Chapter 2 1

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 replied. What thanks sufficient, or what recompence [ 5 ] Equal have I to render thee, Divine Hystorian, who thus largely hast allayed The thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsafe This friendly condensation 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 remains, Which only thy solution can resolve.

When I behold this nicely Frame, this World [ 15 ] Of Heavn and Earth consisting, and computing, Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a grain, An Atom, with the Firmament compard And all her numbered Starrs, that seem to rowle Spaces incomprehensible (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 commit 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 compass 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 fails.