Embattled in her field; and the humble shrub,
And bush with frizzled hair implicit,* last
Rose as in dance the stately trees, and spread
Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed

Their blossoms; with high woods the hills were crowned,
With tufts the valleys and each fountain side,
With borders long the rivers; that earth now
Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where gods might dwell,

Or wander with delight, and love to haunt

Her sacred shades: though God had yet not reigned +
Upon the earth, and man to till the ground
None was, but from the earth a dewy mist
Went up and watered all the ground, and each
Plant of the field, which, ere it was in the earth
God made, and every herb, before it grew

On the green stem; God saw that it was good,
So even and morn recorded ‡ the third day.

66

Again the Almighty spake: 'Let there be lights
High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide

The day from night; and let them be for signs,
For seasons, and for days, and circling 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.

And God made two great lights, great for their use
To man, the greater to have rule by day,

The less by night altern; and made the stars,

And set them in the firmament of Heaven

To illuminate the earth, and rule the day
In their vicissitude, and rule the night,
And light from darkness to divide. God saw,
Surveying his great work, that it was good:
For of celestial bodies first the sun

A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first,
Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon
Globose, and every magnitude of stars,

330

340

350

And sowed with stars the Heaven thick as a field:
Of light by far the greater part he took,
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

Her gathered beams, great palace now of light.
Hither, as to their fountain, other stars

Repairing, in their golden urns draw light,

"Hair," coma in Latin, is used for leaves, twigs, and branches; and "implicit "signifies entangled.

This idea is woven in from Gen. ii. 4-6.

Celebrated, caused to be remembered. This was done by the "even and morning chorus” (ver. 275), with "evening harps and matin" (ver. 450). Porous, yet firm.