Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/231

Before his memory—as one, whose drought
Yet scarce allayed, still eyes the current stream,
Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites—
Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest:
"Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,70
Far differing from this World, thou hast revealed,
Divine interpreter! by favor sent
Down from the Empyrean, to forewarn
Us timely of what might else have been our loss,
Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach.
For which to the infinitely Good we owe
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receive with solemn purpose, to observe
Immutably his sovran will, the end
Of what we are. But since thou hast vouchsafed80
Gently, for our instruction, to impart
Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned
Our knowing, as to highest Wisdom seemed,
Deign to descend now lower, and relate,
What may no less perhaps avail us known,
How first began this heaven, which we behold
Distant so high, with moving fires adorned
Innumerable; and this which yields or fills
All space, the ambient air, wide interfuse