，
THE ARGUMENT
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adam inquires concerning celestial motions； is doubtfully answerd； and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledg： adam assents； and still desirous to detain raphael； relates to him what he rememberd 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。
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Paradise Lost Ⅷ1
小说
the angel ended； and in adams eare
so charming left his voice； that he a while
thought him still speaking； still stood fixt to hear；
then as new wakt thus gratefully replid。
what thanks sufficient； or what repence ＇ 5 ＇
equal have i to render thee； divine
hystorian； who thus largely hast allayd
the thirst i had of knowledge； and voutsaft
this friendly condescention to relate
things else by me unsearchable； now heard ＇ 10 ＇
with wonder； but delight； and； as is due；
with glorie attributed to the high
creator； something yet of doubt remaines；
which onely thy solution can resolve。
when i behold this goodly frame； this world ＇ 15 ＇
of heavn and earth consisting； and pute；
thir magnitudes； this earth a spot； a graine；
an atom； with the firmament pard
and all her numberd starrs； that seem to rowle
spaces inprehensible （for such ＇ 20 ＇
thir distance argues and thir swift return
diurnal） meerly to officiate light
round this opacous earth； this punctual spot；
one day and night； in all thir vast survey
useless besides； reasoning i oft admire； ＇ 25 ＇
how nature wise and frugal could mit
such disproportions； with superfluous hand
so many nobler bodies to create；
greater so manifold to this one use；
for aught appeers； and on thir orbs impose ＇ 30 ＇
such restless revolution day by day
repeated； while the sedentarie earth；
that better might with farr less pass move；
servd by more noble then her self； attaines
her end without least motion； and receaves； ＇ 35 ＇
as tribute such a sumless journey brought
of incorporeal speed； her warmth and light；
speed； to describe whose swiftness number failes。
。。
Paradise Lost Ⅷ2
小说
so spake our sire； and by his countnance seemd
entring on studious thoughts abstruse； which eve ＇ 40 ＇
perceaving where she sat retird in sight；
with lowliness majestic from her seat；
and grace that won who saw to wish her stay；
rose； and went forth among her fruits and flours；
to visit how they prosperd； bud and bloom； ＇ 45 ＇
her nurserie； they at her ing sprung
and toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew。
yet went she not； as not with such discourse
delighted； or not capable her eare
of what was high： such pleasure she reservd； ＇ 50 ＇
adam relating； she sole auditress；
her husband the relater she preferrd
before the angel； and of him to ask
chose rather： hee； she knew would intermix
grateful digressions； and solve high dispute ＇ 55 ＇
with conjugal caresses； from his lip
not words alone pleasd her。 o when meet now
such pairs； in love and mutual honour joynd？
with goddess…like demeanour forth she went；
not unattended； for on her as queen ＇ 60 ＇
a pomp of winning graces waited still；
and from about her shot darts of desire
into all eyes to wish her still in sight。
and raphael now to adams doubt proposd
benevolent and facil thus replid。 ＇ 65 ＇
to ask or search i blame thee not； for heavn
is as the book of god before thee set；
wherein to read his wondrous works； and learne
his seasons； hours； or dayes； or months； or yeares：
this to attain； whether heavn move or earth； ＇ 70 ＇
imports not； if thou reckn right； the rest
from man or angel the great architect
did wisely to conceal； and not divulge
his secrets to be scannd by them who ought
rather admire； or if they list to try ＇ 75 ＇
conjecture； he his fabric of the heavns
hath left to thir disputes； perhaps to move
his laughter at thir quaint opinions wide
hereafter； when they e to model heavn
and calculate the starrs； how they will weild ＇ 80 ＇
the mightie frame； how build； unbuild； contrive
to save appeerances； how gird the sphear
with centric and eccentric scribld ore；
cycle and epicycle； orb in orb：
alreadie by thy reasoning this i guess； ＇ 85 ＇
who art to lead thy ofspring； and supposest
that bodies bright and greater should not serve
the less not bright； nor heavn such journies run；
earth sitting still； when she alone receaves
the benefit： consider first； that great ＇ 90 ＇
or bright inferrs not excellence： the earth
