of amber... as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain."

[1.765.] And from about him fierce effusion roll'd Of smoke.

(See Psalm xviii. 8.)-"There went up a smoke out of his nostrils," &c.

[2.771.] He, on the wings of cherub rode, sublime.

(Psalm xviii. 10.)-"And he rode upon a cherub and did fly."

[2. 830.]

Under his burning wheels
The steadfast empyrean shook throughout

All but the throne of God.

(Job. xxvi. 11.)-"The pillars of heaven tremble." Also, Dan. vii. 9.-"His throne was as the fiery flame; his wheels as burning fire."

[7. 842.]

Seraphim prostrate

That wish'd the mountains now might be again
Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire.

(In the Psalm)-"They said to the mountains fall on us and hide us . . . from the wrath of the Lamb."

(Isaiah v. 14.)-"Therefore hell hath enlarged

herself,

measure."

and opened her mouth without

In book vii.

The whole of the account of the Creation teems with scriptural ideas and expressions; and cannot be read without leaving the mind fully convinced of the great degree in which Milton is indebted to the Bible... The two following passages,

[l. 219.]

[1.235.]

But on the wings of cherubim
Uplifted in paternal glory rode.

But on the watery calm

His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread.

As well as that in book i.

And with mighty wings outspread

Dovelike sat'st brooding on the vast abyss,

are taken from the Psalms.-"He did fly upon the wings of the wind;" at least, certainly as far as the idea of giving wings to God.

[7. 248.] Let there be light, said God, and forthwith light Eternal, first of things, quintessence pure,

is clearly indebted, for the beauty of the expression, to Job xxxviii. 31.-"The sweet influences of the Pleiades."

[l. 513.] Let us now make man in our image, man In our similitude, and let them rule

Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, &c. [See Gen.i.

[l. 515.] Open ye everlasting gates, they sing Open ye Heav'ns your living doors.

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors."-Psalms.

In book viii. 7. 215.

But thy words with grace imbrued

Bring to their sweetness no satiety.

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.Ps. cxix. 103.

[ 413.] The heighth and depth of thy eternal ways.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God."-Rom. xi. 33. See also Ephes. iii. 18.

In book ix. l. 80.

West from Orontes to the ocean barr'd

At Darien.

10.

"And set bars to the ocean."-Job. xxxviii.

(Gen. viii. 21.)-"The Lord smelled a sweet

savour."

In book x. l. 188.

Captivity led captive through the air,

is taken from "And led captivity captive." Psalm lxviii. 18.

[l. 41.]

He ended, and the heav'nly audience loud
Sung Hallelujah; as the sound of seas
Through multitudes that sung.

(See Rev. xix. 6.)—“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, saying, Hallelujah."

[7. 718.] And in a troubled sea of passion tossed.

(Isaiah lvii. 20.)-"The wicked are like the troubled sea."

[1.779.]

His dreadful voice

No more would thunder in my ears.

"God thundereth marvellously with his voice."-Job xxxvii. 5.

In book xi. l. 6.

Which the spirit of pray'r

Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory.

(Rom. viii. 26.)-"But the Spirit of God maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered."

With incense where the golden altar fum'd
Of their great Intercessor, came in sight
Before the Father's throne.

(Psalm cxli. 2.)-"Let my prayer be set before thee as incense."-Compare Rev. viii. 3, 4.

[7. 706] Rap't in a balmy cloud with winged steeds.

Elijah taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and

a chariot of fiery horses.

In book xii. 7. 44.

[7. 59.]

A city and a tow'r, whose top may reach to Heaven.

[See Gen xi. 4.

Great laughter was in Heav'n

And looking down to see the hubbub strange.

(See Psalm ii. 4.)-"He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision."