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The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks
To lessen thee, against his purpose serves
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 Heav'n-gate not far, founded in view
On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea;
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,

620

625

Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, 630
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,
And multiply a race of worshippers
Holy and just; thrice happy if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright.'

635

"So sung they, and the empyrean rung With Halleluiahs; thus was sabbath kept.

And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd

640

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'st
Ought, not surpassing human measure, say.”

645

END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK.

BOOK VII.

K?

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK VIII.

ARGUMENT.

Adam enquires 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.

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, reply'd.
"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

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 ad nire,
How nature, wise and frugal, could commit
Such disproportions, with superfluous hand
So many nobler bodies to create,

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