Chapter 10 9
Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by,
For regal Scepter then no more shall need, [ 340 ]
God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods,
Adore him, who to compass all this dies,
Adore the Son, and honor him as mee.
No sooner had th Almighty ceast, but all
The multitude of Angels with a shout [ 345 ]
Loud as from numbers without number, sweet
As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heavn rung
With Jubilee, and loud Hosannas filld
Th eternal Regions: lowly reverent
Towards either Throne they bow, and to the ground [ 350 ]
With solemn adoration down they cast
Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold,
Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once
In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life
Began to bloom, but soon for mans offense [ 355 ]
To Heavn removed where first it grew, there grows,
And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life,
And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn
Rowls ore Elisian Flours her Amber stream;
With these that never fade the Spirits elect [ 360 ]
Bind thir resplendent locks inwreathd with beams,
Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the bright
Pavement that like a Sea of Jaspershon
Impurpld with Celestial Roses smild.
Then Crownd again thir golden Harps they took, [ 365 ]
Harps ever tund, that glittering by thir side
Like Quivers hung, and with Praamble sweet
Of charming symphonie they introduce
Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;
No voice exempt, no voice but well could join [ 370 ]
Melodious part, such concord is in Heavn.
Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent,
Immutable, Immortal, Infinite,
Eternal King; thee Author of all being,
Fountain of Light, thy self invisible [ 375 ]
Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sitst
Thrond inaccessible, but when thou shadst
The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud
Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine,
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer, [ 380 ]
Yet dazle Heavn, that brightest Seraphim
Approach not, but with both wings veil thir eyes,
Thee next they sang of all Creation first,
Begotten Son, Divine Similitude,
In whose conscious countnance, without cloud [ 385 ]
Made visible, th Almighty Father shines,
Whom else no Creature can behold; on thee
Impress the effect of his Glorie bides,
Transfusd on thee his sample Spirit rests.