THE ARGUMENT.
Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven, declar'd his pleasure to create another World and other Creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with Glory and attendance of Angels to perform the work of Creation in six dayes: the Angels celebrate with Hymns the performance thereof, and his reascention into Heaven.
DEscend from Heav'n Urania, by that nameIf rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divineFollowing, above th' Olympian Hill I soare,Above the flight of Pegasean wing.The meaning, not the Name I call: for thouNor of the Muses nine, nor on the topOf old Olympus dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst playIn presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'dWith thy Celestial Song. Up led by theeInto the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,Thy tempring; with like safetie guided downReturn me to my Native Element:Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as onceBellerophon, though from a lower Clime)Dismounted, on th' Aleian Field I fallErroneous there to wander and forlorne.Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower boundWithin the visible Diurnal Spheare;Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'dTo hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;In darkness, and with dangers compast round,And solitude; yet not alone, while thouVisit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when MornPurples the East: still govern thou my Song,Urania, and fit audience find, though few.But drive farr off the barbarous dissonanceOf Bacchus and his revellers, the RaceOf that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian BardIn Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had EaresTo rapture, till the savage clamor droundBoth Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defendHer Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:For thou are Heav'nlie, shee an emptie dreame.
Say Goddess, what ensu'd when Raphael,The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarn'dAdam by dire example to bewareApostasie, by what befell in HeavenTo those Apostates, least the like befallIn Paradise to Adam or his Race,Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,If they transgress, and slight that sole command,So easily obeyd amid the choiceOf all tastes else to please thir appetite,Though wandring. He with his consorted EveThe storie heard attentive, and was fill'dWith admiration, and deep Muse to hearOf things so high and strange, things to thir thoughtSo unimaginable as hate in Heav'n,And Warr so neer the Peace of God in blissWith such confusion: but the evil soonDriv'n back redounded as a flood on thoseFrom whom it sprung, impossible to mixWith Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'dThe doubts that in his heart arose: and nowLed on, yet sinless, with desire to knowWhat neerer might concern him, how this WorldOf Heav'n and Earth conspicious first began,When, and whereof created, for what cause,What within Eden or without was doneBefore his memorie, as one whose drouthYet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame,Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.
Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'dDivine interpreter, by favour sentDown from the Empyrean to forewarneUs timely of what might else have bin our loss,Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:For which to the infinitly Good we oweImmortal thanks, and his admonishmentReceave with solemne purpose to observeImmutably his sovran will, the endOf what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf'tGently for our instruction to impartThings above Earthly thought, which yet concerndOur knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,Deign to descend now lower, and relateWhat may no less perhaps availe us known,How first began this Heav'n which we beholdDistant so high, with moving Fires adorndInnumerable, and this which yeelds or fillsAll space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'dImbracing round this florid Earth, what causeMov'd the Creator in his holy RestThrough all Eternitie so late to buildIn Chaos, and the work begun, how soonAbsolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfouldWhat wee, not to explore the secrets askeOf his Eternal Empire, but the moreTo magnifie his works, the more we know.And the great Light of Day yet wants to runMuch of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'nHeld by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares,And longer will delay to heare thee tellHis Generation, and the rising BirthOf Nature from the unapparent Deep:Or if the Starr of Eevning and the MoonHaste to thy audience, Night with her will bringSilence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,Or we can bid his absence, till thy SongEnd, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.
Thus Adam his illustrious Guest besought:
And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde.This also thy request with caution asktObtaine: though to recount Almightie worksWhat words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serveTo glorifie the Maker, and inferrThee also happier, shall not be withheldThy hearing, such Commission from aboveI have receav'd, to answer thy desireOf knowledge within bounds; beyond abstainTo ask, nor let thine own inventions hopeThings not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:Anough is left besides to search and know.But Knowledge is as food, and needs no lessHer Temperance over Appetite, to knowIn measure what the mind may well contain,Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turnsWisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde.
Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav'n(So call him, brighter once amidst the HostOf Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)Fell with his flaming Legions through the DeepInto his place, and the great Son returndVictorious with his Saints, th' OmnipotentEternal Father from his Throne beheldThir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.
