Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose In Adam not to let the occasion pass, Given him by this great conference, to know Of things above his world, and of their being Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw Transcend his own so far, whose radiant forms⁠— Divine effulgence⁠—whose high power, so far Exceeded human; and his wary speech Thus to the empyreal minister he framed:

“Inhabitant with God, now know I well Thy favour, in this honour done to Man, Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, As that more willingly thou couldst not seem At Heaven’s high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?”