work, and rested not; the solemn pipe 595 dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, sounds on fret by string or golden wire, per'd soft tunings, intermix'd with voice ral or unison: of incense clouds

ing from golden censers hid the mount. ation and the six days acts they sung, at are thy works, Jehovah, infinite

power; what thought can measure thee, or ate thee? greater now in thy return

n from the giant angels; thee that day 605 thunders magnified; but to create

reater than created to destroy.

o can impair thee, mighty King, or bound empire? easily the proud attempt

spirits apostate and their counsels vain

610

Their pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happy m
And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc
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 worshippers
Holy and just thrice happy, if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright.

So sung they, and the empyrean rung
With Hallelujahs: thus was Sabbath kept.
And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd 63
How first this world and face of things began,
And what before thy memory was done
From the beginning, that posterity

Inform'd by thee might know. If else thou seek's Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. 643

E angel ended, and in Adam's ear
charming left his voice, that he awhile
ought him still speaking, still stood fix'd to hear:
en, as new wak'd, thus gratefully replied.
What thanks sufficient, or what recompence 5
al, have I to render thee, divine
torian? who thus largely hast allay'd

The angel] In the first edition of this Poem in ten books,
was only this line,

To whom thus Adam gratefully replied.

= would have been too abrupt a beginning for a new

The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsaf'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 solution can resolve.
When I behold this goodly frame, this world,
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
Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot,
One day and night, in all their vast survey
Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire,
How nature wise and frugal could commit
Such disproportions, with superfluous hand
So many nobler bodies to create,

Greater so manifold, to this one use,

9

25

eated, while the sedentary earth,

- better might with far less compass move, ed by more noble than herself, attains end without least motion, and receives, ribute, such a sumless journey brought ncorporeal speed, her warmth and light; ed, to describe whose swiftness number fails. O spake our sire, and by his count'nance seem'd ering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve

ceiving where she sat retir'd in sight,

h lowliness majestic from her seat,

grace that won who saw to wish her stay, e, and went forth among her fruits and flow'rs, visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom, nursery; they at her coming sprung,

touch'd by her fair tendance gladlier grew. went she not, as not with such discourse ighted, or not capable her ear

45

what was high: such pleasure she reserv'd, 50 ■m relating, she sole auditress;

- husband the relater she preferr'd

ore the angel, and of him to ask

ose rather; he, she knew, would intermix

sprung] So Marino Adon. c. iii. st. 65, and c. vi. st. 146. 'Tutto al venir d'Adon par che ridenti

Rivesta il bel giardin novi colori.' Thyer.

to ask] In accordance with St. Paul, Corinth. i. xiv. 35. ad if they (women) will learn any thing, let them ask r husbands at home.'