Book 7: Raphael tells us how the world was created

THE ARGUMENT.—Raphael, at the request of Adam, relates how and wherefore this World was first created:—that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven, declared his pleasure to create another World, and other creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with glory, and attendance of Angels, to perform the work of creation in six days: the Angels celebrate with hymns the performance thereof, and his reascension into Heaven.

tl;dr after Satan and his angels go to Hell... God and his Son go to work to create our world.

 

Text		tl;dr
DESCEND from Heaven, Urania, by that name		Come on down, Urania!
If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine
Following, above the Olympian hill I soar,
Above the flight of Pegasean wing!
The meaning, not the name, I call; for thou	5	I'm calling on you for
Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top		some inspiration to help me write this next book.
Of old Olympus dwell’st; but, heavenly—born,
Before the hills appeared or fountain flowed,		Although you aren't one of the nine Muses, or one of the Olympian Gods... you were still born in Heaven.
Thou with Eternal Wisdom didst converse,		Before the world was even created,
Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play	10	you were there. Both you and your sister Wisdom hung out with each other and sang.
In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased
With thy celestial song. Up led by thee,		I need your guidance and leadership
Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed,		because I'd like to visit Heaven for a time.
An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air,
Thy tempering. With like safety guided down,	15	And I need your same guidance to lead me back to Earth too.
Return me to my native element;
Lest, from this flying steed unreined (as once
Bellerophon, though from a lower clime)
Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall,
Erroneous there to wander and forlorn.	20
Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound		So far, I've only told half of the story I'd like to tell.
Within the visible Diurnal Sphere.
Standing on Earth, not rapt above the pole,
More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged		The rest of the story takes place here on Earth. Because as a poet
To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days,	25	I feel more comfortable speaking about Earthly matters,
On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues,		rather than the Heavenly ones. Down here on Earth
In darkness, and with dangers compassed round,		I have many personal issues and dark days around me.
And solitude; yet not alone, while thou
Visit’st my slumbers nightly, or when Morn		If you didn't know, I'm blind. (Physically and figuratively)
Purples the East. Still govern thou my song,	30	But I know I'm not alone, because you (Urania) come to me in my dreams to inspire me to keep telling this story.
Urania, and fit audience find, though few.
But drive far off the barbarous dissonance		This story isn't for everyone though, especially not for the clumsy and barbaric minded.
Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race
Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian Bard
In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears	35
To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned
Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend
Her son. So fail not thou who thee implores;
For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream.
Say, Goddess, what ensued when Raphael,	40	Anyways, let's keep talking about
The affable Archangel, had forewarned		what else the Archangel Raphael told Adam.
Adam, by dire example, to beware
Apostasy, by what befell in Heaven		Especially the warning for Adam
To those apostates, lest the like befall
In Paradise to Adam or his race,	45	and how what happened to Satan and his rebel Angels
Charged not to touch the interdicted Tree,
If they transgress, and slight that sole command,
So easily obeyed amid the choice		could happen to Adam if he ever touches the Forbidden Tree.
Of all tastes else to please their appetite,
Though wandering. He, with his consorted Eve,	50
The story heard attentive, and was filled		Adam and Even listened closely and carefully.
With admiration and deep muse, to hear		They were fascinated and interested in
Of things so high and strange—things to their thought		hearing about new and different aspects of Heaven.
So unimaginable as hate in Heaven,		Even about how hate could grow from within Heaven,
And was so near the peace of God in bliss,	55
With such confusion; but the evil, soon		and going to the point of war.
Driven back, redounded as a flood on those
From whom it sprung, impossible to mix
With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed		Adam was so impressed with the story that
The doubts that in his heart arose; and, now	60	he became eager to learn even more,
Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know
What nearer might concern him—how this World		especially about how
Of heaven and earth conspicuous first began;
When, and whereof, created; for what cause;		and why the world was even created in the first place.
What within Eden, or without, was done	65
Before his memory—as one whose drouth,		And most of,
Yet scarce allayed, still eyes the current stream,		what happened before he was even born.
Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
Proceeded thus to ask his Heavenly Guest:—		Adam said to Raphael,
“Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,	70	"Your story is music to our ears,
Far differing from this World, thou hast revealed,		it's all so wonderful to learn.
