4

But first from under shadie arborous roof,

Soon as they forth were come to open sight

Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen

With wheels yet hovring ore the Ocean brim, [ 140 ]

Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray,

Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East

Of Paradise and Edens happie Plains,

Lowly they bowd adoring, and began

Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid [ 145 ]

In various style, for neither various style

Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise

Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounct or sung

Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence

Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse, [ 150 ]

More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp

To add more sweetness, and they thus began.

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,

Almightie, thine this universal Frame,

Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then! [ 155 ]

Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens

To us invisible or dimly seen

In these thy lowest works, yet these declare

Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:

Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of Light, [ 160 ]

Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs

And choral symphonies, Day without Night,

Circle his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heavn,

On Earth joyn all ye Creatures to extoll

Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. [ 165 ]

Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night,

If better thou belong not to the dawn,

Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn

With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare

While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime. [ 170 ]

Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soule,

Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise

In thy eternal course, both when thou climbst,

And when high Noon hast gaind, and when thou fallst.

Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now flist [ 175 ]

With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies,

And yee five other wandring Fires that move

In mystic Dance not without Song, resound

His praise, who out of Darkness calld up Light.