At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thoughtAll like himself rebellious, by whose aidThis inaccessible high strength, the seatOf Deitie supream, us dispossest,He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraudDrew many, whom thir place knows here no more;Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retainesNumber sufficient to possess her RealmesThough wide, and this high Temple to frequentWith Ministeries due and solemn Rites:But least his heart exalt him in the harmeAlready done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'nMy damage fondly deem'd, I can repaireThat detriment, if such it be to loseSelf-lost, and in a moment will createAnother World, out of one man a RaceOf men innumerable, there to dwell,Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'dThey open to themselves at length the wayUp hither, under long obedience tri'd,And Earth be chang'd to Heav'n, & Heav'n to Earth,One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n,And thou my Word, begotten Son, by theeThis I perform, speak thou, and be it don:My overshadowing Spirit and might with theeI send along, ride forth, and bid the DeepWithin appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,Boundless the Deep, because I am who fillInfinitude, nor vacuous the space.Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire,And put not forth my goodness, which is freeTo act or not, Necessitie and ChanceApproach not mee, and what I will is Fate.
So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spakeHis Word, the filial Godhead, gave effect.Immediate are the Acts of God, more swiftThen time or motion, but to human earsCannot without process of speech be told,So told as earthly notion can receave.Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'nWhen such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will;Glorie they sung to the most High, good willTo future men, and in thir dwellings peace:Glorie to him whose just avenging ireHad driven out th' ungodly from his sightAnd th' habitations of the just; to himGlorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'dGood out of evil to create, in steadOf Spirits maligne a better Race to bringInto thir vacant room, and thence diffuseHis good to Worlds and Ages infinite.So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the SonOn his great Expedition now appeer'd,Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'dOf Majestie Divine, Sapience and LoveImmense, and all his Father in him shon.About his Chariot numberless were pour'dCherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,From the Armoury of God, where stand of oldMyriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'dAgainst a solemn day, harnest at hand,Celestial Equipage; and now came forthSpontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wideHer ever during Gates, Harmonious soundOn golden Hinges moving, to let forthThe King of Glorie in his powerful WordAnd Spirit coming to create new Worlds.On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shoreThey view'd the vast immeasurable AbyssOutrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windesAnd surging waves, as Mountains to assaultHeav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.
Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace,Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end:Nor staid, but on the Wings of CherubimUplifted, in Paternal Glorie rodeFarr into Chaos, and the World unborn;For Chaos heard his voice: him all his TraineFollow'd in bright procession to beholdCreation, and the wonders of his might.Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his handHe took the golden Compasses, prepar'dIn Gods Eternal store, to circumscribeThis Universe, and all created things:One foot he center'd, and the other turn'dRound through the vast profunditie obscure,And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,This be thy just Circumference, O World.Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth,Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profoundCover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calmeHis brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmthThroughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'dThe black tartareous cold Infernal dregsAdverse to life: then founded, then conglob'dLike things to like, the rest to several placeDisparted, and between spun out the Air,And Earth self ballanc't on her Center hung.
Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith LightEthereal, first of things, quintessence pureSprung from the Deep, and from her Native EastTo journie through the airie gloom began,Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the SunWas not; shee in a cloudie TabernacleSojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good;And light from darkness by the HemisphereDivided: Light the Day, and Darkness NightHe nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsungBy the Celestial Quires, when Orient LightExhaling first from Darkness they beheld;Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shoutThe hollow Universal Orb they fill'd,And touch't thir Golden Harps, and hymning prais'dGod and his works, Creatour him they sung,Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn.
Again, God said, let ther be FirmamentAmid the Waters, and let it divideThe Waters from the Waters: and God madeThe Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus'dIn circuit to the uttermost convexOf this great Round: partition firm and sure,The Waters underneath from those aboveDividing: for as Earth, so he the WorldBuilt on circumfluous Waters calme, in wideCrystallin Ocean, and the loud misruleOf Chaos farr remov'd, least fierce extreamesContiguous might distemper the whole frame:And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'nAnd Morning Chorus sung the second Day.
The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yetOf Waters, Embryon immature involv'd,Appeer'd not: over all the face of EarthMain Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warmeProlific humour soft'ning all her Globe,Fermented the great Mother to conceave,Satiate with genial moisture, when God saidBe gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'nInto one place, and let dry Land appeer.Immediately the Mountains huge appeerEmergent, and thir broad bare backs upheaveInto the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so lowDown sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,Capacious bed of Waters: thither theyHasted with glad precipitance, uprowldAs drops on dust conglobing from the drie;Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,For haste; such flight the great command impress'dOn the swift flouds: as Armies at the callOf Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill,But they, or under ground, or circuit wideWith Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie,All but within those banks, where Rivers nowStream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacleOf congregated Waters he call'd Seas:And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' EarthPut forth the verdant Grass, Herb yielding Seed,And Fruit Tree yielding Fruit after her kind;Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth.He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till thenDesert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure cladHer Universal Face with pleasant green,Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'dOp'ning thir various colours, and made gayHer bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth creptThe smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie ReedEmbattell'd in her field: and the humble Shrub,And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: lastRose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spredThir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'dThir blossoms: with high woods the hills were crownd,With tufts the vallies and each fountain side,With borders long the Rivers. That Earth nowSeemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell,Or wander with delight, and love to hauntHer sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'dUpon the Earth, and man to till the groundNone was, but from the Earth a dewie MistWent up and waterd all the ground, and eachPlant of the field, which e're it was in the EarthGod made, and every Herb, before it grewOn the green stemm; God saw that it was good.So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.
Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be LightsHigh in th' expanse of Heaven to divideThe Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,And let them be for Lights as I ordaineThir Office in the Firmament of Heav'nTo give Light on the Earth; and it was so.And God made two great Lights, great for thir useTo Man, the greater to have rule by Day,The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,And set them in the Firmament of Heav'nTo illuminate the Earth, and rule the DayIn thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,Surveying his great Work, that it was good:For of Celestial Bodies first the SunA mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first,Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the MoonGlobose, and every magnitude of Starrs,And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field:Of Light by farr the greater part he took,Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'dIn the Suns Orb, made porous to receiveAnd drink the liquid Light, firm to retaineHer gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light.Hither as to thir Fountain other StarrsRepairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,And hence the Morning Planet guilds her horns;By tincture or reflection they augmentThir small peculiar, though from human sightSo farr remote, with diminution seen.First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon roundInvested with bright Rayes, jocond to runHis Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the grayDawn, and the Pleiades before him danc'dShedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,But opposite in leveld West was setHis mirror, with full face borrowing her LightFrom him, for other light she needed noneIn that aspect, and still that distance keepesTill night, then in the East her turn she shines,Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her ReignWith thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'dSpangling the Hemisphere: then first adorndWith thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,Glad Eevning and glad Morn crownd the fourth day.
And God said, let the Waters generateReptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule:And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wingsDisplayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n.And God created the great Whales, and eachSoul living, each that crept, which plenteouslyThe waters generated by thir kindes,And every Bird of wing after his kinde;And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, saying,Be fruitful, multiply, and in the SeasAnd Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth.Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek and BayWith Frie innumerable swarme, and ShoalesOf Fish that with thir Finns and shining ScalesGlide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oftBank the mid Sea: part single or with mateGraze the Sea weed thir pasture, and through GrovesOf Coral stray, or sporting with quick glanceShow to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold,Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attendMoist nutriment, or under Rocks thir foodIn jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale,And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulkWallowing unweildie, enormous in thir GateTempest the Ocean: there LeviathanHugest of living Creatures, on the DeepStretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes,And seems a moving Land, and at his GillesDraws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoaresThir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soonBursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'dThir callow young, but featherd soon and fledgeThey summ'd thir Penns, and soaring th' air sublimeWith clang despis'd the ground, under a cloudIn prospect; there the Eagle and the StorkOn Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:Part loosly wing the Region, part more wiseIn common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way,Intelligent of seasons, and set forthThir Aierie Caravan high over Sea'sFlying, and over Lands with mutual wingEasing thir flight; so stears the prudent CraneHer annual Voiage, born on Windes; the AireFloats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes:From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with songSo1ac'd the Woods, and spred thir painted wingsTill Ev'n, nor then the solemn NightingalCeas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes:Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'dThir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neckBetween her white wings mantling proudly, RowesHer state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quitThe Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towreThe mid Aereal Skie: Others on groundWalk'd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion soundsThe silent hours, and th' other whose gay TraineAdorns him, colour'd with the Florid hueOf Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thusWith Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle,Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day.
