第2章 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 replid.
What thanks sufficient, or what recompence [ 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 compute,
Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine,
An Atom, with the Firmament compard
And all her numberd 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 failes.