The Judgement of the Flood :: :: University of Virginia Library

When I had read, I bowed my pensive knee
To the great Parent of the Universe;
And ordered, then, a solemn Sacrifice,
In presence of the people. On the tomb
Of Adam, the devoted Lamb I slew,
And took his skin, and with his blood transcribed
A sacred Song; first sung by me, and them,
As, then and there, the Spirit had inspired
Me, erst by Wisdom made a Friend of God,
And Prophet, as she makes all holy souls,
Who welcome her, when she would enter in.

Before all Being, Love is God. Of Love,
Light-giving Love, the Father gives the Son
Life in himself to have, and propagate.
None shall the Father see, at any time,
But he to whom the Co-eternal Son

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Himself reveals, revealing so the Sire.
Such the decree. Paternal Throne of Love,
Unutterable, inaccessible,
Abides in Light that aye shall limit round
The universe, and nought shall comprehend
For ever, and for ever. None shall hear
His voice, the filial Word except, and he
To whom the Word his will supreme reveals,
Within whose bosom I consorted live.

Eternal Silence is not. Love bespeaks
‘The Son—I am:’ and the Word answers—‘Yea,
Father, thou art, and I in thee!’ To whom
The Eternal Father:—‘Lo, I swear; of thee
And for thee are the Heavens, and the Earths:
Both the Beginning, and the End art thou.’
Where to the Son—‘According to thy will,
I constitute the Ages.’ And, at once,
Beginning is, the Heavens, the Earths are made;
Nor void, nor formless, nor in darkness hid
To the Creatours, though, unuttered yet,
In the Beginning lives the Word with Love;
Profound, unfathomable abyss, anon
Inspired, and vocal, . . Love become the Word,
And the far Spirit circumscribing space,
That Wisdom may complete the Work of Power.

Behold; the Heavens outspread, expanse of Air
In motion, destined to dispose the place
Of worlds innumerable, radiant orbs.
Nor Light is not. The Spirit obeys the Voice
Eternal; and, in floods of ether, Time
Transpicuous, from the agitated deep
Electric, . . whirling as a wheel, by force
Of the strong wind, that, like an eagle's wings,
Flutters above its waters, as a nest
Where life is teeming, . . soars, empyreal youth,
And beautiful as young. Thereat the Light

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Comes forth to welcome him; he, at her breasts
Cradled, grows in her aspect lovely, till
She diadems with day-beams his smooth brows;
And ancient Darkness hides but half a world.
Thereat to hail him is the rush of Floods,
And Heaven itself descendeth to divide
Their rivalry. The Land and Main appear,
And own his domination. Then with dance,
And voice of melody, and lyres of gold,
The choral Stars rejoice, with Sun, and Moon;
The finny nations of the watery deep,
Winged people of the aëreal hemisphere,
The children of the forest, and the field,
Make earth, and air, and ocean, glad with life.
Shout loud with joy the sons of Love in heaven—
Soon silent, for the Elohim speaking thus:

‘Let us make Man in our own Image.’ So
In his own Image, Love createth Man.
—Thus are the Heavens created, and their Hosts;
The Earths with their Inhabitants are made,
Creating yet, creating evermore.

Six eves, and morns the work divine endures,
And the profound knows motion; storm, and calm
Meting the days, and making each an æra.

Perfect in its completions, Love beholds
His Universe, and all pronounces good;
Fit altar for his worship—temple fit
For Man to dwell in: and, by seeing Love,
In nature visible, conform his works
To his exemplar, . . perfect, and preserve
His breathèd soul's similitude divine.
Then Love into his solitude retires,
And hallows his repose; hence sanctifies
The Seventh Day to man, recurring sign
Of his perpetual peace . . memorial aye
Of his creation, and completing joy.