First, th’Earth, on adamantine pillers founded Amid the Sea, engirt with brasen bands; Then th’Aire, still flitting, but yet firmely bounded On everie side with pyles of flaming brands, Never consum’d, nor quencht with mortall hands; 40 And last, that mightie shining cristall wall, Wherewith he hath encompassed this all. By view whereof it plainly may appeare, That still as every thing doth upward tend And further is from earth, so still more cleare 45 And faire it growes, till to his perfect end Of purest Beautie it at last ascend; Ayre more then water, fire much more then ayre, And heaven then fire, appeares more pure and fayre. Looke thou no further, but affixe thine eye 50 On that bright shynie round still moving masse, The house of blessed God, which men call Skye, All sowd with glistring stars more thicke then grasse, Whereof each other doth in brightnesse passe, But those two most, which, ruling night and day, 55 As king and queene the heavens empire sway; And tell me then, what hast thou ever seene That to their beautie may compared bee? Or can the sight that is most sharpe and keene Endure their captains flaming head to see? 60 How much lesse those, much higher in degree, And so much fairer, and much more then these, As these are fairer then the land and seas? For farre above these heavens which here we see, Be others farre exceeding these in light, 65 Not bounded, not corrupt, as these same bee, But infinite in largenesse and in hight, Unmoving, uncorrupt, and spotlesse bright, That need no sunne t’illuminate their spheres, But their owne native light farre passing theirs. 70 And as these heavens still by degrees arize, Until they come to their first movers* bound, That in his mightie compasse doth comprize And carrie all the rest with him around, So those likewise doe by degrees redound**, 75 And rise more faire, till they at last arive To the most faire, whereto they all do strive. [* I.e. the _primum mobile_.] [** I.e. exceed the one the other.] Faire is the heaven where happy soules have place, In full enioyment of felicitie, Whence they doe still behold the glorious face 80 Of the Divine Eternall Maiestie; More faire is that where those Idees on hie Enraunged be, which Plato so admyred, And pure Intelligences from God inspyred. Yet fairer is that heaven in which do raine 85 The soveraigne Powres and mightie Potentates, Which in their high protections doe containe All mortall princes and imperiall states; And fayrer yet whereas the royall Seates And heavenly Dominations are set, 90 From whom all earthly governance is fet*. [* _Fet_, fetched, derived.]