第4章 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.