Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online
Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry
534 | | And every living thing that moves on th’ earth. |
535 | | Wherever thus created, for no place |
536 | | Is yet distinct |
537 | | He brought thee into this delicious grove, |
538 | | This garden, planted with the trees of God, |
539 | | Delectable both to behold and taste, |
540 | | And freely all their pleasant fruit for food |
541 | | Gave thee. All sorts are here that all th’ earth yields, |
542 | | Variety without end. But of the tree |
543 | | Which tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, |
544 | | Thou may’st not. In the day thou eat’st, thou di’st. |
545 | | Death is the penalty imposed. Beware, |
546 | | And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin |
547 | | Surprise thee, and her black attendant, Death. |
548 | | |
549 | | Viewed, and behold all was entirely good. |
550 | | So ev’n and morn accomplished the sixth day. |
551 | | |
552 | | Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, |
553 | | Up to the Heav’n of Heav’ns, His high abode, |
554 | | Thence to behold this new created world, |
555 | | Th’ addition of His empire, how it showed |
556 | | In prospect from His throne, how good, how fair, |
557 | | |
558 | | Followed with acclamation, and the sound |
559 | | Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned |
560 | | Angelic harmonies. The earth, the air |
561 | | Resounded (thou rememb’rest, for thou heard’st) |
562 | | The Heav’ns and all the constellations rung, |
563 | | The planets in their station listening stood, |
564 | | While the bright pomp |
565 | | ‘Open, ye everlasting gates!’ they sung, |
566 | | ‘Open, ye Heav’ns! your living doors! Let in |
567 | | The great Creator from His work returned |
568 | | Magnificent, His six days work, a world! |
569 | | Open, and henceforth oft, for God will deign |
570 | | To visit oft the dwellings of just men, |
571 | | Delighted, and with frequent intercourse |
572 | | Thither will send His wingèd messengers |
573 | | On errands of supernal |
574 | | The glorious train |
575 | | That opened wide her blazing portals, led |
576 | | To God’s eternal house direct the way, |
577 | | A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold |
578 | | And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, |
579 | | Seen in the galaxy, that milky way |
580 | | Which nightly, as a circling zone, |
581 | | Powdered with stars. And now on earth the seventh |
582 | | Ev’ning arose in Eden, for the sun |
583 | | Was set, and twilight from the east came on, |
584 | | Forerunning night, when at the holy mount |
585 | | Of Heav’n’s high-seated top, the imperial throne |
586 | | Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure, |
587 | | The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down |
588 | | With his great Father, for he also went |
589 | | Invisible, yet stayed |
590 | | Hath Omnipresence), and the work ordained, |
591 | | Author and End of all things, and from work |
592 | | Now resting, blessed and hallowed the sev’nth day, |
593 | | As resting on that day from all His work, |
594 | | But not in silence holy kept. The harp |
595 | | Had work and rested not, the solemn pipe, |
596 | | And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, |
597 | | All sounds on fret |
598 | | Tempered |
599 | | Choral or unison. Of incense clouds, |
600 | | Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. |
601 | | Creation and the six days acts they sung: |
602 | | |
603 | | Thy power! What thought can measure Thee, or tongue |
604 | | Relate thee? Greater now in Thy return |
605 | | Than from the giant Angels. Thee that day |
606 | | Thy thunders magnified, but to create |
607 | | Is greater than created |
608 | | |
609 | | Thy empire? Easily the proud attempt |
610 | | Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, |
611 | | Thou hast repelled, while impiously they thought |
612 | | Thee to diminish, and from Thee withdraw |
613 | | The number of Thy worshippers. Who seeks |
614 | | To lessen Thee, against his purpose serves |
615 | | To manifest the more Thy might. His evil |
616 | | Thou usest, and from thence creat’st more good. |
617 | | Witness this new-made world, another Heav’n |
618 | | From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view |
619 | | On the clear hyaline, |
620 | | Of amplitude almost immense, |
621 | | Numerous, and every star perhaps a world |
622 | | Of destined habitation. But thou know’st |
623 | | Their seasons. Among |
624 | | |
625 | | Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men, |
626 | | And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanced! |