Stood ruld, stood vast infinitude confind;

Each had his place appointed, each his course, [ 720 ]

Adams abode, those loftie shades his Bowre.

To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps [ 700 ]

Thus said, he turnd, and Satan bowing low,

Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all

From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone,

The rest in circuit walles this Universe.

Flew upward, spirited w藏书网ith various forms,

Till at his second bidding darkness fled,

Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know

Throws his steep flight in many an Aerie wheele,

And this Ethereal quintessence of Heavn

Hence fills and empties to enlighten th Earth,

Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon

(So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide

With borrowd light her countenance 九-九-藏-书-网triform [ 730 ]

That reaches blame, but rather merits praise

Down from th Ecliptic, sped with hopd success, [ 740 ]

Timely interposes, and her monthly round

That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs

Nor staid, till on Niphates top he lights.

That spot to which I point is Paradise,

The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire, [ 715 ]

And in her pale dominion checks the night.

Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. [ 735 ]

Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;

For wonderful indeed are all his works,

The more it seems excess, that led thee hither

That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light

Still ending, still renewing through mid Heavn,

Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then

As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven,

Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath,

Contented with report hear onely in heavn:

Light shon, and order from disorder sprung:

Had in remembrance alwayes with delight;

But what created mind can comprehend [ 705 ]

The works of God, thereby to glorifie [ 695 ]

This worlds material mould, came to a heap:

I saw when at his Word九-九-藏-书-网 the formless Mass,

Confusion heard his voice, and wilde uproar [ 710 ]

Where honour due and reverence none neglects,

Thir number, or the wisdom infinite

With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;

Look downward on that Globe whose hither side

The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess

His day, which else as th other Hemisphere [ 725 ]

That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep.