Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/177

And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen,
And so from Heaven to deepest Hell. Oh, fall
From what high state of bliss into what woe!"
To whom our great progenitor:—"Thy words
Attentive, and with more delighted ear,
Divine instructor, I have heard, than when
Cherubic songs by night from neighboring hills
Aerial music send; nor knew I not
To be both will and deed created free.
Yet that we never shall forget to love550
Our Maker, and obey him whose command
Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts
Assured me, and still assure; though what thou tellest
Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move,
But more desire to hear, if thou consent,
The full relation, which must needs be strange,
Worthy of sacred silence to be heard.
And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun
Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the great zone of heaven."560
Thus Adam made request; and Raphaël,
After short pause assenting, thus began:
"High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men,
Sad task and hard; for how shall I relate
To human sense the invisible exploits