That to corporeal substances could add
Speed almost spiritual: me thou think'st not slow, Who since the morning hour set out from Heaven Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd
In Eden, distance inexpressible
By numbers that have name." Admitting motion in the Heav'ns, to show Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd; Not that I so affirm, though so it seem
To thee who hast thy dwelling here on earth.
God to remove his ways from human sense,
Plac'd Heav'n from Earth so far, that earthly sight, If it presume, might err in things too high, And no advantage gain. What if the sun Be centre to the world, and other stars By his attractive virtue and their own Incited, dance about him various rounds?
Their wand'ring course now high, now low, then hid,
Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,
In six thou seest, and what if sev'nth to these
The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem, Insensibly three different motions move? Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, Mov'd contrary with thwart obliquities, Or save the sun his labour, and that swift Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb suppos'd, Invisible else above all stars, the wheel
Of day and night; which needs not thy belief,
If earth industrious of herself fetch day Travelling east, and with her part averse
From the sun's beam meet night, her other part Still luminous by his ray. What if that light
Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, To the terrestrial moon be as a star
Enlight'ning her by day, as she by night This earth? reciprocal, if land be there,
Fields and inhabitants: Her spots thou seest
As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce
Fruits in her soften'd soil, for some to eat
Allotted there; and other suns perhaps
With their attendant moons thou wilt descry Communicating male and female light,
Which two great sexes animate the world,
Stor'd in each orb perhaps with some that live, For such vast room in nature unpossess❜d
By living soul, desert and desolate,
Only to shine, yet scarce to contribúte
Each orb a glimpse of light convey'd so far
Down to this habitable, which returns
Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
But whether thus these things, or whether not,
Whether the sun predominant in Heaven Rise on the earth, or earth rise on the sun, He from the cast his flaming road begin,
Or she from west her silent course advance With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft axle, while she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along, Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid, Leave them to God above, him serve and fear;
Of other creatures, as him pleases best, Wherever plac'd, let him dispose: joy thou In what he gives to thee, this Paradise
And thy fair Eve; Heav'n is for thee too high To know what passes there; be lowly wise: Think only what concerns thee and thy being; Dream not of other world, what creatures there 175 Live, in what state, condition or degree,
Contented that thus far hath been reveal'd
Not of Earth only but of highest Heaven.
To whom thus Adam, clear'd of doubt, reply'd.
How fully hast thou satisfy'd me, pure
Intelligence of Heav'n, Angel serene,
And freed from intricacies, taught to live,
The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts
To interrupt the sweet of life, from which
God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares,
And not molest us, unless we ourselves
Seek them with wand'ring thoughts, and notions vain. But apt the mind or fancy is to rove
Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end;
Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learn,
That not to know at large of things remote From use, obscure and subtle, but to know That which before us lies in daily life,
Is the prime wisdom; what is more, is fume, Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, And renders us in things that most concern Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek. Therefore from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of things at hand Useful, whence haply mention may arise Of something not unseasonable to ask By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign'd. Thee have heard relating what was done Ere my remembrance: now hear me relate My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard; And day is yet not spent ; till then thou seest How subtly to detain thee I devise, Inviting thee to hear while I relate,
Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply: For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven, And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear
Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst And hunger both, from labour, at the hour Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill Though pleasant, but thy words with grace divine Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.
To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek. Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, Nor tongue ineloquent, for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd Inward and outward both, his image fair: Speaking or mute all comeliness and grace Attends thee, and each word, each motion forms; Nor less think we in Heav'n of thee on Earth
Than of our fellow servant, and enquire Gladly into the ways of God with Man:
For God we see hath honour'd thee, and set On Man his equal love : say therefore on ;
For I that day was absent, as befel,
Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure,
Far on excursion tow'ard the gates of Hell;
Squar'd in full legion (such command we had)
To see that none thence issued forth a spy, Or enemy, while God was in his work, Lest he incens'd at such eruption bold, Destruction with creation might have mix'd. Not that they durst without his leave attempt, But us he sends upon his high behests For state, as Sov'reign King, and to inure Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut The dismal gates, and barricado'd strong; But long ere our approaching heard within Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Glad we return'd up to the coasts of light Ere sabbath evening: so we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd with thy words no less than thou with mine.
So spake the Godlike Pow'r, and thus our Sire. For Man to tell how human life began
Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? Desire with thee still longer to converse
Induc'd me. As new wak'd from soundest sleep Soft on the flow'ry herb I found me laid
In balmy sweat, which with his beams the sun Soon dry'd, and on the reeking moisture fed. Straight toward Heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turn'd And gaz'd awhile the ample sky, till rais'd
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