Adam inquires concerning cæleftial motions; is doubtfully anfwer'd, and exhorted to fearch rather things more worthy of knowledge. Adam affents: and fill defirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remember'd fince his own creation; his placing in Paradife; his talk with GOD concerning folitude, and fit fociety; his first meeting and noptials with EE; his difcourfe with the Angel thereupon; who, after admonitions repeated, departs.
HE Angel ended, and in ADAM's ear
So charming left his voice, that he a-
while
Thought him still speaking, still stood fix'd
Then as new wak'd, thus gratefully replied.
What thanks fufficient, or what Recompenfe
Equal, have I to render thee, divine
Hiftorian who thus largely hart allay'd
R .
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchfaf'd
This friendly condefcenfion to relate
'Things, elfe by me unfearchable; 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 folution can refolve.
When I behold this goodly frame, this world,
Of heav'n and earth confifting; 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 rowl
Spaces incomprehenfible, (for fuch
Their diftance argues, and their fwift return
Diurnal) merely to officiate light
Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot,
One day and night; in all their vaft furvey
Ufelefs befides: reafoning 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;
(For ought appears) and on their orbs impose Such reflefs revolution, day by day
Repeated: while the fedentary earth,
(That better might with far lefs compafs move)
Serv'd by more noble than herself, attains
Her end without le ft motion; and receives
As tribute, fuch a fumlefs journey brought
Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;
Speed! to defcribe whofe fwiftnefs number fails.
So fpake our fire, and by his count'nance feem'd
Entring on ftudious thoughts abftrufe: which EVE
Perceiving, where fhe fat retir'd in fight,
With lowliness majestic from her feat,
And grace, that won who faw to wifh her flay,
Rofe and went forth among her fruits and flow'rs,
To vifit how they profper'd, bud, and bloom,
Her nursery they at her coming sprung,
And touch'd by her fair tendance gladlier grew.
Yet went fhe not, as not with fuch difcourfe
Delighted, or not capable her ear
Of what was high: fuch pleasure she referv'd,
ADAM relating, the fole auditress:
Her husband the relater fhe prefer'd
Before the Angel; and of him to ask
Chose rather he, she knew, would intermix
Grateful digreffions, and folve high difpute
With conjugal careffes; from his lip
Not words alone pleafed her. (O! when meet now
Such pairs, in love, and mutual honour join'd)
With Goddefs-like demeanor forth she went;
Not unattended! for on her, as queen,
A pomp of winning graces waited still
And from about her fhot darts of defire
Into all eyes, to wish her still in fight.
And RAPHAEL now, to ADAM's doubt propofed,
Benevolent, and facil, thus reply'd.
To afk or fearch, I blame thee not; for heav'n
Is as the book of God before thee fet:
Wherein to read his wond'rous works, and learn
His feafons, hours, or days, or months, or years.
This to attain, whether heav'n move, or earth.
Imports not, if thou reckon right: the raft,
From man or angel, the great architect
Did wifely to conceal; and not divulge
His fecrets to be scan'd by them who ought
Rather admire. Or, if they lift to try
Conjecture. He His fabric of the heav'ns
Hath left to their difputes, perhaps to move
His laughter at their quaint opinions wide
Hereafter; when they come to model heav'n
And calculate the ftars, how they will wield
The mighty frame! how build, unbuild, contrive,
To fave appearances; how gird the sphere
With centric, and eccentric, fcribl'd o'er,
Cycle, and epicycle, orb in orb.
|