Divine Interpreter! by favour sent		We thank God for sending you to us,
Down from the Empyrean to forewarn
Us timely of what might else have been our loss,		You have warned us about issues we
Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach;	75	wouldn't have known anything about.
For which to the infinitely Good we owe		We own you and God one!
Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
Receive with solemn purpose to observe		Knowing all this, we are
Immutably his sovran will, the end		more determined to continue to obey God's will.
Of what we are. But, since thou hast voutsafed	80
Gently, for our instruction, to impart		Since you have be so kind to teach us
Things above Earthly thought, which yet concerned		all of this,
Our knowing, as to highest Wisdom seemed,		I was wondering if you could tell us
Deign to descend now lower, and relate		more about other things that could be relevant to our knowledge.
What may no less perhaps avail us known—	85
How first began this Heaven which we behold		Like, how
Distant so high, with moving fires adorned		did the sky with all the stars in it happen?
Innumerable; and this which yields or fills
All space, the ambient Air, wide interfused,		And what about the air? And how it flows everywhere?
Imbracing round this florid Earth; what cause	90
Moved the Creator, in his holy rest		Most of all, what inspired the Creator in the first place,
Through all eternity, so late to build
In Chaos; and, the work begun, how soon		at whatever particular time it was, to create all of this. How long did it take?
Absolved: if unforbid thou may’st unfold		If you're allowed to even tell us all this,
What we not to explore the secrets ask	95	we'd love to know.
Of his eternal empire, but the more		I know we sound a little nosy, but the more we know about his creation and context
To magnify his works the more we know.		the more we can truly admire him and his works. Knowledge is power amiright??
And the great Light of Day yet wants to run		I bet daylight will even
Much of his race, though steep. Suspense in heaven		slow down the coming of night so you have enough time to tell us everything.
Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he hears	100
And longer will delay, to hear thee tell
His generation, and the rising birth
Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:
Or, if the Star of Evening and the Moon		And if night does come, I'm sure
Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring	105	everything will quiet down
Silence, and Sleep listening to thee will watch;		to hear your story. Even Sleep, will wait...
Or we can bid his absence till thy song		we'll even tell Sleep to hold on a second until you finish
End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine.”		your story!"
Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought;
And thus the godlike Angel answered mild:—	110	The Angel Raphael responded,
“This also thy request, with caution asked,		"You have asked, and you shall receive!
Obtain; though to recount Almighty works
What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,		Although, I must warn you... it'll be hard for me to describe a few things
Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?		as I'll need to put it in a way that your mortal minds could understand what God has done.
Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve	115
To glorify the Maker, and infer		God did tell me to answer any questions you may have
Thee also happier, shall not be withheld		because it would make you happier and more appreciative of him.
Thy hearing. Such commission from above
I have received, to answer thy desire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain	120	I do have to caveat, that some things are off-limits.
To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope		They are just none of your business and none of your concern.
Things not revealed, which the invisible King,
Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night,
To none communicable in Earth or Heaven,
Enough is left besides to search and know;	125
But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less		Put it this way, knowledge is like food
Her temperance over appetite, to know		and when you try to eat too much of it
In measure what the mind may well contain;		it turns into irrelevance and does nothing to fulfill your actual needs.
Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns		Excessiveness is never good. Because that food will turn into excessive farts lol
Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.	130
“Know then that, after Lucifer from Heaven		Anyways, so after Lucifer
(So call him, brighter once amidst the host
Of Angels then that star the stars among)
Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep		and his rebel angels fell into the depths of Hell...
Into his place, and the great Son returned	135	and the Son of God returned victorious...
Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent		God looked at it all and said,
Eternal Father from his Throne beheld
Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake:—
“‘At least our envious foe hath failed, who thought		'Satan really thought
All like himself rebellious; by whose aid	140	everyone would agree with his poisonous thoughts and lies.
This inaccessible high strength, the seat		He thought he would take over our Heavenly Kingdom, but he failed.
Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed,
He trusted to have seized, and into fraud
Drew many whom their place knows here no more.		All those angels that happened to follow him, have left this place and followed him to Hell.
