Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/236

And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged,
From the armory of God, where stand of old200
Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged,
Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand,
Celestial equipage; and now came forth
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived,
Attendant on their Lord. Heaven 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
They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss,211
Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild,
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.
"'Silence, ye troubled waves, and thou Deep peace!'
Said then the omnific Word; 'your discord end!'
Nor stayed, but, on the wings of Cherubim
Up-lifted, in paternal glory rode
Far into Chaos, and the World unborn;220
For Chaos heard his voice. Him all his train
Followed in bright procession, to behold
Creation, and the wonders of his might.
Then stayed the fervid wheels, and in his hand