THE BEAUTIES OF THE POETS. ON CREATION. MILTON. THE Son On His great expedition now appear'd, A Celestial equipage: and now came forth 5 And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, This be thy just circumference, O world! Thus Gop the heaven created, thus the earth, Matter unform'd and void: darkness profound Cover'd th' abyss; but on the wat'ry calm, His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, And vital virtue infus'd, and vital warmth Throughout the fluid mass, but downward purg'd The black, tartareous, cold, infernal dregs, Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd Like things to like, the rest to several place Disparted, and between spun out the air, And earth, self-balanc'd, on her centre hung. Let there be light, said GOD, and forthwith light Sojourn'd the while. God saw the light was good; |