Yet far the greater part have kept, I see,	145	Here I see many of you have kept better reasoning,
Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains		and you belong here in Heaven to perform your Heavenly and holy duties.
Number sufficient to possess her realms,
Though wide, and this high temple to frequent
With ministeries due and solemn rites.
But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm	150	I absolutely do not want Satan to think he
Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven—		has won by shaving off a large chunk of our numbers in Heaven.
My damage fondly deemed—I can repair		It's no big deal to me as I can always create more,
That detriment, if such it be to lose		and it's not much of a loss to lose those who were already lost in their minds.
Self-lost, and in a moment will create
Another world; out of one man a race	155	It only takes a moment for me to create something new, perhaps a new world. Maybe a new race that comes from a single man.
Of men innumerable, there to dwell,
Not here, till, by degrees of merit raised,		This human race can live in a world
They open to themselves at length the way		until they can eventually prove themselves
Up hither, under long obedience tried,		worthy to come to Heaven.
And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth,	160	That way Heaven and Earth can merge into a
One kingdom, joy and union without end.		single perfect kingdom.
Meanwhile inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven;
And thou, my Word, begotten Son, by thee		My Son, through you and your holiness, I will begin creation.
This I perform; speak thou, and be it done!		Just say the words and I'll make it happen.
My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee	165	My spirit and might will be with you always
I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep		so go forth and
Within appointed bounds be heaven and earth.
Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill		fill the void of chaos with this new world. For the void in chaos was never empty, it was filled with my presence too.
Infinitude; nor vacuous the space,
Though I, uncircumscribed, myself retire,	170
And put not forth my goodness, which is free		I'm creating this world out of my own free will too.'
To act or not. Necessity and Chance
Approach not me, and what I will is Fate.’
“So spake the Almighty; and to what he spake		These were God's words,
His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.	175	and his Son went ahead to execute on his words himself.
Immediate are the acts of God, more swift		God's actions are faster than time and motion,
Than time or motion, but to human ears		and I need to describe it for your human ears in terms that you can understand.
Cannot without process’ of speech be told,
So told as earthly notion can receive.
Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven	180	The angels in Heaven were excited and happy to hear about God's plan.
When such was heard declared the Almighty’s will.
Glory they sung to the Most High, goodwill		They wished goodwill and peace to
To future men, and in their dwellings peace—		future men
Glory to Him whose just avenging ire		and praised God for
Had driven out the ungodly from his sight	185	turning an evil situation into something good.
And the habitations of the just; to Him		He has essentially replaced all the bad angels with something better that will last for generations and generations.
Glory and praise whose wisdom had ordained
Good out of evil to create—instead
Of Spirits malign, a better Race to bring
Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse	190
His good to worlds and ages infinite.		The Son of God began to get ready.
“So sang the Hierarchies. Meanwhile the Son
On his great expedition now appeared,
Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned
Of majesty divine, sapience and love	195
Immense; and all his Father in him shon.
About his chariot numberless were poured		Thousands of angels surrounded his chariot to see him off.
Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged
From the armoury of God, where stand of old	200
Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged
Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand,		More chariots came out of storage, they were awaiting a day like this to arrive so they could finally be used.
Celestial equipage; and now came forth		They came out of storage by themselves, being driven by spirits.
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived,
Attendant on their Lord. Heaven opened wide	205	Heaven's gates opened wide.
Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound
On golden hinges moving, to let forth
The King of Glory, in his powerful Word
And Spirit coming to create new worlds.
On Heavenly ground they stood, and from the shore	210
They viewed the vast immeasurable Abyss,		From there they could see the endless, dark abyss below them.
Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild,		It looked like a restless sea in a storm.
Up from the bottom turned by furious winds
And surging waves, as mountains to assault
Heaven’s highth, and with the centre mix the pole.	215
“‘Silence, ye troubled waves, and, thou Deep, peace!’
Said then the omnific Word: ‘your discord end!’		The Son, with God's voice, told everything in vastness of space to be quiet.
Nor stayed; but, on the wings of Cherubim		Everything went silent, and
Uplifted, in paternal glory rode		the Son rode out on his chariot which was carried by angels.
