BOOK VIII. PARADISE LOST. Delighted, or not capable her ear Of what was high : fuch pleafure the referv'd, Adam relating, the tole auditrefs : Her hufband the relater the preler'd Before the Angel, and of him to afk Chofe rather : he, the knew, would intermix Grateful digreffions, and folve high difpute With conjugal careffes : from his hp Not words alone pleas'd her. (0 when meet now Such pairs, in love and mutual honor join'd ?) With Goddefslike demeanor forth fine went ; Not unattended ! for on her, as Qteen, 6o A pomp of winning Graces waited dill ; And from about her fhot darts of define Into all eyes, to with her dill in fight. And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt propos'd, Benevolent, and facil thus reply'd. To afk or fearch I blame thee not, for heav'n Is as the book of God before thee let ; Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn His fealons, hours, or days, or months, or years. This to attain, whether heav'n move or earth, Imports not, if thou reckon right ; the reft, From man or Angel, the great Archited Did wifely to conceal ; and not divulge His fecrets to be fcan'd by them who ought Rather admire. Or, if they lift to try 75 Conjedure, He His fabric of the heav'ns Hath left to their difputes, perhaps to move His laughter at their quaint opinions wide Hereafter ; when they come to model heav'n, And calculate the ftars, how they will wield So The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive To Pave appearances; how gird the fphere With 207 5° 55
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