Adorns him, colour'd with the florid hue Of rainbows and ftarry' eyes. The waters thus 445 With ev'ning harps and matin; when God faid, 450 Among the trees in pairs they rofe, they walk'd; Those rare and folitary, thefe in flocks Pafturing at once, and in broad herds upfprung.. 455 460 464 His hinder parts, then fprings as broke from bonds,. The river-horfe and fcally crocodile. 47 At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 475 In all the liveries deck'd of fummer's pride, These as a line their long dimenfion drew, Of future, in fmall room large heart inclos'd, 480 485 And thou their natures know'ft, and gav'ft them names, Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown The ferpent, fubtlest beast of all the field, 495 Of huge extent fometimes, with brazen eyes And hairy mane terrific, though to thee Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. Now heaven in all her glory fhone, and roll'd Nor motions, as the great first Mover's hand 500 First wheel'd their courfe; earth in her rich attire Confummate lovely fmil'd; air, water, earth, By fowl, fish, beaft, was flown, was fwum, was walk'd Frequent; and of the fixth day yet remain'd: There wanted yet the mafter-work, the end 105 Of all yet done; a creature, who not prone His ftature, and upright with front ferene Govern the reft, felf-knowing, and from thence 510 Magnanimous to correfpond with heaven, And worship God fupreme, who made him chief 515 Of all his works: therefore th' Omnipotent Eternal Father (for where is not he Prefent) thus to his Son audibly fpake. Let us make now man in our image, man In our fimilitude, and let them rule Over the fish and fowl of fea and air, Beaft of the field, and over all the earth, 520 And every creeping thing that creeps the ground, Female for race; then blefs'd mankind, and said, 530 And every living thing that moves on th' earth, Is yet diftinct by name, thence, as thou know'it, He brought thee into this delicious grove, This garden, planted with the trees of God, 535 And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 540 Gave thee; all forts are here that all th' earth yields, Variety without end; but of the tree, Which tafted works knowledge of good and evil, Thou may'st not; in the day thou eat'ft, thou dy't; Death is the penalty impos'd; beware, And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. 545 So ev❜n and morn accomplish'd the fixth dạy: In profpect from his throne, how good, how fair, 550 555 Follow'd with acclamation, and the found Symphonious of ten thoufand harps that tun'd Angelic harmonies: the earth, the air 560 Refounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st), The heavens and all the constellations rung, 565 570 On errands of fupernal grace! So fung The glorious train afcending. He thro' heaven, 575 To God's eternal house direct the way; A broad and ample road, whofe duft is gold, And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou feeft 580 Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the feventh Ev'ning arofe in Eden; for the fun Was fet, and twilight from the east came on, Forerunning night; when at the holy mount With his 585 Of Heaven's high feated top, th' imperial throne : Fuming from golden cenfers, hid the mount. 590 595 600 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 605 Thy thunders magnify'd; but to create Is greater than created to destroy. Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound Of fpi'rits apoftate, and their counfels vain, 610 The number of thy worfhippers. Who feeks 615 |