Far into Chaos and the World unborn;	220
For Chaos heard his voice. Him all his train		More angels followed him to
Followed in bright procession, to behold
Creation, and the wonders of his might.		witness the creation firsthand.
Then stayed the fervid wheels, and in his hand
He took the golden compasses, prepared	225	The Son took out a golden compass,
In God’s eternal store, to circumscribe
This Universe, and all created things.
One foot he centred, and the other turned		he centered one point of it
Round through the vast profundity obscure,		and turned the other one around through the obscure darkness.
And said, ‘Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds;	230	The Son said, "this will be the edge of the universe."
This be thy just circumference, O World!
Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth,		Here God created the Heavens and the Earth,
Matter unformed and void. Darkness profound		but it was still an unformed mass of watery STUFF.
Covered the Abyss; but on the watery calm
His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread,	235	The spirit of God stretched out wings to
And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth,		cover and give warmth to this mass of watery STUFF.
Throughout the fluid mass, but downward purged
The black, tartareous, cold, infernal dregs,		He did his best to get rid of the dirty bits that were useless,
Adverse to life; then founded, then conglobed,		and he mixed up the important bits
Like things to like, the rest to several place	240
Disparted, and between spun out the Air,		to create the elements. Which he separated with air.
And Earth, self-balanced, on her centre hung.		The earth was in the middle of it all, floating by itself without any support.
“‘Let there be Light!” said God; and forthwith Light		God said, "Let there be light!"
Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure,
Sprung from the Deep, and from her native East	245
To journey through the aery gloom began,
Sphered in a radiant cloud—for yet the Sun		A sun appeared, held up by a radiant cloud. It wasn't fully lit yet.
Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle
Sojourned the while. God saw the Light was good;		God saw this and was pleased with it all.
And light from darkness by the hemisphere	250
Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night,		From there he called it Day,
He named. Thus was the first Day even and morn;		and made it separate from the darkness, which he in turn called Night.
Nor passed uncelebrated, nor unsung		This was the first day.
By the celestial quires, when orient light
Exhaling first from darkness they beheld,	255
Birth-day of Heaven and Earth. With joy and shout		That evening, the angels shouted with joy and excitement.
The hollow universal orb they filled,
And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised
God and his works; Creator him they sung,
Both when first evening was, and when first morn.	260	They sang again when the first morning ever came.
“Again God said, ‘Let there be firmament		God said, "Let there be sky."
Amid the waters, and let it divide
The waters from the waters!’ And God made		And God made the blue sky that
The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,
Transparent, elemental air, diffused	265
In circuit to the uttermost convex		separated the chaos of space from Earth.
Of this great round—partition firm and sure,
The waters underneath from those above
Dividing; for as Earth, so he the World
Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide	270
Crystallin ocean, and the loud misrule
Of Chaos far removed, lest fierce extremes
Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:
And Heaven he named the Firmament. So even		He named this particular place Heaven.
And morning chorus sung the second Day.	275	The angels sang in the evening of the second day, and the following morning.
“The Earth was formed, but, in the womb as yet		This was the earth, but
Of waters, embryon immature, involved,		there wasn't any life on it yet.
Appeared not; over all the face of Earth
Main ocean flowed, not idle, but, with warm		The water was there, which would
Prolific humour softening all her globe,	280	help
Fermented the great Mother to conceive,		things to grow later on.
Satiate with genial moisture; when God said,
‘Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven,		God said, "Now, let the water form into the oceans so
Into one place, and let dry land appear!’		dry land can appear!"
Immediately the mountains huge appear	285	Big mountains rose up toward the sky from the earth,
Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave		and deep valleys sunk down to hold the water in place.
Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky.
So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low
Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,
Capacious bed of waters. Thither they	290
Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowled,		Everything happened simultaneously, and fast.
As drops on dust conglobing, from the dry:
Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct,		Water ran down ridges and
For haste; such flight the great command impressed		slopes like an army
On the swift floods. As armies at the call	295	responding to a call.
Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard)
Troop to their standard, so the watery throng,
Wave rowling after wave, where way they found—		The water went everywhere it could fit,
If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain,		cascading down steep hills and mountains,
Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill;	300
But they, or underground, or circuit wide		underground,
With serpent error wandering, found their way,		and even criss-crossing like a snake.
