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 Birth-day of heav'n and earth; with joy and shout 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, Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide 265 270 Crystallin ocean, and the loud misrule Of Chaos far remov'd, lest fierce extremes For haste; such flight the great command imprest Of trumpet, (for of armies thou hast heard,) 275 280 285 290 295 300 With serpent error wand'ring, found their way, And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' earth He scarce had said, when the bare earth, till then 305 310 316 Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown, Forth flourish'd thick the clustering vine, forth crept The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed 321 302 serpent] See Strabo, ix. 424. Ap. Rhod. iv. 1541. Davies ad Cic. de Nat. Deor. ii. 42. Solin. Polyhist. cxxiv. 4. x. Virg. Georg. i. 244. Senecæ Thyestes, 869. Peele's Works by Dyce, ii. 11, ed. 1829: and Sandys' Psalms, p. 170. 'With snake-like glide between the bordering hills.' 302 wand'ring] Winding. ii. 56. Bentl. MS. 321 swelling] See Le Api de Ruscellai, v. 460. "E dir ci come col gonfiato ventre L'idropica cucurbita s'ingrossi.' and Milton's Prose Works, vi. p. 388. The tumid pumpkin.' 321 corny] Virg. Æn. iii. 22. 'Quo cornea summo Virgulta, et densis hastilibus horrida myrtus.' Hume. Embattle'd in her field; and th' humble shrub, Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemm'd Their blossoms: with high woods the hills were crown'd; 326 With tufts the valleys and each fountain side; dwell, Or wander with delight, and love to haunt Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd Again th' Almighty spake: Let there be lights The day from night; and let them be for signs, Their office in the firmament of heaven 336 340 To give light on the earth; and it was so. 345 And God made two great lights, great for their use 350 |