "Of what we are. 80 66 66 But since thou hast vouchsaf'd Gently, for our instruction, to impart "Things above earthly thought, which yet concern'd "Our knowing, as to Highest Wisdom seem'd, "Deign to descend now lower, and relate 85"What may no less perhaps avail us known"How first began this heaven which we behold "Distant so high, with moving fires adorn'd 90 66 Innumerable; and this which yields, or fills, 66 66 Through all eternity, so late to build "In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon "Absolv'd; if unforbid thou may'st unfold 95 "What we, not to explore the secrets, ask, "Of his eternal empire, but the more "To magnify his works, the more we know. "And the great light of day yet wants to run "Much of his race, though steep, suspense in heaven 100"Held by thy voice: thy potent voice he hears, 105 "And longer will delay to hear thee tell "Haste to thy audience, night with her will bring "End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine." Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought; 110 And thus the godlike angel answer'd mild: "This also thy request, with caution ask'd, "Obtain: though, to recount almighty works, "What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, "Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? 115 "Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve "To glorify the Maker, and infer "Thee also happier, shall not be withheld 66 Thy hearing such commission from above "I have receiv'd, to answer thy desire 120 "Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain "To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope "Things not reveal'd, which the invisible King, 66 Only Omniscient, hath suppress'd in night, "To none communicable in earth or heaven: 125"Enough is left besides 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; Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns 130 "Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. 66 "Know then, that, after Lucifer from heaven "(So call him, brighter once, amidst the host "Of angels, than that star the stars among,) "Fell with his flaming legions through the deep 135 Into his place, and the great Son return'd 66 Victorious with his saints, the 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 140 "All like himself rebellious, by whose aid "This inaccessible high strength, the seat "Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, "He trusted to have seiz'd; and into fraud “Drew many, whom their place knows here no more : 145 "Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, "Their station: heaven, yet populous, retains "Number sufficient to possess her realms 666 666 Though wide, and this high temple to frequent "With ministeries due, and solemn rites: 150 "But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm "Already done, to have dispeopled heaven, My damage fondly deem'd, I can repair "That detriment, if such it be to lose "Self-lost; and in a moment will create 155 "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 66 6 Up hither, under long obedience tried; 160 "And earth be chang'd to heaven, and heaven to ""earth "One kingdom, joy, and union, without end. 170"Though I, uncircumscrib'd myself, retire, 666 Approach not me; and what I will is fate.' "So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake 175"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 procéss of speech be told"So told, as earthly notion can receive. 180 66 "Great triumph and rejoicing was in heaven, "When such was heard declar'd the Almighty's will: Glory they sung to the Most High-good will "To future men, and in their dwellings peace"Glory to him, whose just avenging ire 185" Had driven out the ungodly from his sight "And the habitations of the just-to him 190 66 Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd "Of spirits malign, a better race to bring "So sang the Hierarchies. Meanwhile the Son "Immense, and all his Father, in him shone. "About his chariot numberless were pour'd "Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones, "And Virtues-wing'd Spirits, and chariots wing'd 200"From the armoury of God; where stand of old Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodg'd Against a solemn day, harness'd at hand, "Celestial equipage! and now came forth 66 66 Spontaneous, for within them spirit liv'd, 205 "Attendant on their Lord: heaven open'd wide "Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound! "On golden hinges moving, to let forth "The King of Glory, in his powerful Word, "And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. 210 "On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore |