“As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests Upon her centre poised; when on a day (For time, though in eternity, applied To motion, measures all things durable By present, past, and future), on such day As Heaven’s great year brings forth, the empyreal host Of Angels, by imperial summons called, Innumerable before the Almighty’s throne Forthwith from all the ends of Heaven appeared Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, Standards and gonfalons, ’twixt van and rear, Stream in the air, and for distinction serve Of Hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; Or in their glittering tissues bear emblazed Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs Of circuit inexpressible they stood, Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, By whom in bliss embosomed sat the Son, Amidst, as from a flaming mount, whose top Brightness had made invisible, thus spake:
“ ‘Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand! This day I have begot whom I declare My only Son, and on this holy hill Him have anointed, whom ye now behold At my right hand; your head I him appoint, And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord. Under his great vicegerent reign abide United as one individual soul, For ever happy. Him who disobeys Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls Into utter darkness deep engulfed, his place Ordained without redemption, without end.’
“So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. That day, as other solemn days, they spent In song and dance about the sacred hill; Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere Of planets and of fixed in all her wheels Resembles nearest—mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular Then most when most irregular they seem; And in their motions harmony divine So