The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (49 page)

367		Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet
368		Of charming symphony 2551 they introduce
369		Their sacred song, and waken raptures high.

370

      

No voice exempt, no voice but well could join

371

      

Melodious part, such concord
²⁵⁵²
is in Heav’n.

372

      

   
Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent,

373

      

Immutable, Immortal, Infinite,

374

      

Eternal King, Thee Author of all being,

375

      

Fountain of light, Thyself invisible

376

      

Amidst the glorious brightness where Thou sit’st

377

      

Throned inaccessible, but
²⁵⁵³
when Thou shad’st

378

      

The full blaze of thy beams and, through a cloud

379

      

Drawn round about Thee like a radiant shrine,

380

      

Dark with excessive bright Thy skirts
²⁵⁵⁴
appear,

381

      

Yet
²⁵⁵⁵
dazzle Heav’n, that brightest Seraphim

382

      

Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes.

383

      

Thee
²⁵⁵⁶
next they sang of all creation first,

384

      

Begotten Son, Divine Similitude,

385

      

In whose conspicuous
²⁵⁵⁷
count’nance, without cloud

386

      

Made visible, the Almighty Father shines,

387

      

Whom else no creature can behold. On thee

388

      

Impressed
²⁵⁵⁸
the effulgence
²⁵⁵⁹
of His glory abides,

389

      

Transfused on thee His ample
²⁵⁶⁰
Spirit rests.

390

      

He Heav’n of Heav’ns and all the Powers therein

391

      

By thee created; and by thee threw down

392

      

Th’ aspiring Dominations.
²⁵⁶¹
Thou that day

393

      

Thy Father’s dreadful thunder didst not spare,

394

      

Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook

395

      

Heav’n’s everlasting frame, while o’er the necks

396

      

Thou drov’st of warring Angels disarrayed.

397

      

Back from pursuit, thy Powers
²⁵⁶²
with loud acclaim

398

      

Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father’s might,

399

      

To execute fierce vengeance on His foes,

400

      

Not so on man. Him through their
²⁵⁶³
malice fallen,

401

      

Father of mercy and grace, Thou didst not doom
²⁵⁶⁴

402

      

So strictly, but much more to pity inclined.

403

      

No sooner did Thy dear and only Son

404

      

Perceive Thee purposed not to doom frail man

405

      

So strictly, but much more to pity inclined,

406

      

He to appease Thy wrath, and end the strife

407

      

Of mercy and justice in Thy face discerned,

408

      

Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat

409

      

Second to Thee, offered himself to die

410

      

For man’s offence. O unexampled love,

411

      

Love nowhere to be found less than Divine!

412

      

Hail, Son of God, Savior of men! Thy name

413

      

Shall be the copious matter of my song

414

      

Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise

415

      

Forget, nor from thy Father’s praise disjoin.
²⁵⁶⁵

416

      

   
Thus they in Heav’n, above the starry sphere,

417

      

Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent.

418

      

   
Meanwhile, upon the firm opacious
²⁵⁶⁶
globe

419

      

Of this round world, whose first convex
²⁵⁶⁷
divides

420

      

The luminous inferior orbs, enclosed
²⁵⁶⁸

421

      

From Chaos and th’ inroad
²⁵⁶⁹
of Darkness old,

422

      

Satan alighted walks. A globe far off

423

      

It seemed, now seems a boundless continent

424

      

Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night

425

      

Starless exposed, and ever-threat’ning storms

426

      

Of Chaos blust’ring round, inclement
²⁵⁷⁰
sky,

427

      

Save on that side which from the wall of Heav’n,

428

      

Though distant far, some small reflection gains

429

      

Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud.

430

      

Here walked the fiend at large
²⁵⁷¹
in spacious field.

431

      

As when a vulture on Imaus
²⁵⁷²
bred,

432

      

Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds,
²⁵⁷³

433

      

Dislodging
²⁵⁷⁴
from a region scarce of prey

434

      

To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling
²⁵⁷⁵
kids,

435

      

On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs
²⁵⁷⁶

436

      

Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams,

437

      

But in
²⁵⁷⁷
his way lights
²⁵⁷⁸
on the barren plains

438

      

Of Sericana,
²⁵⁷⁹
where Chineses drive

439

      

With sails and wind their cany
²⁵⁸⁰
waggons light.
²⁵⁸¹

440

      

So on this windy sea of land, the fiend

441

      

Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey—

442

      

Alone, for other creature in this place,

443

      

Living or lifeless, to be found was none,

444

      

None yet, but store
²⁵⁸²
hereafter from the earth

445

      

Up hither like aereal vapors flew

446

      

Of all things transitory and vain, when Sin

447

      

With vanity had filled the works of men:

448

      

Both all things vain, and all who in vain things

449

      

Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame,

450

      

Or
²⁵⁸³
happiness in this or th’ other life,

451

      

All who have their reward on earth, the fruits

452

      

Of painful superstition and blind zeal,

453

      

Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find

454

      

Fit retribution, empty as their deeds.

455

      

All th’ unaccomplished
²⁵⁸⁴
works of Nature’s hand,

456

      

Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly
²⁵⁸⁵
mixed,