3

And the great Light of Day yet wants to run

Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heavn

Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares, [ 100 ]

And longer will delay to heare thee tell

His Generation, and the rising Birth

Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:

Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon

Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring [ 105 ]

Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,

Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song

End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.

Thus Adam his illustrious Guest besought:

And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde. [ 110 ]

This also thy request with caution askt

Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works

What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,

Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?

Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve [ 115 ]

To glorifie the Maker, and inferr

Thee also happier, shall not be withheld

Thy hearing, such Commission from above

I have receavd, to answer thy desire

Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain [ 120 ]

To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope

Things not reveald, which th invisible King,

Onely Omniscient hath supprest in Night,

To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:

Anough is left besides to search and know. [ 125 ]

But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less

Her Temperance over Appetite, to know

In measure what the mind may well contain,

Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turns

Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde. [ 130 ]

Know then, that after Lucifer from Heavn

(So call him, brighter once amidst the Host

Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)

Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep

Into his place, and the great Son returnd [ 135 ]

Victorious with his Saints, th Omnipotent

Eternal Father from his Throne beheld

Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.