Eternal Father from his throne beheld Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake. At least our envious foe hath fail'd, who thought All like himself rebellious, by whose aid This inaccessible high strength, the seat He trusted to have seiz'd, and into fraud 140 145 Drew many, whom their place knows here no more: Though wide, and this high temple to frequent But lest his heart exalt him in the harm 150 155 161 And earth be chang'd to heaven, and heaven to earth, 139 least] Mr. Thyer saith, That I do not like taking liberties with the text, or I should read "at last."' This I perform, speak thou, and be it done. So spake th' Almighty, and to what he spake 165 170 175 180 When such was heard declar'd the Almighty's will 185 173 fate] Todd has quoted Plato's Timæus, ed. Serrani, vol. iii. p. 41. Bentley cites Lucan, v. ver. 91. Jortin, Statii Theb. i. 212. Thyer, Claud. de R. Pros. ii. 306. and Tasso Gier. Lib. iv. 17. 'Sia destin cio, ch' io voglio.' 182 the] Bentley reads 'to God most high,' which Newton approves. Of spirits malign a better race to bring Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse 190 So sang the Hierarchies. Mean while the Son On his great expedition now appear'd, Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crown'd Of Majesty divine, sapience and love Immense, and all his Father in him shone. About his chariot numberless were pour'd Cherub and seraph, potentates and thrones, 195 205 And virtues, winged spirits, and chariots wing'd, 211 214 And] Newton would read 'In surging waves;' it seems better, says Todd, as the Doctor observes, to say of the sea, 'in surging waves,' than 'by.' Silence, ye troubled waves, and, thou deep, peace, Said then th' omnific Word, your discord end. Nor staid; but, on the wings of cherubim Uplifted, in Paternal Glory rode Far into Chaos and the world unborn; For Chaos heard his voice. Him all his train 217 220 225 And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, 230 This be thy just circumference, O world. Thus GOD the heaven created, thus the earth, Matter unform'd and void. Darkness profound Cover'd th' abyss; but on the watery calm His brooding wings the Spirit of GoD outspread, 235 And vital virtue infus'd and vital warmth Throughout the fluid mass, but downward purg'd The black, tartareous, cold, infernal, dregs, Adverse to life then founded, then conglob'd Like things to like; the rest to several place 240 Disparted, and between spun out the air, 245 Let there be light, said GOD, and forthwith light Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung from the deep, and from her native east To journey through the aery gloom began, Spher'd in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle 250 Sojourn'd the while. God saw the light was good; By the celestial choirs, when orient light 255 And touch'd their golden harps, and hymning prais'd GOD and his works, creator him they sung, Both when first evening was, and when first morn. Again God said, Let there be firmament Amid the waters, and let it divide The waters from the waters: and God made In circuit to the uttermost convex Of this great round; partition firm and sure, 265 270 |