wak'd rouze up themselves on high.

16

So that they're life, form, sprite, not matter pure,
For matter pure is a pure nullitie,
What nought can act is nothing, I am sure;
And if all act, that is they'll not denie
But all that is is form: so easily
By what is true, and by what they embrace
For truth, their feigned Corporalitie
Will vanish into smoke, but on I'll passe,
More fully we have sung this in another place.

17

Wherefore more boldly now to represent
The nature of the world, how first things were
How now they are: This endlesse large Extent
Of lowest life (which I styled whileere
The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that's every where)
Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall
Hideous through silent horrour torches clear
And lamping lights bright shining over all
Were set up in due distances proportionall.

18

Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps
Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole,
To warm the world and chace the shady damps
Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole
Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal.
Which pieces then in severall were cast
(Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul)
Upon the Globes that round those torches trac'd,
Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast.

19

Such an one is that which mortall men call Night,
A little shred of that unbounded shade.
And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight;
By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made
Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid.
And such a lamp or light is this our Sun,
Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade.
But infinite such as he, in heaven won,
And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run;

20

And to speak out: though I detest the sect
Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile,
Yet what is true I may not well reject.
Truth's incorruptible, ne can the style
Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile.
If we no more of truth should deign t' embrace
Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl,
No truths at all mongst men would finden place
But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace.

21

I will not say our world is infinite,
But that infinitie of worlds ther be.
The Centre of our world's the lively light
Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie
Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie