66 Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege 590"Hath Omnipresence,) and the work ordain'd, "Author and End of all things; and, from work "Now resting, bless'd and hallow'd the Seventh Day, "As resting on that day from all his work: "But not in silence holy kept: the harp 595"Had work, and rested not; the solemn pipe, "And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, "All sounds on fret by string, or golden wire, 66 Temper'd soft tunings, intermix'd with voice "Choral, or unison: of incense clouds, 600"Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. "Who can impair thee, Mighty King! or bound 666 610 "Of spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, "Thou hast repell'd; while impiously they thought "Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw "The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks "To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 615 "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 glassy sea; 620"Of amplitude almost immense, with stars "Numerous, and every star perhaps a world "Of destin'd habitation; but thou know'st "Their seasons: among these, the seat of men, "Earth, with her nether ocean circumfus'd, 625 "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, 630 "And multiply a race of worshippers 635 666 Holy and just thrice happy, if they know "And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd "Inform'd by thee, might know. If else thou seek'st 640"Aught not surpassing human measure, say." 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. PARADISE LOST. BOOK VIII. 10 THE angel ended; and in Adam's ear 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 replied: 5 "What thanks sufficient, or what recompense “Equal, have I to render thee, divine "Historian! who thus largely hast allay'd "The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsaf'd "This friendly condescension to relate 66 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, 15 "When I behold this goodly frame, this world, "Their distance argues, and their swift return 66 |