Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/141

Rh In Nature and all things; which these soft fires Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow On earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the sun's more potent ray; These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain. Nor think, though men were none, That heaven would want spectators, God want praise. Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth; Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep; All these with ceaseless praise his works behold, Both day and night. How often, from the steep Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to other's note, Singing their great Creator! Oft in bands While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number, joined, their songs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven."
 * Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed

On to their blissful bower. It was a place