Chapter 6 5
Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heavn [ 180 ]
When such was heard declare the Almighties will;
Glorie they sung to the most High, good will
To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:
Glorie to him whose just avenging ire
Had driven out th ungodly from his sight [ 185 ]
And th habits of the just; to him
Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordained
Good out of evil to create, in stead
Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring
Into thir vacant room, and then diffuse [ 190 ]
His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.
So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
On his great Expedition now appeed,
Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown
Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love [195]
Immense, and all his Father in him shon.
About his Chariot numberless were poured
Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots winged,
From the Armory of God, where stand of old [ 200 ]
Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodgd
Against a solemn day, harsh at hand,
Celestial Equipage; and now came forth
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,
Attendant on thir Lord: Heavn opnd wide [ 205 ]
Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound
On golden Hinges moving, to let forth
The King of Glorie in his powerful Word
And Spirit coming to create new Worlds.
On heavily ground they stood, and from the shore [ 210 ]
They viewed the vast immeasurable Abyss
Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,
Up from the bottom turn by furious windes
And surge waves, as Mountains to assault
Heavns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole. [215]
Silence, ye troubld waves, and thou Deep, peace,
Said then th Omnific Word, your discord end:
Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim
Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode
Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn; [ 220 ]
For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine
Followed in bright process to behold
Creation, and the wonders of his might.