Into new natures, like unto himself,
Eternal Love unfolded.  Nor before,
As if in dull inaction torpid lay. 
For not in process of before or aft
Upon these waters mov’d the Spirit of God. 
Simple and mix’d, both form and substance, forth
To perfect being started, like three darts
Shot from a bow three-corded.  And as ray
In crystal, glass, and amber, shines entire,
E’en at the moment of its issuing; thus
Did, from th’ eternal Sovran, beam entire
His threefold operation, at one act
Produc’d coeval.  Yet in order each
Created his due station knew:  those highest,
Who pure intelligence were made:  mere power
The lowest:  in the midst, bound with strict league,
Intelligence and power, unsever’d bond. 
Long tract of ages by the angels past,
Ere the creating of another world,
Describ’d on Jerome’s pages thou hast seen. 
But that what I disclose to thee is true,
Those penmen, whom the Holy Spirit mov’d
In many a passage of their sacred book
Attest; as thou by diligent search shalt find
And reason in some sort discerns the same,
Who scarce would grant the heav’nly ministers
Of their perfection void, so long a space. 
Thus when and where these spirits of love were made,
Thou know’st, and how:  and knowing hast allay’d
Thy thirst, which from the triple question rose. 
Ere one had reckon’d twenty, e’en so soon
Part of the angels fell:  and in their fall
Confusion to your elements ensued. 
The others kept their station:  and this task,
Whereon thou lookst, began with such delight,
That they surcease not ever, day nor night,
Their circling.  Of that fatal lapse the cause
Was the curst pride of him, whom thou hast seen
Pent with the world’s incumbrance.  Those, whom here
Thou seest, were lowly to confess themselves
Of his free bounty, who had made them apt
For ministries so high:  therefore their views
Were by enlight’ning grace and their own merit
Exalted; so that in their will confirm’d
They stand, nor feel to fall.  For do not doubt,
But to receive the grace, which heav’n vouchsafes,
Is meritorious, even as the soul
With prompt affection welcometh the guest. 
Now, without further help, if with good heed
My words thy mind have treasur’d, thou henceforth
This consistory round about mayst scan,
And gaze thy fill.  But since thou hast on earth
Heard vain disputers, reasoners in the schools,
Canvas the’ angelic nature, and dispute
Its powers of apprehension, memory, choice;
Therefore, ’t is well thou take from me the truth,
Pure and without disguise, which they below,
Equivocating, darken and perplex. 
     “Know thou, that, from the first, these substances,
Rejoicing in the countenance of God,
Have held unceasingly their view, intent
Upon the glorious vision, from the which
Naught absent is nor hid:  where then no change