Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/254

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PARADISE LOST.

BOOK VIII.

THE ARGUMENT.

Adam inquires concerning celestial motions, is doubtfully answered, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adam assents, and still desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remembered since his own creation, his placing in Paradise, his talk with God concerning solitude and fit society, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve, his discourse with the Angel thereupon; who after admonitions repeated departs.

The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear
So charming left his voice that he awhile
Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear;
Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied:
"What thanks sufficient, or what recompense
Equal, have I to render thee? divine
Historian, who thus largely hast allayed
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed
This friendly condescention to relate
Things else by me unsearchable, now heard10
With wonder, but delight, and, as is due,