From all his alimental recompense

In humid exhalations; and at ev'n

Sups with the ocean. Though in heav'n the Trees
Of life ambrofial fruitage bear, and vines

Yield Nectar; though from off the boughs each morn
We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground
Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here
Varied his bounty fo with new delights

As may compare with heaven; and to taste

Think not I fhall be nice.So down they fat,
And to their viands fell: nor feemingly

425

430

The Angel, nor in mift, (the common glofs
Of theologians) but with keen difpatch
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat

435

To tranfubftantiate what redounds, tranfpires

Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder if by fire
Of footy coal, the empiric alchymift

440

Can turn, or holds it poffible to turn,

Metals of droffieft ore to perfect gold,

As from the Mine. Mean while at table EVE

Thus when with meats, and drinks, they had fuffic'd,,

Not burden'd nature, fudden mind arose.

In ADAM, not to let th' occafion pass, -
Giv'n him by this great conference, to know
Of things above this world, and of their Being
Who dwell in heav'n: whofe excellence he faw
Tranfcend his own fo far; whofe radiant forms,
Divine effulgence! whofe high pow'r, so far
Exceeded human; and his wary fpeech
Thus to th' empyreal minifter he fram'd.

Inhabitant with Gop!-n
-now know I well
M 3

455

460

Thy

Thy favour, in this honour done to man;
Under whofe lowly roof thou haft vouchsaf'd
To enter, and thefe earthly fruits to tafte;
Food not of Angels, yet accepted fo,-

As that more willingly thou couldst not seem

465

At heav'n's high feasts t' have fed: yet what compare?

To whom the winged Hierarch reply'd.
O ADAM! One Almighty is, from Whom
All things proceed, and up to him return,
If not deprav'd from good; created all
Such to perfection, one firft matter all,
Indu'd with various forms, various degrees
Of substance, and in things that live, of life:
But more refin'd, more fpiritous, and pure,
As nearer to Him plac'd, or nearer tending,
Each in their feveral active spheres affign'd:
Till body up to fpirit work, in bounds

470

475

Proportion'd to each kind. So, from the root

Springs lighter the green stalk; from thence the leaves

More aery; laft, the bright confummate flow'r

481

Spirits odorous breathes; flow'rs, and their fiuit,.

(Man's nourishment) by gradual scale sublim'd, To vital fpirits afpire, to animal,

485.

'To intellectual; give both life, and sense,
Fancy, and understanding; whence the foul
Reason receives; and reason is her Being,
Difcurfive or intuitive; difcourfe

Is ofteft yours, the latter most is ours;
Diff'ring but in degree, of kind the fame.
Wonder not then, what God for you
If I refufe not, but convert, as you,

faw good

To proper fubftance. Time may come when men

With Angels may participate, and find

No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare:

And from thefe corporal nutriments, perhaps,.
Your bodies may at laft turn all to fpirit,.
Improv'd by tract of time; and wing'd afcend
Ethereal, as we; or may at choice,
Here, or in heav'nly Paradifes, dwell;

490

495

500

If ye be found obedient, and retain.

Unalterably firm His love entire,

Whofe progeny you are. Mean while, enjoy
Your fill what happiness this ftappy state
Can comprehend, incapable of more.

To whom the patriarch of mankind reply'd :
O favourable spirit, propitious guest!

Well haft thou taught the way that might direct

505.

Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set
From centre to circumference; whereon,

510

In contemplation of created things,

By steps we may afcend to GOD. But fay,

What meant the caution join'd, IF YE BE FOUND

OBEDIENT? Can we want obedience then

To Him? or poffibly His love defert

515

Who form'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here,

Full to the utmost measure of what blifs

Human defires can feek, or apprehend?

To whom the Angel. Son of heav'n and earth,
Attend! That thou art happy, owe to GoD:
That thou continu'ft fuch, owe to thy felf,
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd!
GOD made thee perfect, not immutable;
And good He made thee; but to perfevere
He left it in thy pow'r; ordain'd thy will
By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate
Inextricable, or ftrict neceffity.
Our voluntary fervice He requires,..
Not our neceffitated; fuch with Him

520

525

530

Finds no acceptance, nor can find for how,

Can hearts, not free, be try'd, whether they ferve

Willing or no, who will but what they must

By destiny, and can no other chufe?

My felf, and all th' angelic host, that stand

535

In fight of GoD inthron'd, our happy state

Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds ;
On other furety none: freely we serve,

Becaufe

Because we freely love; as in our will
To love, or not, in this we ftand, or fall.
And fome are fall'n, to difobedience fall'n;
And fo, from heav'n to deepeft hell: O fall
From what high ftate of bliss, into what woe ? -

Thy words

To whom our great progenitor. Attentive, and with more delighted ear,

Divine inftructor! I have heard, than when

540

545

Cherubic fongs by night from neighbouring hills

Aereal mufic fend. Nor knew I not

To be both will and deed, created free:

Yet, that we never fhall forget to love

550

Our Maker, and obey Him, whofe command

Single, is yet fo juft, my conftant thoughts

Affur'd me, and still affure; though what thou tell❜ft

Hath paft in heav'n, fome doubt within me move,
But more defire to hear (if thou confent)

555

The full relation: which muft needs be strange,
Worthy of facred filence to be heard:

And we have yet large day; for, fcarce the fun
Hath finish'd half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the great zone of heav'n.

560

Thus ADAM made requeft; and RAPHAEL,

After short pause affenting, thus began.

High matter thou injoin'ft me, O prime of men!

Sad tafk, and hard! For how fhall I relate

To human fense th' invifible exploits

565

Of warring fpirits? How, without remorse,

The ruin of fo many, glorious once,

And perfect, while they ftood? how laft, unfold
The fecrets of another world, perhaps

Not lawful to reveal? Yet, for thy good,

This is difpens'd: and what furmounts the reach
Of human fenfe, I fhall delineate fo,
By lik'ning fpiritual to corporeal forms,
As may exprefs them beft: though, what if earth
Be but the fhadow of heav'n; and things therein.

570

575 Each

Each t'other like, more than on earth is thought?

As yet this world was not, and CHAOS Wild

[refts

Reign'd where these heav'ns now rowl, where earth now
Upon her centre pois'd; when on a day
(For time, though in eternity, apply'd
To motion, measures all things durable
By prefent, paft, and future) on fuch day

As heav'n's great year brings forth, th' empyreal hoft
Of Angels, by imperial fummons call'd,
Innumerable before th'Almighty's throne
Forthwith, from all th' ends of heav'n, appear'd
Under their hierarchs in orders bright:
Ten thousand thousand enfigns high advanc'd,
(Standards, and gonfalons, 'twixt van and rear).
Stream in the air, and for diftinction ferve
Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees:
Or in their glittering tiffues bear imblaz'd
Holy Memorials, acts of zeal, and love,
Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs
Of circuit inexpreffible they ftood,
Orb within orb, the FATHER Infinite,

580

585

590

595

By whom in bliss imbosom'd fat the Son,
Amidft (as from a flaming mount, whofe top

Brightnefs had made invifible) thus fpake.

Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light,

600

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs!

Hear My decree, which unrevok'd shall stand.

This day I have begot whom I declare

My only Son, and on this holy hill

Him have anointed, whom ye now behold

605

At my right hand: your Head I Him appoint:

And by my self have fworn, to Him fhall bow

All knees in heav'n, and fhall confefs Him Lord
Under His great Vicegerent's reign abide
United, as one individual foul,

610

For ever happy: Him who difobeys,

Me difobeys, breaks union, and that day
Caft out from GOD, and bleffed vifion, falls