None was, but from the earth a dewy mist Went up and water'd all the ground, and each Plant of the field, which, ere it was in th' earth, God made, and ev'ry herb, before it grew 336 On the green stem; God saw that it was good: So ev❜n and morn recorded the third day. Again th' Almighty spake, Let there be lights High in th' expanse of Heav'n, to divide 340 The day from night; and let them be for signs, For seasons, and for days, and circling years; And let them be for lights, as I ordain Their office in the firmament of Heav'n, To give light on the earth: and it was so. 345 And God made two great lights, great for their use 350 To Man; the greater to have rule by day, A mighty sphere, he fram'd, unlightsome first, And sow'd with stars the Heav'n thick as a field : Of light by far the greater part he took, Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and plac'd In the sun's orb, made porous to receive 361 And drink the liquid light, firm to retain Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, 365 First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, 370 His longitude through Heav'n's high road. The grey Dawn and the Pleiades before him danc'd, And God said, Let the waters generate Display'd on th' open firmament of Heav'n. 390 And God created the great whales, and each Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously The waters generated by their kinds, And ev'ry bird of wing after his kind; And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, say 、ing, 395 Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, groves Of coral stray, or sporting with quick glance, 405 Their brood as num'rous hatch, from th' egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd Their callow young, but feather'd soon and fledge They summ'd their pens, and soaring th' air sublime, 421 With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud Their aery caravan high over seas Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing, 429 Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air Floats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes. From branch to branch the smaller birds with song Solac'd the woods, and spread their painted wings Till ev'n, nor then the solemn nightingale 435 Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays : Others on silver lakes and rivers bath'd Their downy breast. The swan with arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit 440 The dank, and rising on stiff pennons, tow'r The mid aëreal sky: others on ground Walk'd firm. sounds The crested cock, whose clarion 445 The silent hours, and th' other whose gay train 449 The sixth, and of creation last, arose With ev'ning harps and matin, when God said, Let th' earth bring forth soul-living in her kind, Cattle and creeping things, and beast of th' earth, Each in their kind. The earth obey'd; and straight Op'ning her fertile womb, teem'd at a birth Innum'rous living creatures, perfect forms, 455 Limb'd and full grown. Out of the ground up rose As from his lair the wild beast, where he wons Past'ring at once, and in broad herds upsprung. His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, 465 Andrampant shakes his brinded mane: theounce, The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw In hillocs: the swift stag from under ground 469 Bare up his branching head: scarce from his mould |