The Sixt, and of Creation last aroseWith Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said,Let th' Earth bring forth Foul living in her kinde,Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth,Each in their kinde. The Earth obey'd, and straitOp'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a BirthInnumerous living Creatures, perfet formes,Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up roseAs from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonnsIn Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk'd:The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green:Those rare and solitarie, these in flocksPasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung.The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'dThe Tawnie Lion, pawing to get freeHis hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the MoaleRising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threwIn Hillocks; the swift Stag from under groundBore up his branching head: scarse from his mouldBehemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'dHis vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose,As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and LandThe River Horse and scalie Crocodile.At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fansFor wings, and smallest Lineaments exactIn all the Liveries dect of Summers prideWith spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:These as a line thir long dimension drew,Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not allMinims of Nature; some of Serpent kindeWondrous in length and corpulence involv'dThir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First creptThe Parsimonious Emmet, providentOf future, in small room large heart enclos'd,Pattern of just equalitie perhapsHereafter, join'd in her popular TribesOf Commonaltie: swarming next appeer'dThe Female Bee that feeds her Husband DroneDeliciously, and builds her waxen CellsWith Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless,And thou thir Natures know'st, & gav'st them Names,Needless to thee repeated; nor unknownThe Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field,Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen EyesAnd hairie Main terrific, though to theeNot noxious, but obedient at thy call.Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowldHer motions, as the great first Movers handFirst wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attireConsummate lovly smil'd; Aire, Water, Earth,By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walktFrequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd;There wanted yet the Master work, the endOf all yet don; a Creature who not proneAnd Brute as other Creatures, but endu'dWith Sanctitie of Reason, might erectHis Stature, and upright with Front sereneGovern the rest, self-knowing, and from thenceMagnanimous to correspond with Heav'n,But grateful to acknowledge whence his goodDescends, thither with heart and voice and eyesDirected in Devotion, to adoreAnd worship God Supream, who made him chiefOf all his works; therefore the OmnipotentEternal Father (For where is not heePresent) thus to his Son audibly spake.
Let us make now Man in our image, ManIn our similitude, and let them ruleOver the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.This said, he formd thee, Adam, thee O ManDust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'dThe breath of Life; in his own Image heeCreated thee, in the Image of GodExpress, and thou becam'st a living Soul.Male he created thee, but thy consortFemale for Race; then bless'd Mankinde, and said,Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,Subdue it, and throughout Dominion holdOver Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire,And every living thing that moves on the Earth.Wherever thus created, for no placeIs yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knows'tHe brought thee into this delicious Grove,This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,Delectable both to behold and taste;And freely all thir pleasant fruit for foodGave thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yields,Varietie without end; but of the TreeWhich tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st;Death is the penaltie impos'd, beware,And govern well thy appetite, least sinSurprise thee, and her black attendant Death.Here finish'd hee, and all that he had madeView'd, and behold all was entirely good;So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day:Yet not till the Creator from his workDesisting, though unwearied, up returndUp to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode,Thence to behold this new created WorldTh' addition of his Empire, how it shew'dIn prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,Answering his great Idea. Up he rodeFollowd with acclamation and the soundSymphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'dAngelic harmonies: the Earth, the AireResounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardst)The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung,The Planets in thir station list'ning stood,While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung,Open, ye Heav'ns, your living dores; let inThe great Creator from his work returndMagnificent, his Six days work, a World;Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigneTo visit oft the dwellings of just MenDelighted, and with frequent intercourseThither will send his winged MessengersOn errands of supernal Grace. So sungThe glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n,That open'd wide her blazing Portals, ledTo Gods Eternal house direct the way,A broad and ample rode, whose dust is GoldAnd pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie wayWhich nightly as a circling Zone thou seestPouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the SeventhEev'ning arose in Eden, for the SunWas set, and twilight from the East came on,Forerunning Night; when at the holy mountOf Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal ThroneOf Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,The Filial Power arriv'd, and sate him downWith his great Father (for he also wentInvisible, yet staid (such priviledgeHath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd,Author and end of all things, and from workNow resting, bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day,As resting on that day from all his work,But not in silence holy kept; the HarpHad work and rested not, the solemn Pipe,And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,All sounds on Fret by String or Golden WireTemper'd sort Tunings, intermixt with VoiceChoral or Unison: of incense CloudsFuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount.Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung,Great are thy works, Jehovah, infiniteThy power; what thought can measure thee or tongueRelate thee; greater now in thy returnThen from the Giant Angels; thee that dayThy Thunders magnifi'd; but to createIs greater then created to destroy.Who can impair thee, mighty King, or boundThy Empire? easily the proud attemptOf Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaineThou hast repeld, while impiously they thoughtThee to diminish, and from thee withdrawThe number of thy worshippers. Who seekesTo lessen thee, against his purpose servesTo manifest the more thy might: his evilThou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.Witness this new-made World, another Heav'nFrom Heaven Gate not farr, founded in viewOn the cleer Hyaline, the Glassie Sea;Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr'sNumerous, and every Starr perhaps a WorldOf destind habitation; but thou know'stThir seasons: among these the seat of men,Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd,Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men,And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't,Created in his Image, there to dwellAnd worship him, and in reward to ruleOver his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,And multiply a Race of WorshippersHoly and just: thrice happie if they knowThir happiness, and persevere upright.So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept.And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'dHow first this World and face of things began,And what before thy memorie was donFrom the beginning, that posteritieInformd by thee might know; if else thou seekstAught, not surpassing human measure, say.
