slight that sole command, So easily obeyed amid the choice Of all tastes else to please their appetite, Though wandering. He with his consorted Eve The story heard attentive, and was filled With admiration and deep muse, to hear Of things so high and strange, things to their thought So unimaginable as hate in Heaven, And war so near the peace of God in bliss, With such confusion; but the evil, soon Driven back, redounded as a flood on those From whom it sprung, impossible to mix With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed The doubts that in his heart arose; and now Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know What nearer might concern him, how this World Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began; When, and whereof, created; for what cause; What within Eden, or without, was done Before his memory—as one whose drouth Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream, Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites— Proceeded thus to ask his Heavenly guest:
“Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, Far differing from this World, thou hast revealed, Divine interpreter! by favour sent Down from the Empyrean to forewarn Us timely of what might else have been our loss, Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach; For which to the infinitely Good we owe Immortal thanks, and his admonishment Receive with solemn purpose to observe Immutably his sovereign will, the end Of what we are. But, since thou hast vouchsafed Gently, for our instruction, to impart Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned Our knowing, as to highest Wisdom seemed, Deign to descend now lower, and relate What may no less perhaps avail us known: How first began this heaven which we behold Distant so high, with moving fires adorned Innumerable; and this which yields or fills All space, the ambient air wide interfused, Embracing round this florid Earth; what cause Moved the Creator, in his holy rest Through all eternity, so late to build In Chaos; and the work begun how soon Absolved; if unforbid thou may’st unfold What we not to explore the secrets ask Of his eternal empire, but the more To magnify his works the