The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (85 page)

91

Moved the Creator, in His holy rest
⁴¹⁴¹

92

Through all eternity, so late
⁴¹⁴²
to build

93

In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon

94

Absolved.
⁴¹⁴³
If unforbid thou may’st unfold

95

What we, not to explore the secrets, ask

96

Of His eternal empire, but the more

97

To magnify His works, the more we know.

98

And the great light of day yet wants
⁴¹⁴⁴
to run

99

Much of his race, though steep. Suspense in Heav’n,

100

Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he hears,

101

And longer will delay to hear thee tell

102

His generation,
⁴¹⁴⁵
and the rising birth

103

Of Nature from the unapparent
⁴¹⁴⁶
deep.
⁴¹⁴⁷

104

Or if the star of ev’ning and the moon

105

Haste to thy audience, night with her will bring

106

Silence—and sleep, list’ning to thee, will watch,
⁴¹⁴⁸

107

Or we can bid
⁴¹⁴⁹
his absence till thy song

108

End, and dismiss
⁴¹⁵⁰
thee ere the morning shine.

109

Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought,
⁴¹⁵¹

110

And thus the godlike Angel answered mild:

111

   
“This also thy request, with caution asked,

112

Obtain, though to recount Almighty works

113

What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,

114

Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?

115

Yet what thou canst attain,
⁴¹⁵²
which best may serve

116

To glorify the Maker, and infer
⁴¹⁵³

117

Thee also happier, shall not be withheld

118

Thy hearing. Such commission from above

119

I have received, to answer thy desire

120

Of knowledge within bounds. Beyond,
⁴¹⁵⁴
abstain

121

To ask, nor let thine own inventions
⁴¹⁵⁵
hope

122

Things not revealed, which the invisible King,

123

Only
⁴¹⁵⁶
Omniscient, hath suppressed
⁴¹⁵⁷
in night,

124

To none communicable in earth or Heaven:

125

Enough is left besides to search and know.

126

But knowledge is as food, and needs no less

127

Her temp’rance over appetite, to know

128

In measure what the mind may well contain,

129

Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns

130

Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.

131

   
“Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav’n

132

(So call him, brighter once amidst the host

133

Of Angels than that star
⁴¹⁵⁸
the stars among)

134

Fell with his flaming legions through the deep

135

Into his place, and the great Son returned

136

Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent

137

Eternal Father from His throne beheld

138

Their multitude, and to His Son thus spoke:

139

   
“‘At last our envious foe hath failed, who thought

140

All
⁴¹⁵⁹
like himself rebellious, by whose aid

141

This inaccessible high strength, the seat

142

Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed,

143

He trusted to have seized, and into fraud

144

Drew many, whom their place knows here no more.

145

Yet far the greater part have kept, I see,

146

Their station.
⁴¹⁶⁰
Heaven, yet populous, retains

147

Number sufficient to possess
⁴¹⁶¹
her realms

148

Though wide, and this high temple to frequent
⁴¹⁶²

149

With ministeries
⁴¹⁶³
due, and solemn rites.

150

But lest his heart exalt him in the harm

151

Already done, to have dispeopled Heav’n,

152

My damage fondly
⁴¹⁶⁴
deemed,
⁴¹⁶⁵
I can repair

153

That detriment,
⁴¹⁶⁶
if such it be to lose

154

Self-lost, and in a moment will create

155

Another world, out of one man a race

156

Of men innumerable, there to dwell,

157

Not here, till by degrees of merit raised

158

They open to themselves at length the way

159

Up hither, under long obedience tried,
⁴¹⁶⁷

160

And earth be changed to Heav’n, and Heav’n to earth,

161

One kingdom, joy and union without end.

162

Meanwhile inhabit lax,
⁴¹⁶⁸
ye Powers of Heav’n,

163

And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee

164

This I perform. Speak thou, and be it done!

165

My overshadowing
⁴¹⁶⁹
Spirit and Might with thee

166

I send along. Ride forth, and bid the deep

167

Within appointed bounds be Heav’n and earth—

168

Boundless the deep, because I Am who fill

169

Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.

170

Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire,

171

And put not forth my goodness, which is free

172

To act or not, necessity and chance

173

Approach not me, and what I will is fate.

174

   
“So spoke th’Almighty and, to what He spoke,

175

His Word, the Filial Godhead gave effect.

176

Immediate are the acts of God, more swift

177

Than time or motion, but to human ears

178

Cannot without process of speech be told,

179

So told as earthly notion can receive.

180

Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heav’n,

181

When such was heard declared th’Almighty’s will.

182

Glory they sung to the Most High, good will