14-38: Adam expresses his amazement at how infinite God's creation is and how small a part he plays. He wants Raphael to tell him about the sun and moon and how they orbit. He doubts the structure and creation of the universe asking why heaven is so far from earth.
39-63: Eve, sensing heavy conversation coming on, gets up to see how the fruits and flowers are growing. She wants Adam to later tell her what the Angel will tell him. (Milton insists that Eve is not unable to understand but prefers a more intimate conversation with Adam.)
65-84: Raphael tells Adam that he doesn't blame him for inquiring about the heavens and things that he doesn't understand, but that God intended to conceal the knowledge for some things from Adam.
85-178: Raphael attempts to tell Adam about celestial motion. Milton refers to the newest scientific theories of his time; the inhabitability of the moon, the Ptolemaic and Copernican theories of the earth and sun rotation.
170-178: Raphael tells Adam to enjoy the world that God has created for him and Eve and to think on things that concern him.
179-198: Adam replies that he is satisfied with his answer and agrees that the subject is too lofty and obscure to concern daily life.
199-216: Adam wants to tell Raphael about his own creation in hope of detaining Raphael a bit longer: "Thy words, with grace divine Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety."
217-248: Raphael is glad to hear Adam relate his story. He reveals that God had sent him on a mission at the time creation took place--to make sure nothing escaped from hell to spy on His work of creation. Therefore, Raphael would like to hear the story of Adam's creation.
249: Adam begins his account of his own creation.
253-285: Adam wakes up and looks around. He peruses and tries out his own body. He admires earth and the heavens, finding that he can name whatever he sees. He wonders how he came to be.
285-310: Adam falls asleep, fearing he will dissolve into nothingness. In a dream a heavenly guide appears to Adam. He is taken to Eden and he wakes to find his dream was a foreshadowing of the truth. Eden is real.
311-333: God appears to Adam and tells him all in the garden is his, but he cannot eat of the tree of knowledge or he will die.
334-349: God tells Adam all the rest of the earth is his to command and that he should name all the animals.
350-356: The birds and beasts approach Adam to be named.
357-367: With the endowed reasoning that God has given him, Adam sees the animals with partners and asks God where his partner is; surely he is not to live in solitude.
369-375: God replies that Adam is not alone, for he has all of creation to keep him company.
379-397: Adam humbly implores God to consider that he has been set above creation, and he wants a partner of his own kind to have fellowship with.
399-411: God asks Adam how he thinks God has gotten along with only his creation to fellowship with.
412-435: Adam answers that God is perfect, but that man has a need for fellowship. He points out that man needs a partner in order to be fruitful and multiply and that fellowship with animals just won't do.
437-451: God reassures Adam that He intends to provide him a partner, and that what he sees next will surely please him.
452-459: Adam, very tired from being in the presence of the Almighty, falls asleep again.
460-477: Asleep, Adam dreams that a Shape (God) forms a creature for him out of his (Adam's) rib. She has the most beautiful "spirit of love and amorous delight."
478-489: Adam wakes to find the creature he envisioned in his dream adorned and being led by the Maker to him. "Grace was in all her steps, heav'n in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love."
491-499: Adam names her woman, saying, "for this cause he shall forgo Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul."
500-520: Adam and Eve go to the nuptial bower while heaven and earth give "gratulation."
521-559: Still speaking to Raphael, Adam wonders if God, in creating man, did not leave something out because Eve has a certain power over his passions that makes her seem "wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best."
560-577: Raphael warns Adam to honor her and cherish her, but not to worship her. She will know him and love him even at his unwisest point.
578-594: Raphael reminds Adam that propagation was given to animals and not to hold that as his highest love. He tells Adam to motivate his love for Eve toward a godly type of love in which no animal in creation will be able to share.
595-617: Adam reassures Raphael that Eve's mere presence delights him, not just their sexual relationship and asks Raphael how angels show their love if not through affection.
620-629: Raphael blushes and tells Adam that spirits embrace unrestrained and have no need for "flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul."
630-632: Raphael says he must leave; it is late.
633-643: Raphael warns Adam again to love and obey God foremost and keep God's command lest he should die - TO AVOID TEMPTATION AND STAY AWAY FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.
644-653: Adam thanks Raphael for coming and says he will always remember him. He invites him to come again. Raphael goes to heaven and Adam to his bower.
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