Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw His vastness: fleec'd the flocks and bleating rose, The river horse and scaly crocodile. 47 At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 475 480 Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept 485 Of future, in small room large heart inclos'd, And thou their natures know'st, and gav'st them names, The serpent subtlest beast of all the field, T 2 495 And hairy mane terrific, though to thee Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. Now Heav'n in all her glory shone, and roll'd Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand 500 First wheel'd their course; earth in her rich attire Consummate lovely smil'd; air, water, earth, By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walk'd Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remain'd; There wanted yet the master work, the end 505 Of all yet done; a creature who not prone 510 Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes And worship God supreme, who made him chief 515 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 Beast of the field, and over all the earth, the ground. And every creeping thing that creeps 520 525 The breath of life; in his own image he Express, and thou becam❜st a living soul. Male he created thec, but thy consort Female for race; then bless'd mankind, and said, 530 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, And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 540 Gave thee; all sorts are here that all th' earth yields Variety without end; but of the tree, Which tasted works knowledge of good and evil, Thou may'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou dy'st; 545 And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. 550 555 In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, Angelic harmonies: the earth, the air 560 Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st) The Heav'ns and all the constellations rung, 565 Open, ye Heav'ns, your living doors; let in The great Creator from his work return'd Magnificent, his six days' work, a world; Delighted, and with frequent intercourse So sung The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, To God's eternal house direct the way, A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, 570 575 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, Forerunning night; when at the holy mount Of Heav'n's high-scated top, th' imperial throne 585 Of Godhead, fix'd for ever firm and sure, The Filial Pow'r arriv'd, and sat him down Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd, 595 Now resting, bless'd and hallow'd the sev'nth day, As resting on that day from all his work, But not in silence holy kept; the harp 595 600 Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite Thy pow'r; what thought can measure thee, or tongue Relate thee? Greater now in thy return 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 610 Of Spirits apostate and their counsels vain 615 |