Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent Let us make now Man in our image, Man Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, Beast of the field, and over all the Earth, And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. 520 Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed 525 Created thee, in the image of God Male he created thee; but thy consórt Female, for race; then bless'd mankind, and said, 530 And every living thing that moves on the Earth. 535 Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st, He brought thee into this delicious grove, This garden, planted with the trees of God, And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 540 Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields Variety without end; but of the tree, Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, Thou mayst not; in the day thou eat'st, thou diest: Death is the penalty imposed; beware, And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. Here finish'd he, and all that he had made View'd, and behold all was entirely good; So even and morn accomplish'd the sixth day; 545 550 Thence to behold this new created world, The addition of his empire, how it show'd 555 In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, Follow'd with acclamation, and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned 560 Resounded (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st,) 565 570 575 The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, Which nightly, as a circling zone, 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 Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne 585 The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down Hath Omnipresence,) and the work ordain'd, 5 Now resting, blessed and hallow'd the seventh day, 595 Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. 600 Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue Relate thee! Greater now in thy return Than from the giant Angels: Thee that day 605 Thy thunders magnified; but to create Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, 610 Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw The number of thy worshippers. Who secks 615 To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 620 Their pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happy Men, 625 And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced! Created in his image, there to dwell And worship him; and in reward to rule And multiply a race of worshippers So sung they, and the empyrćan rung From the beginning; that posterity, 630 Inform'd by thee, might know: if else thou seek'st 635 640 PARADISE LOST. BOOK VIII. Adam inquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully answer ed, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of know ledge: 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 THE Angel ended, and in Adam's ear So charming left his voice, that he awhile Thought him still speaking, still stood fix'd to hear; Historian, who thus largely hast allay'd 5. Equal, have I to render thee, divine The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed This friendly condescension to relate Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard 10 With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, With glory attributed to the high Creator! Something yet of doubt remains, When I behold this goodly frame, this world, 15 Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, 20 Their distance argues, and their swift return Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, |