Paradife Loft.

BOOK VIII.

The ARGUMENT.

Adam inquires concerning celestial Mo tions, is doubtfully anfwer'd, and exborted to fearch rather things more wor thy of knowledge: Adam affents, and ftill defirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remember'd fince his own Creation, his talk with God concerning folitude and fit fociety, his first meeting and Nuptials with Eve, his difcourfe with the Angel thereupon; who after admonitions repeated departs.

Lib. VIIL

HE Angel ended, and in Adam's Ear

Tso Charming left his voice, that he a while

Thought him ftill speaking, ftill ftood fixt to hear;
Then as new wak'd thus gratefully reply'd.
What thanks fufficient, or what recompence
Equal have I to render thee, Divine
Hiftorian, who thus largely haft allay'd
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsaf'd
This friendly condefcention to relate

Things elfe by me unfearchable, now heard
With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,
With glory attributed to the high
Creator; fomething yet of doubt remains,
Which only thy folution con uefalve.

When I behold this goodly Frame, this World
Of Heav'n and Earth confifting, and compute,
Their magnitudes, this Earth a fpot, a grain,
An Atom, with the Firmament compar'd
And all her number'd Stars, that feem to rowl
Spaces incomprehensible (for such
Their distance argues, and their swift return
Diurnal) meerly to officiate light
Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,
One day and night; in all their vast survey
Ufelefs befides, reasoning I oft admire,
How Nature wife and frugal could commit
Such difproportions, with fuperfluous hand
So many nobler Bodies to create,

Greater fo manifold to this one use,

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20

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For aught appears, and on their Orbs impose 30
Such reftlefs revolution day by day
Repeated, while the fedentary Earth,

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That better might with far less compass move,
Serv'd by more noble than her self, attains
Her end without leaft motion, and receives,
As Tribute such a sumless journey brought
Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;
Speed, to defcribe whofe swiftness Number fails.
So fpake our Sire, and by his count'nacce feem'd
Entring on ftudious thoughts abftruse, which Eve 4o
Perceiving where the fat retir'd in fight,
With lowlinefs Majeftic from her seat,

And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay,
Rofe, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours,
Howey profper'd, bud and

Her Nurfery; they at her coming fprung
And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew.
Yet went the not, as not with fuch difcourfe
Delighted, or not capable her ear

Of what was high: fuch pleasure the referv'd, s
Adam relating, the fole Auditrefs;

Her Husband the Relater the preferr'd
Before the Angel, and of him to ask
Chofe rather; he, flie knew would intermix
Grateful digreffions, and solve high dispute
With conjugal Careffes, from his Lip

Not Words alone pleas'd her. O when meet now
Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn'd?
With Goddefs-like demeanour forth the went;