Of things fo hign and ftrange, things to their thought So unimaginable as hate in Heaven,
And war so near the peace of God in bliss
With fuch confufion: but the evil foon
Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those
From whom it fprung, impoffible to mix
With bleffedness. Whence Adam foon repeal'd
The doubts that in his heart arofe: and now
Led on, yet finless, with defire to know
What nearer might concern him, how this world
Of Heav'n and Earth confpicuous first began,
When, and whereof created, for what cause,
What within Eden or without was done
Before his memory, as one whose drouth
Yet fcarce allay'd ftill eyes the current ftream,
Whofe liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
Proceeded thus to afk his heav'nly guest.
Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,
Far differing from this world, thou haft reveal'd,
Divine interpreter, by favor fent
Down from the empyréan to forewarn
Us timely' of what might elfse have been our lofs,
Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach :
For which to th' infinitely Good we owe
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receive with folemn purpose to observe
Immutably his fovran will, the end
Of what we are. But fince thou haft vouchfaf'd 80
Gently for our inftruction to impart
Things above earthly thought, which yet concern'd
Our knowing, as to highest wisdom feem'd,
Deign to defcend now lower, and relate
What may no lefs perhaps avail us known,
How first began this Heav'n which we behold
Diftant fo high, with moving fires adorn'd
Innumerable, and this which yields or fills
All space, the ambient air wide interfus'd
Embracing round this florid earth, what caufe
Mov'd the Creator in his holy reft
Through all eternity fo late to build
In Chaos, and the work begun, how foon
Abfolv'd, if unforbid thou may'st unfold
What we not to explore the fecrets afk
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 fteep; fufpenfe in Heaven,
Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears,
And longer will delay to hear thee tell
His generation, and the rifing birth
Of Nature from the unapparent deep:
Or if the star of evening and the moon
Hafte to thy audience, night with her will bring 105
Silence, and fleep lift'ning to thee will watch,
Or we can bid his abfence, till thy fong
End, and difmifs thee ere the morning shine.
Thus Adam his illuftrious gueft befought:
And thus the Godlike Angel anfwer'd mild.
This alfo thy requeft with caution afk'd
Obtain: though to recount almighty works
What words or tongue of Seraph can fuffice,
Or heart of man fuffice to comprehend ?
Yet what thou canst attain, which belt may ferve 115
To glorify the Maker, and infer
Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
Thy hearing: fuch commiffion from above
I have receiv'd, to anfwer thy defire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain
To afk, nor let thine own invention hope
Things not reveal'd, which th' invifible King,
Only omniscient, hath fupprefs'd in night,
To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:
Enough is left befides to search and know.
But knowledge is as food, and needs no less
Her temp❜rance over appetite, to know
In measure what the mind may well contain;
Oppreffes elfe with furfeit, and foon turns
Wifdom to folly', as nourishment to wind.
Know then, that after Lucifer from Heaven
(So call him, brighter once amidst the hoft
Of Angels, than that ftar the stars among)
Fell with his flaming legions through the deep
Into his place, and the great Son return'd
Victorious with his Saints, th' omnipotent
Eternal Father from his throne beheld
Their multitude, and to his Son thus fpake.
At least our envious foe hath fail'd, who thought
All like himself rebellious, by whofe aid
This inacceffible high strength, the feat
Of deity fupreme, us difpoffefs'd,
He trufted to have seiz'd, and into fraud
Drew many, whom their place knows here no more; Yet far the greater part have kept, I fee
Their station, Heav'n yet populous retains
Number fufficient to poffefs her realms
Though wide, and this high temple to frequent
With minifteries due and folemn rites:
But left his heart exalt him in the harm
Already done, to have difpeopled Heav'n,
My damage fondly deem'd, I can repair
That detriment, if such it be to lofe
Self-loft, and in a moment will create
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 themfelves at length the way
Up hither, under long obedience try'd,
And Earth be chang'd to Heav'n, and Heav'n to Earth,
One kingdom, joy and union without end.
Mean while inhabit lax, ye Pow'rs of Heaven.
And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee
This I perform, speak thou, and be it done:
My overshadowing Spi'rit and might with thee 165
I fend along; ride forth, and bid the deep
Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,
Boundless the deep, because I am who fill
Approach not me, and what I will is fate.
So fpake th' Almighty, and to what he spake
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 process of speech be told,
So told as earthly notion can receive.
Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven,
When fuch was heard declar'd th' Almighty's will;
Glory they fung to the most High, good-will
To future men, and in their dwellings peace:
Glory to him, whofe juft avenging ire
Had driven out th' ungodly from his fight
And th' habitations of the juft; to him
Glory and praife, whose wisdom had ordain'd
Good out of evil to create, instead
Of Spi'rits malign a better race to bring
Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse
His good to worlds and ages infinite.
So fang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
On his great expedition now appear'd,
Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crown'd
Of majesty divine; fapience and love
Immenfe, and all his Father in him fhone.
About his chariot numberless were pour'd
Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
And Virtues, winged Spi'rits, and chariots wing'd
From th' armoury of God, where ftand of old
Myriads between two brazen mountains lodg'd
Against a folemn day, harness'd at hand,
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