Behemoth, biggest born of earth, unheav'd His vastness; fleec'd the flocks and bleeting rose, 475 At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 480 Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept 485 Of future, in small room large heart enclos'd, And thou their natures know'st, and gav'st them names, Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. "Now Heav'n in all her glory shone, and roll'd By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walk'd 495 500 505 And brute as other creatures, but endued 510 Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes, And worship God supreme, who made him chief 515 Of all his works: therefore th' Omnipotent Eternal Father (for where is not he Present?) thus to his son audibly spake. ""Let us make now Man in our image, Man In our similitude, and let them rule 520 Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, Beast of the field, and over all the earth, And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.' This said, he form'd thee, Adam, thee, O Man, Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd 525 The breath of life; in his own image he Created thee, in the image of God' Express, and thou becam❜st a living soul. Male he created thee, but thy consort Female for race; then bless'd mankind, and said, 530 Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, And every living thing that moves on th' earth. 535 Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st, He brought thee into this delicious grove, This garden, planted with the trees of God, And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 540 Gave thee; all sorts are here that all th' earth yields Which tasted works knowledge of good and evil, And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. Here finish'd he, and all that he had made 545 550 555 Answering his great idea. Up he rode, Follow'd with acclamation and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand harps that tun'd 560 Open, ye Heav'ns, your living doors; let in Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st) 565 570 Delighted, and with frequent intercourse On errands of supernal grace.' So sung The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, 575 A broad and ample road whose dust is gold Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest 580 Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the seventh Evening arose in Eden, for the sun Was set, and twilight from the east came on, Of Heav'n's high-seated top, th' imperial throne 585 Of Godhead, fix'd for ever firm and sure, The Filial Pow'r arriv'd, and sat him down With his great Father, for he also went Invisible, yet stay'd (such privilege Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd, 590 Author and end of all things, and from work, Now resting, bless'd and hallow'd the seventh day 595 As resting on that day from all his work, Thy pow'r; what thought can measure thee, or tongue Relate thee? greater now in thy return 600 Than from the giant Angels; thee that day 605 Thy thunders magnify'd; but to create Is greater than, created, to destroy. Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound Of Spirits apostate and their counsels vain 610 To manifest the more thy might: his evil Thou usest, and from thence creatʼst more good. 615 Of amplitude almost immense, with stars 620 Their seasons: among these the seat of Men, Earth with her nether ocean circumfus'd, Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, 625 And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanc'd, And worship him, and in reward to rule 530 "So sung they, and the empyréan rung 635 And what before thy memory was done From the beginning, that posterity Inform'd by thee might know; if else thou seek'st 640 END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK. |