1.1077 But ev'n as many (or more) quarrels cumber1.1078Th' old heathen schools about the heavens' number.1.1079One holds but one; making the world's eyes shine1.1080Through the thin-thickness of that chrystal line,1.1081(As through the ocean's clear and liquid flood1.1082The slippery fishes up and down do scud).1.1083Another, judging certain by his eye,1.1084And, seeing sev'n bright lamps mov'd diversely,1.1085Turn this and that way: and, on th' other side,1.1086That all the rest of the heav'ns' twinkling pride1.1087Keep all one course; ingeniously, he varies1.1088The heav'ns' rich building into eight round stories.1.1089Others, amid the starriest orb, perceiving1.1090A triple cadence, and withal conceiving1.1091That but one natural course one body goes,1.1092Count nine, some ten; not numb'ring yet (with those)1.1093Th' empyreal palace, where th' eternal treasures1.1094Of nectar flow, where everlasting pleasures1.1095Are heaped-up, where an immortal May1.1096In blissful beauties flourisheth for ay,1.1097Where life still lives, where God his sises holds1.1098Environ'd round with seraphins and souls1.1099Bought with his precious blood, whose glorious flight1.1100Erst mounted earth above the heavens bright.1.1101Nor shall my faint and humble Muse presume1.1102So high a song and subject to assume....
THE THIRD DAY OF THE FIRST WEEK (excerpts)2.1017Of men, gold, grain, physic, and fruits and flowers;2.1018Fair, firm, and fruitful, various, patient, sweet,2.1019Sumptuously clothed in a mantle meet2.1020Of mingled-colour; lac'd about with floods,2.1021And all embroider'd with fresh blooming buds,2.1022With rarest gems richly about embost,2.1023Excelling cunning, and exceeding cost.2.1024All-hail great heart, round base, and steadfast root,2.1025Of all the world, the world's strong fixed foot,2.1026Heav'n's chastest spouse, supporter of this all,2.1027This glorious building's goodly pedestal.2.1028All-hail dear mother, sister, hostess, nurse2.1029Of the world's sovereign: of thy liberal purse,2.1030W'are all maintained: matchless emperess,2.1031To do thee service, with all readiness,2.1032The spheres before thee bear ten thousand torches:2.1033The fire, to warm thee, folds his heatful arches2.1034In purest flames above the floating cloud:2.1035Th' air, to refresh thee, willingly is bow'd2.1036About the waves, and well content to suffer2.1037Mild Zephyr's blasts, and Boreas bellowing rougher:2.1038Water, to quench thy thirst, about thy mountains2.1039Wraps her moist arms, seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains....
THE SIXTH DAY OF THE FIRST WEEK (excerpt)3.843In our frail flesh, or buried (as it were)3.844In a dark tomb; yet at one flight she flies3.845From Calpe t'Imaus, from the earth to skies;3.846Much swifter than the chariot of the sun,3.847Which in a day about the world doth run.3.848For, sometimes, leaving these base slimy heaps,3.849With cheerful spring above the clouds she leaps,3.850Glides through the air; and there she learns to know3.851Th' originals of wind, and hail, and snow,3.852Of lightning, thunder, blazing-stars, and storms,3.853Of rain, and ice, and strange exhaled forms.3.854By th' air's steep-stairs, she boldly climbs aloft3.855To the world's chambers: heaven she visits oft,3.856Stage after stage: she marketh all the spheres,3.857And all th' harmonious, various course of theirs:3.858With sure account, and certain compasses,3.859She counts their stars, she metes their distances3.860And differing paces; and, as if she found3.861No subject fair enough in all this round,3.862She mounts above the world's extremest wall,3.863Far, far beyond all things corporeal;3.864Where she beholds her Maker, face to face,3.865(His frowns of justice, and his smiles of grace)3.866The faithful zeal, the chaste and sober port3.867The sacred pomp of the celestial court....