And on the washy ooze deep channels wore:
Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry,		God called the dry land 'earth,'
All but within those banks where rivers now	305
Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train.
The dry land Earth, and the great receptacle
Of congregated waters he called Seas;		and the larger bodies of water 'seas.'
And saw that it was good, and said, ‘Let the Earth		He was satisfied with all of this and said,
Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed,	310	"Let there be grass, herbs, and
And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind,		fruit trees,
Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth!’		and let their seeds continue to spread
He scarce had said when the bare Earth, till then		so there will be more of them to grow."
Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorned,		After saying this,
Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad	315	the grass grew all over,
Her universal face with pleasant green;		herbs and flowers shot up
Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered,		spreading
Opening their various colours, and made gay
Her bosom, smelling sweet; and, these scarce blown,		their smells and sweet perfumes.
Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept	320	Thick vines spread about,
The smelling gourd, up stood the corny reed		reeds,
Imbattled in her field: add the humble shrub,		shrubs, and bushes popped up.
And bush with frizzled hair implicit: last
Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread		Then trees rose up
Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed	325	and spread their branches.
Their blossoms. With high woods the hills were crowned,
With tufts the valleys and each fountain-side,		The valleys and hills were full of
With borders long the rivers, that Earth now		woods, and there were plentiful flowers and herbs everywhere bordering the rivers and lakes.
Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where gods might dwell,		The earth was now comparable to Heaven.
Or wander with delight, and love to haunt	330
Her sacred shades; though God had yet not rained		God hadn't created rain showers yet.
Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground		and there. was nobody around to directly tend to the growth.
None was, but from the Earth a dewy mist		So God made a mist rise from the ground to
Went up and watered all the ground, and each		shower water on everything green.
Plant of the field, which ere it was in the Earth	335
God made, and every herb before it grew
On the green stem. God saw that it was good;		God saw all this and was satisfied,
So even and morn recorded the third Day.		it was the end of the third day.
“Again the Almighty spake, ‘Let there be Lights		God said, "Let there be lights in the sky,
High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide	340
The Day from Night; and let them be for signs,		that will shine on the Earth and create
For seasons, and for days, and circling years;		seasons, days, and years."
And let them be for lights, as I ordain
Their office in the firmament of heaven,
To give light on the Earth!’ and it was so.	345
And God made two great Lights, great for their use		God made the concept of daylight, nightlight, and
To Man, the greater to have rule by day,
The less by night, alternor; and made the Stars,		the stars in the sky.
And set them in the firmament of heaven
To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day	350
In their vicissitude, and rule the night,
And light from darkness to divide. God saw,
Surveying his great work, that it was good:		After seeing that everything was looking good so far,
For, of celestial bodies, first the Sun		he finished forming the Sun
A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first,	355
Though of ethereal mould; then formed the Moon		and created the Moon too, they just weren't lit up yet.
Globose, and every magnitude of Stars,
And sowed with stars the heaven thick as a field.		He dotted the sky with stars of all sizes,
Of light by far the greater part he took,		and put most of the light into the Sun.
Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed	360
In the Sun’s orb, made porous to receive
And drink the liquid light, firm to retain		The sun would refill the other stars in the sky with its light.
Her gathered beams, great palace now of Light.		like a watering fountain for stars to drink.
Hither, as to their fountain, other stars
Repairing, in their golden urns draw light,	365
And hence the morning planet gilds her horns;
By tincture or reflection they augment		The other planets in the solar system would just reflect the
Their small peculiar, though, from human sight		sun's light to
So far remote, with diminution seen.		make them seem bigger than they are, but still look small if you're looking at them from earth.
First in his east the glorious lamp was seen,	370	The Sun as we know it appeared in the east,
Regent of day, and all the horizon round		and moved across the sky.
Invested with bright rays, jocond to run
His longitude through heaven’s high-road; the grey
Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced,
Shedding sweet influence. Less bright the Moon,	375	The moon wasn't as bright because it only reflected the sun's light.
But opposite in levelled west, was set,
His mirror, with full face borrowing her light
From him; for other light she needed none
In that aspect, and still that distance keeps		It would only shine during the night along with the rest of the stars.
