Whofe progeny you are. Mean while enjoy 505 To whom the patriarch of mankind reply'd. O favourable Spi'rit, propitious guest, Well haft thou taught the way that might direct Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set 510 From center to circumference, whereon By steps we may afcend to God. But fay, To him, or poffibly his love defert, Who form'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth, : That thou continueft fuch, owe to thyself, 515 520 That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. And good he made thee, but to persevere 525 He left it in thy pow'r; ordain'd thy will By nature free, not over-rul'd by fate Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how Can hearts, not free, be try'd whether they serve 530 Willing Willing or no, who will but what they must To love or not; in this we ftand or fall : ; 535 540 545 To be both will and deed created free; Yet that we never fhall forget to love 550 Our Maker, and obey him whose command Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts Affur'd me', and still affure: though what thou tell'st Hath pass'd 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 scarce the fun After fhort paufe affenting, thus began. 560 High matter thou injoin'st me', O prime of men, Sad task and hard; for how shall I relate To human fenfe th' invifible exploits 565 And perfect while they ftood? how laft unfold Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 570 This is difpens'd; and what furmounts the reach As may exprefs them beft; though what if Earth As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild [refts (For time, though in eternity, apply'd To motion, measures all things durable By prefent, paft, and future) on fuch day 589 As Heav'n's great year brings forth, th' empyreal hoft Of Angels by imperial fummons call'd, Innumerable before th' Almighty's throne 585 Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appear'd Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: Ten thousand thousand enfigns high advanc'd, 590 Holy Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love By whom in bliss imbosom'd fat the Son, 595 600 Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, 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; All knees in Heav'n, and fhall confefs him Lord: United as one individual foul For ever happy: Him who difobeys, 1610 615 So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with his words All feem'd well pleas'd; all feem'd, but were not all. That day, as other folemn days, they spent In fong and dance about the facred hill; Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere Of planets and of fix'd in all her wheels Refembles neareft, mazes intricate, 620 Eccentric, Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular Then moft, when most irregular they seem; And in their motions harmony divine 625 630 So fmooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 635 On flow'rs repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd, They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet Of surfeit where full measure only bounds Excefs, before th' all-bounteous King, who fhowr'd Now when ambrofial night with clouds exhal'd From that high mount of God, whence light and shade All but th' unfleeping eyes of God to rest ; Wide over all the plain, and wider far Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, 645 (Such are the courts of God) th' angelic throng, 650 Difpers'd in bands and files, their camp extend By living streams among the trees of life, Pavilions |