Book VII

Milton invokes the heavenly Muse Urania to guide him safely back from his high flight, praying for inspiration and for protection against barbarous dissonance.

Adam, thrilled by Raphael's account of the war in Heaven, asks the angel to now describe how the world and Heaven were created—to satisfy his desire to know God's works.

God tells the Son that to remedy the loss of fallen angels He will create a race of men; He commands the Son to go forth and create the world by divine Word.

The Son rides forth with divine power, stills the chaos with his golden compasses, divides light from darkness, and the first day is celebrated with angelic song.

On the second day God creates the firmament dividing waters; on the third, land and seas are separated and the Earth is clothed with grass, herbs, trees, and fruit.

On the fourth day God sets the sun, moon, and stars as signs and seasons; on the fifth day He fills the waters with fish and the air with birds of every kind.

On the sixth day God creates land animals of every kind and finally man—formed in God's image from the dust, given dominion over all creation, and placed in Paradise.

God ascends to his throne on the seventh day, hallowing the Sabbath; the angels fill Heaven with hymns celebrating creation, and Raphael concludes his account for Adam.