And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the seventh Was set, and twilight from the east came on, Hath Omnipresence), and the work ordain'd, Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. Relate thee? Greater now in thy return Is greater than created to destroy. Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound Of spirits'apostate, and their counsels vain, Thou hast repell'd; while impiously they thought Who seeks To lessen thee, against his purpose serves Witness this new-made world, another heaven Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men, And worship him; and in reward to rule So sung they, and the empyréan rung Inform'd by thee, might know if else thou seek'st THE ARGUMENT. Adam inquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adam assents; and, still desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remembered since his own creation; his placing in Paradise; his talk with God concerning solitude and fit society; his first meeting and nuptials with Eve: his discourse with the angel thereupon; who, after admonitions repeated, departs. |