Of Heavn and Earth conspicious first began,

Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, [ 70 ]

Though wandring. He with his consorted Eve [ 50 ]

With Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeald

What wee, not to explore the secrets aske [ 95 ]

If they transgress, and slight that sole command,

The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarnd

Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd

Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven

Divine九_九_藏_书_网 interpreter, by favour sent

What within Eden or without was done [ 65 ]

Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know

Proceeded thus to ask his Heavnly Guest.

Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills

Immortal thanks, and his admonishment

Adam by dire example to beware

Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause [ 90 ]

Gently for our instruction to impart

Us timely of what might else have bin our

9９lｉｂ•neｔ

loss,

Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach: [ 75 ]

Say Goddess, what ensud when Raphael, [ 40 ]

The doubts that in his heart arose: and now [ 60 ]

Yet scarce allayd still eyes the current streame,

When, and whereof created, for what cause,

For which to the infinitly Good we owe

All space, the ambient Aire, wide interfusd

Absolvd, if unforbid thou maist unfould

Of things so high and strange,九*九*藏*书*网 things to thir thought

How first began this Heavn which we behold

Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd

Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,

Receave with solemne purpose to observe

Before his memorie, as one whose drouth

Chargd not to touch the interdicted Tree,

Immutably his sovran will, the end

And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss [ 55 ]

Of his Eternal Empire, but the more

Whose liquid mur九*九*藏*书*网mur heard new thirst excites,

Through all Eternitie so late to build

So unimaginable as hate in Heavn,

To those Apostates, least the like befall

Drivn back redounded as a flood on those

In Paradise to Adam or his Race, [ 45 ]

The storie heard attentive, and was filld

In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon

Deign to descend now lower, and relate

Movd the Creator in his holy Rest

Down from the Empyrean to forewarne

What９9lib•ｎｅt may no less perhaps availe us known, [ 85 ]

Of what we are. But since thou hast voutsaft [ 80 ]

So easily obeyd amid the choice

From whom it sprung, impossible to mix

To magnifie his works, the more we know.

What neerer might concern him, how this World

With admiration, and deep Muse to heare

Of all tastes else to please thir appetite,

Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveald

With such confusion: but the evil soon