Till night; then in the east her turn she shines,	380
Revolved on heaven’s great axle, and her reign
With thousand lesser lights dividual holds,
With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared
Spangling the hemisphere. Then first adorned
With her bright luminaries, that set and rose,	385
Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth Day.		This is day four.
“And God said, ‘Let the waters generate		God said, "Let the waters generate
Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul;		reptiles, and have them come out of the water.
And let Fowl fly above the earth, with wings		Let birds fly throughout the air."
Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven!’	390
And God created the great Whales, and each		And there, he made great whales,
Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously
The waters generated by their kinds,
And every bird of wing after his kind,		and different varieties of birds.
And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying,	395	God saw that this was all looking good,
‘Be fruitful, multiply, and, in the seas,		so he told them to be fruitful and multiply
And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill;		to fill all the streams, lakes, seas, creeks, and bays.
And let the fowl be multiplied on the earth!’
Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay,		At that point, the seas of earth filled up with fish,
With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals	400
Of fish that, with their fins and shining scales,
Glide under the green wave in sculls that oft		including shellfish,
Bank the mid-sea. Part, single or with mate,
Graze the sea-weed, their pasture, and through groves
Of coral stray, or, sporting with quick glance,	405
Shew to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold,
Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend		dolphins,
Moist nutriment, or under rocks their food		and seals.
In jointed armour watch; on smooth the seal
And bended dolphins play; part, huge of bulk,	410
Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait,
Tempest the ocean. There Leviathan,		Don't forget about the giant whales
Hugest of living creatures, on the deep		that hang out in the deep waters,
Stretched like a promontory, sleeps or swims,
And seems a moving land, and at his gills	415	they're so big they seem like land masses on the move.
Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea.
Meanwhile the tepid caves, and fens, and shores,		In caves and shores,
Their brood as numerous hatch from the egg, that soon,		there are eggs hatching
Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed		and bursting with new life
Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge	420	like
They summed their pens, and, soaring the air sublime,
With clang despised the ground, under a cloud
In prospect. There the eagle and the stork		eagles and storks.
On cliffs and cedar-tops their eyries build.
Part loosely wing the Region; part, more wise,	425
In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way,
Intelligent of seasons, and set forth		Birds like these would follow the seasons and migrate when they need to.
Their aerie caravan, high over seas
Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing
Easing their flight: so steers the prudent crane	430
Her annual voyage, borne on winds: the air
Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes.
From branch to branch the smaller birds with song		Smaller birds, would be colorful and lively and sing all day.
Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings,
Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale	435
Ceased warbling, but all night tuned her soft lays.		Except for the nightingale, which would only sing at night.
Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed		Some birds would swim too
Their downy breast; the swan, with arched neck		like the swan who would take to the sky sometimes.
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows
Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit	440
The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower		Some birds wouldn't fly at all, and just stay on the ground like the peacock.
The mid aerial sky. Others on ground
Walked firm—the crested cock, whose clarion sounds
The silent hours, and the other, whose gay train
Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue	445
Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus		With the skies and seas full of life,
With Fish replenished, and the air with Fowl,		the fifth day ended on a good note.
Evening and morn solemnized the fifth Day.
“The sixth, and of Creation last, arose		The sixth day began with more music and singing from the angels.
With evening harps and matin; when God said,	450
‘Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind,		God said, "Let the earth create
Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth,		cattle, and insects, and
Each in their kind!’ The Earth obeyed, and, straight		beast of all kinds."
Opening her fertile womb, teemed at a birth		A bunch of different insects and animals sprouted
Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms,	455	from the earth.
Limbed and full-grown. Out of the ground up rose,		They were all fully grown and ready to go.
As from his lair, the wild beast, where he wons
In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den—
Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked;		They came out of the earth in pairs, and walked out the the forests.
The cattle in the fields and meadows green:	460
Those rare and solitary, these in flocks
Pasturing at once and in broad herds, upsprung.
The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared
The tawny Lion, pawing to get free		Lions were digging themselves out of the earth.
