_Raphael._ Think not the Power, who made thee thus, can find No way like theirs to propagate thy kind: Meantime, live happy in thyself alone; Like him who, single, fills the etherial throne. To study nature will thy time employ: Knowledge and innocence are perfect joy. _Adam._ If solitude were best, the All-wise above Had made no creature for himself to love. I add not to the power he had before; Yet to make me, extends his goodness more. He would not be alone, who all things can; But peopled heaven with angels, earth with man. _Raphael._ As man and angels to the Deity, So all inferior creatures are to thee. Heaven's greatness no society can bear; Servants he made, and those thou want'st not here. _Adam._ Why did he reason in my soul implant, And speech, the effect of reason? To the mute, My speech is lost; my reason to the brute. Love and society more blessings bring To them, the slaves, than power to me, their king. _Raphael._ Thus far to try thee; but to heaven 'twas known, It was not best for man to be alone; An equal, yet thy subject, is designed, For thy soft hours, and to unbend thy mind. Thy stronger soul shall her weak reason sway; And thou, through love, her beauty shalt obey; Thou shalt secure her helpless sex from harms, And she thy cares shall sweeten with her charms. _Adam._ What more can heaven bestow, or man require? _Raphael._ Yes, he can give beyond thy own desire. A mansion is provided thee, more fair Than this, and worthy heaven's peculiar care: Not framed of common earth, nor fruits, nor flowers Of vulgar growth, but like celestial bowers: The soil luxuriant, and the fruit divine, Where golden apples on green branches shine, And purple grapes dissolve into immortal wine; For noon-day's heat are closer arbours made, And for fresh evening air the opener glade. Ascend; and, as we go, More wonders thou shalt know. _Adam._ And, as we go, let earth and heaven above Sound our great Maker's power, and greater love. [_They ascend to soft music, and a song is sung._ _The Scene changes, and represents, above, a Sun gloriously rising and moving orbicularly: at a distance, below, is the Moon; the part next the Sun enlightened, the other dark. A black Cloud comes whirling from the adverse part of the Heavens, bearing_ LUCIFER _in it; at his nearer approach the body of the Sun is darkened._