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 Geion, and the rising Birth
Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:
Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon
Haste to thy audienight with her will bring [ 105 ]
Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,
Or we bid his abseill thy Song
End, and dismiss thee ere the M shine.
Thus Adam his illustrious Guest besought:
And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde. [ 110 ]
This also thy request with caution askt
Obtaihough to ret Almightie works
What words or tongue of Seraph suffice,
Or heart of man suffiprehend?
Yet what thou st attain, which best may serve [ 115 ]
To glorifie the Maker, and inferr
Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
Thy hearing, suission from above
I have receavd, to ahy desire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain [ 120 ]
To ask, nor let thine own iions hope
Things not reveald, which th invisible King,
Onely Omnist hath supprest in Night,
To none unicable ih or Heaven:
Anough is left besides to seard know. [ 125 ]
But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less
Her Temperance over Appetite, to know
In measure what the mind may well tain,
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 Sournd [ 135 ]
Victorious with his Saints, th Omnipotent
Eternal Father from his Throne beheld
Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.