His hinder parts—then springs, as broke from bonds,	465
And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the Ounce,
The Libbard, and the Tiger, as the Mole		More big cats like panthers,
Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw		tigers, and more came out of the earth like moles.
In hillocks; the swift Stag from underground		Then deer rose from the ground too,
Bore up his branching head; scarce from his mould	470
Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved		and the biggest animals like
His vastness; fleeced the flocks and bleating rose,		elephants and hippos slugged up from the ground.
As plants; ambiguous between sea and land,		Then goats, sheep, and
The River-horse and scaly Crocodile.		crocodiles too.
At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,	475	Soon, anything that you would think would crawl on the ground
Insect or worm. Those waved their limber fans		came out of the earth too.
For wings, and smallest lineaments exact		Insects of all shapes, sizes, colors, came out and
In all the liveries decked of summer’s pride,
With spots of gold and purple, azure and green;
These as a line their long dimension drew,	480	followed each other along the ground in long lines.
Streaking the ground with sinuous trace: not all
Minims of nature; some of serpent kind,
Wondrous in length and corpulence, involved
Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept
The parsimonious Emmet, provident	485	From hardworking ants.
Of future, in small room large heart enclosed—
Pattern of just equality perhaps
Hereafter—joined in her popular tribes
Of commonalty. Swarming next appeared		to bees.
The female Bee, that feeds her husband drone	490
Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells
With honey stored. The rest are numberless,
And thou their natures know’st, and gav’st them names		And so many more. You should know Adam,
Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown		you did name them all.
The Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field,	495	Let's not forget the snake, for it was created too.
Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes		They are very long and have mysterious eyes.
And hairy mane terrific, though to thee
Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.		They may seem friendly at first, but always beware of any dangers..
“Now Heaven in all her glory shon, and rowled
Her motions, as the great First Mover’s hand	500	The Sun and stars moved in the sky
First wheeled their course; Earth, in her rich attire
Consummate, lovely smiled; Air, Water, Earth,
By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked		and the earth was full of beautiful life.
Frequent; and of the sixth Day yet remained.		But the sixth day wasn't done.
There wanted yet the master-work, the end	505
Of all yet done—a creature who, not prone		For it is time to create a being that would
And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sanctity of reason, might erect		have reason and rule over these creatures.
His stature, and, upright with front serene
Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence	510	This creature would be able
Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven,		to talk with God and Heaven,
But grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends; thither with heart, and voice, and eyes
Directed in devotion, to adore		and worship God and the Son.
And worship God Supreme, who made him chief	515
Of all his works. Therefore the Omnipotent		God spoke to his Son,
Eternal Father (for where is not He
Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake:—
‘Let us make now Man in our image, Man		"It is time to make Man, Man in our image.
In our Timilitude, and let them rule	520
Over the fish and fowl of sea and air,		He will be more like us than these other creatures and have power over them too.
Beast of the field, and over all the earth,
And every creeping thing that creeps the ground!’
This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man,		And that's when he made YOU, Adam.
Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed	525	You were made from the dust in the ground
The breath of life; in his own image he		and he breathed life into you.
Created thee, in the image of God
Express, and thou becam’st a living Soul.
Male he created thee, but thy consort’		And then he made Eve, your partner,
Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said,	530	so you wouldn't be lonely
‘Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth;		and so you can have children and multiply and fill the earth.
Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold
Over fish of the sea and fowl of the air,
And every living thing that moves on the Earth!
Wherever thus created—for no place	535	Once you were created,
Is yet distinct by name—thence, as thou know’st,		you were brought
He brought thee into this delicious grove,		to this beautiful garden
This Garden, planted with the tress of God,		which has an endless variety of
Delectable both to behold and taste,
And freely all their pleasant fruit for food	540	food and fruit.
Gave thee. All sorts are here that all the earth yields,
Variety without end; but of the tree
Which tasted works knowledge of good and evil		Here you can eat anything you
Thou may’st not; in the day thou eat’st, thou diest.		want,
Death is the penalty imposed; beware,	545	except for fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
And govern well thy appetite, least Sin		For if you eat from this tree, you will surely die.
Surprise thee, and her black attendant, Death.
“Here finished He, and all that he had made
Viewed, and behold! all was entirely good.