though； in parison of heavn； so small；
nor glistering； may of solid good containe
more plenty then the sun that barren shines；
whose vertue on it self workes no effect； ＇ 95 ＇
but in the fruitful earth； there first receavd
his beams； unactive else； thir vigour find。
。。
Paradise Lost Ⅷ3
（小//说；网/
yet not to earth are those bright luminaries
officious； but to thee earths habitant。
and for the heavns wide circuit； let it speak ＇ 100 ＇
the makers high magnificence； who built
so spacious； and his line stretcht out so farr；
that man may know he dwells not in his own；
an edifice too large for him to fill；
lodgd in a small partition； and the rest ＇ 105 ＇
ordaind for uses to his lord best known。
the swiftness of those circles attribute；
though numberless； to his omnipotence；
that to corporeal substances could adde
speed almost spiritual； mee thou thinkst not slow； ＇ 110 ＇
who since the morning hour set out from heavn
where god resides； and ere mid…day arrivd
in eden； distance inexpressible
by numbers that have name。 but this i urge；
admitting motion in the heavns； to shew ＇ 115 ＇
invalid that which thee to doubt it movd；
not that i so affirm； though so it seem
to thee who hast thy dwelling here on earth。
god to remove his wayes from human sense；
placd heavn from earth so farr； that earthly sight； ＇ 120 ＇
if it presume； might erre in things too high；
and no advantage gaine。 what if the sun
be centre to the world； and other starrs
by his attractive vertue and their own
incited； dance about him various rounds？ ＇ 125 ＇
thir wandring course now high； now low； then hid；
progressive； retrograde； or standing still；
in six thou seest； and what if sevnth to these
the planet earth； so stedfast though she seem；
insensibly three different motions move？ ＇ 130 ＇
which else to several spheres thou must ascribe；
movd contrarie with thwart obliquities；
or save the sun his labour； and that swift
nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposd；
invisible else above all starrs； the wheele ＇ 135 ＇
of day and night； which needs not thy beleefe；
if earth industrious of her self fetch day
travelling east； and with her part averse
from the suns beam meet night； her other part
still luminous by his ray。 what if that light ＇ 140 ＇
sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire；
to the terrestrial moon be as a starr
enlightning her by day； as she by night
this earth？ reciprocal； if land be there；
fields and inhabitants： her spots thou seest ＇ 145 ＇
as clouds； and clouds may rain； and rain produce
fruits in her softnd soile； for some to eate
allotted there； and other suns perhaps
with thir attendant moons thou wilt descrie
municating male and femal light； ＇ 150 ＇
which two great sexes animate the world；
stord in each orb perhaps with some that live。
for such vast room in nature unpossest
by living soule； desert and desolate；
onely to shine； yet scarce to contribute ＇ 155 ＇
each orb a glimps of light； conveyd so farr
down to this habitable； which returnes
light back to them； is obvious to dispute。
d
Paradise Lost Ⅷ4
小！说
but whether thus these things； or whether not；
whether the sun predominant in heavn ＇ 160 ＇
rise on the earth； or earth rise on the sun；
hee from the east his flaming rode begin；
or shee from west her silent course advance
with inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps
on her soft axle； while she paces eevn； ＇ 165 ＇
and beares thee soft with the smooth air along；
sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid；
leave them to god above； him serve and feare；
of other creatures； as him pleases best；
wherever plact； let him dispose： joy thou ＇ 170 ＇
in what he gives to thee； this paradise
and thy faire eve； heavn is for thee too high
to know what passes there； be lowlie wise：
think onely what concernes thee and thy being；
dream not of other worlds； what creatures there ＇ 175 ＇
live； in what state； condition or degree；
contented that thus farr hath been reveald
not of earth onely but of highest heavn。
to whom thus adam cleerd of doubt； replid。
how fully hast thou satisfid me； pure ＇ 180 ＇
intelligence of heavn； angel serene；
and freed from intricacies； taught to live
the easiest way； nor with perplexing thoughts
to interrupt the sweet of life； from which
god hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares； ＇ 185 ＇
and not molest us； unles