Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/232

226 Embracing round this florid earth; what cause Moved the Creator, in his holy rest Through all eternity, so late to build In Chaos; and the work begun how soon Absolved: if unforbid thou mayest unfold What we not to explore the secrets ask Of his eternal empire, but the more To magnify his works, the more we know. And the great light of day yet wants to run Much of his race though steep. Suspense in heaven, Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, And longer will delay to hear thee tell His generation, and the rising birth Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: Or if the star of evening and the moon Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring Silence, and Sleep listening 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 answered mild: "This also thy request, with caution asked, Obtain; though to recount almighty 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 To glorify the Maker, and infer