The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, That open'd wide her blazing portals, led To God's eternal house direct the way, 580 A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest 585 Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the seventh Evening arose in Eden, for the sun Was set, and twilight from the east came on, Of Heav'n's high-seated top, th' imperial throne 591 Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd 595 Author and end of all things, and from work Now resting, bless'd and hallow'd the seventh day Had work and rested not, the solemn pipe, 600 605 'Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite Thy pow'r; what thought can measure thee, or tongue Relate thee? greater now in thy return Than from the giant Angels; thee that day 610 Thy thunders magnify'd; but to create Is greater than, created, to destroy. Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound 615 620 625 The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks And worship him, and in reward to rule "So sung they, and the empyréan rung With Halleluiahs: thus was sabbath kept. 629 635 And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd 640 From the beginning, that posterity Inform'd by thee might know; if else thou seek'st Ought, not surpassing human measure, say." 645 END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK. ARGUMENT. Adam enquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search rather thing 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. CA ILLU |