Earth’s surface was

With grass not yet be-greened; while far and wide

The dusky ways, with black unending night

Did ocean cover.

Of the great Over-Lord God-Almighty, he says—

In Him, beginning never,

Or origin hath been; but he is aye supreme

Over heaven’s thrones, with high majesty

Righteous and mighty.

And again,—that you may make for yourselves comparison with the treatment and method of Milton,—I quote this picture of Satan in hell:—