So even and morn accomplished the sixth Day;	550	From there, God felt accomplished. And that was the end of the sixth day.
Yet not till the Creator, from his work
Desisting, though unwearied, up returned,
Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode,		He made his way back up to Heaven to get a better view of everything he made.
Thence to behold this new-created World,
The addition of his empire, how it shewed	555
In prospect from his Throne, how good, how fair,
Answering his great Idea. Up he rode,
Followed with acclamation, and the sound		The angels in Heaven couldn't stop singing and celebrating.
Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned
Angelic harmonies. The Earth, the Air	560
Resounded (thou remember’st, for thou heard’st),
The heavens and all the constellations rung,
The planets in their stations listening stood,
While the bright pomp ascended jubilant.
‘Open, ye everlasting gates!’ they sung;	565	More singing and praise happened as the gates of Heaven opened.
‘Open, ye Heavens, your living doors! let in
The great Creator, from his work returned
Magnificent, his six days’ work, a World!
Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign		He went through the gates and went straight to God's house.
To visit oft the dwellings of just men	570
Delighted, and with frequent intercourse
Thither will send his winged messengers
On errands of supernal grace.’ So sung
The glorious train ascending. He through Heaven,
That opened wide her blazing portals, led	575
To God’s eternal house direct the way—
A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold,		The road there was dusted with gold.
And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear		The pavement itself looked like
Seen in the Galaxy, that milky way		the galaxy, or the Milky Way as you humans could relate.
Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest	580
Powdered with stars. And now on Earth the seventh
Evening arose in Eden—for the sun
Was set, and twilight from the east came on,
Forerunning night—when at the holy mount
Of Heaven’s high-seated top, the imperial throne	585
Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure,
The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down
With his great Father; for He also went		The Son sat next to his Father (God), even though God was everywhere the Son was when he was creating the Earth. (A lot of simultaneous presence here, I know lol)
Invisible, yet stayed (such privilege
Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained,	590
Author and end of all things, and from work		The Son finally rested from all his hard work.
Now resting. Blessed and hallowed the seventh Day,		He made that day, the seventh day, a holy day of rest.
As resting on that day from all his work;
But not in silence holy kept: the harp		But it wasn't a quiet day,
Had work, and rested not; the solemn pipe	595
And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop,		as there was a lot of music and singing still happening.
All sounds on fret by string or golden wire,
Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice
Choral or unison; of incense clouds,
Fuming from golden censers, hid the Mount.	600
Creation and the Six Days’ acts they sung:—		The singing was about the creation of the earth, and the skies, and the planets, and universe, and how great God was.
‘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 magnified; but to create
Is greater than created to destroy.
Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound
Thy empire? Easily the proud attempt
Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain,	610	The singing even described how this creation was a greater deed than
Thou hast repelled, while impiously they thought		defeating Satan and the rebel angels. Because it was all about creating as opposed to destroying.
Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw
The number of thy worshipers. Who seeks		They sang how anyone who tries to hinder Heaven and God,
To lessen thee, against his purpose, serves		just ends up making Heaven and God stronger.
To manifest the more thy might; his evil	615	They sang about how you can turn bouts of evil into opportunities to do good.
Thou usest, and from thence creat’st more good.
Witness this new-made World, another Heaven
From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view
On the clear hyalin, the glassy sea;
Of amplitude almost immense, with stars	620
Numerous, and every star perhaps a world
Of destined habitation—but thou know’st		They even sang about how there were so many stars and planets in the universe and how they could harbor potential life for future humans.
Their seasons; among these the seat of men,
Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused,
Their pleasant dwelling—place. Thrice happy men,	625
And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanced,
Created in his image, there to dwell
And worship him, and in reward to rule
Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air,
And multiply a race of worshipers	630
Holy and just! thrice happy, if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright!’
“So sung they, and the Empyrean rung
With halleluiahs. Thus was Sabbath kept.		So yeah, I think this should answer all your questions, Adam.
And thy request think now fulfilled that asked	635
How first this World and face of things began,
And what before thy memory was done
From the beginning, that posterity,		Feel free to ask anything more, I'll do my best to make it understandable for your human brain."
Informed by thee, might know. If else thou seek’st
Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.”	640