Side 152 af 239

181

The glorious train ascending. He, through heaven, That opened wide her blazing portals, led To God's eternal house direct the way-A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest Powdered 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 heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne Of Godhead fixed for ever firm and sure, The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down With his great Father, for He also went Invisible, yet stayed—such privilege Hath Omnipresence—and the work ordained, Author and end of all things: and, from work Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day, As resting on that day from all his work. But not in silence holy kept: the harp Had work, and rested not; the solemn pipe, And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, All sounds on fret by string or golden wire, Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice Choral or unison: of incense clouds, Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. Creation and the six days' acts they sung: Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite Thy power! what thought can measure Thee, or tongue Relate Thee? Greater now in thy return Than from the giant Angels. Thee that day Thy thunders magnified; but to create Is greater than, created, to destroy. Who can impair Thee, Mighty King, or bound Thy empire? Easily the proud attempt

Воок VII.-610-640] Of spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw The number of thy worshipers. Who seeks To lessen Thee, against his purpose serves To manifest the more thy might: his evil Thou usest, and from thence createst more good. Witness this new-made world, another heaven, From Heaven-gate not far, founded, in view, On the clear hyaline,1 the glassy sea; Of amplitude almost immense, with stars Numerous, and every star, perhaps, a world Of destined habitation; but thou know'st Their seasons. Among these the seat of men, Earth with her nether ocean circumfused, Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanced! Created in His image there to dwell And worship him; and in reward to rule Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, And multiply a race of worshippers Holy and just; thrice happy, if they know

Their happiness, and persevere upright!

So sung they, and the Empyrean rung

With hallelujahs: thus was Sabbath kept.

And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked

How first this world and face of things began,

And what before thy memory was done

From the beginning, that posterity,

Informed by thee, might know—if else thou seek'st

Aught not surpassing human measure, say.

"Hyaline, -Gr., glass, the glassy sea.