CONJECTURAL DIAGRAM OF MILTON'S COSMOGRAPHY. VERTICAL SECTION. THE empyreal Heavens, first created, containing hill, dale, water of life, flowers, fruit, angels, the throne of God, and proceeding thence a magnificent road, "powdered with stars," outward to the crystal wall to a vast gate opening on unformed Chaos. This was the only place in space that had felt the touch of creative power, till the revolt in consequence of the divine command to worship the Son. (Book V. 600–615.) Then followed rebellion, war of angels, rout of Satan and his angels, and their falling nine days, pursued by lightnings, through dark Chaos, into the Hell created to receive them. (Book VI. 865-879.) A few days after, God sends his Supreme Son to create the solar system, and the stars, in Chaos, under the floor of Heaven, and to people the Earth with children of God who should take the vacated thrones of Satan and his expelled crew of rebels. Immediately after this creation Satan awakes from his stupor, calls a council, passes the gate of Hell kept by Sin and Death, and wades, swims, flies, falls, and flounders back by the thrones of Chaos and Old Night to find in the voids of space the newly created Earth. |