Sphere circling sphere rejoices,
How dost thou rise, exciting
Man to fond contemplation

Of his benign creation!

THE CHERUBIM SING.

The volume of the stars,

The sovereign Author plann'd,
Inscribing it with his eternal hand,
And his benignant aim

Their beams in lucid characters proclaim;

And man in these delighting,

Feels their bright beams inviting,

And seems though prison'd in these mortal bars,
Walking on earth to mingle with the stars.

GOD THE FATHER.

Angels, desert your Heaven! with you to Earth, That Power descends, whom Heaven accompanies; Let each spectator of these works sublime

Behold, with meek devotion,

Earth into flesh transform'd, and clay to man,
Man to a sovereign lord,

And souls to Seraphim.

THE SERAPHIM SING.

Now let us cleave the sky with wings of gold,
The world be paradise,

Since to its fruitful breast

Now the great Sovereign of our quire descends;
Now let us cleave the sky with wings of gold;
Strew yourselves flowers beneath the step divine,
Ye rivals of the stars!

Summon'd from every sphere

Ye gems of heaven, heaven's radiant wealth appear; Now let us cleave the sky with wings of gold!

GOD THE FATHER.

Behold, ye springing herbs and new-born flowers,

The step that used to press the stars alone

And the sun's spacious road,

This day begins, along the sylvan scene,
To leave its grand impression:

To low materials now I stretch my hand,
To form a work sublime.

THE ANGELS SING.

Lament, lament in anguish,
Angel to God rebellious!

See, on a sudden rise

The creature doom'd to fill thy radiant seat!
Foolish thy pride took fire

Contemplating thy birth;

But he o'er pride shall triumph,

Acknowledging he sprung from humble dust.
From hence he shall acquire

As much as thou hast lost;

Since the Supreme Inhabitant of Heaven Receives the humble, and dethrones the proud.

GOD THE FATHER.

Adam, arise, since I to thee impart

A spirit warm from my benignant breath;

Arise, arise, first man,

And joyous let the world

Embrace its living miniature in thee!

ADAM. O marvels new, O hallow'd, O divine,

Eternal object of the angel host:

Why do I not possess tongues numerous

As now the stars in heaven?

Now then, before

A thing of earth so mean,

See I the great Artificer divine?
Mighty Ruler supernal,

If 'tis denied this tongue

To match my obligation with my thanks,
Behold my heart's affection,

And hear it speaking clearer than my tongue,
And to thee bending lower

Than this my humble knee.

Now, now, O Lord, in ecstasy devout,

Let my mind mount, and passing all the clouds, Passing each sphere, even up to heaven ascend, And there behold the stars, a seat for man! Thou Lord, who all the fire of genuine love Convertest to thyself,

Transform me into thee, that I a part

Even of thyself, may thus acquire the power
To offer praises not unworthy thee.

THE ANGELS SING.

To smile in paradise,

Great demigod of earth, direct thy step;
There like the tuneful spheres,

Circle the murmuring rills

Of limpid water bright;

There the melodious birds

Rival angelic quires;

There lovely flowers profuse

Appear as vivid stars;

The snowy rose is there

A silver moon, the heliotrope a sun :

What more can be desired,

By earth's new lord in fair corporeal vest,

Than in the midst of earth to find a heaven?

ADAM. O ye harmonious birds!

Bright scene of lovely flowers.
But what delightful slumber
Falls on my closing eyes?
I lay me down, adieu

Unclouded light of day, sweet air adieu!

GOD THE FATHER.

Adam, behold I come,

Son dear to me, thou son

Of an indulgent sire;

Behold the hand that never works in vain :

Behold the hand that join'd the elements,
That added heaven to heavens,
That fill'd the stars with light,
Gave lustre to the moon,
Prescribed the sun his course,

And now supports the world,

And forms a solid stage for thy firm step.
Now sleeping, Adam from thy open'd side
The substance I will take

That shall have woman's name, and lovely form.

THE ANGELS SING.

Immortal works of an immortal Maker!

Ye high and blessed seats

Of this delightful world,

Ye starry seats of heaven,

Trophies divine, productions pre-ordain'd :

O power! O energy!

Which out of shadowy horror form'd the Sun!

EVE. What heavenly melody pervades my heart,

Ere yet the sound my ear! inviting me

To gaze on wonders, what do I behold,

What transformations new;

Is earth become the heaven?

Do I behold his light

Whose splendour dazzles the meridian sun?
Am I the creature of that plastic hand,

Who form'd of nought the angels and the heavens? Thou sovereign Lord! whom lowly I adore,

A love so tender penetrates my heart,

That while my tongue ventures on utterance,
The words with difficulty

Find passage from my lips;

For in a tide of tears,

(That sighs have caused to flow) they seem absorb'd. Thou pure celestial love

Of the benignant power,

Who pleased to manifest on earth his glory,

Now to this world descends,

To draw from abject clay

The governor of all created things:

Lord of the hallow'd and concealed affection,

Thou in whom love glows with such fervent flame,

Inspirit even my tongue

With suitable reply, that these dear vales

And sylvan scenes may hear

Thanks, that to thee I should devote, my Sire,

But if my tongue be mute, speak thou, my heart.

GOD THE FATHER.

Adam, awake! and cease

To meditate in rapturous trance profound

Things holy and abstruse,

And the deep secrets of the Trinal Lord.

ADAM. Where am I? where have I been? what Sun

Of triple influence that dims the day

Now from my eye withdraws, where is he vanish'd? O hallow'd miracles