was broken, their threat 70 overthrown, their glory shattered, and their beauty dimmed; thenceforth they abode in desolation, because of their dark exile.  They did not dare to laugh aloud, but lived wearied by the torments of hell and became familiar with woes, bitterness, and sorrow; covered with 75 darkness, they bore their pain,—­a heavy sentence, because they had begun to battle against God.

Then, as formerly, true peace existed in heaven, fair amity:  for the Lord was dear to all, the Sovereign to his 80 servants; and the majesty of the joyful angelic hosts increased, through the favor of the Almighty.

II.

So those who inhabited the sky, home of glory, were at peace; hatred was gone, as well as sorrow and strife among angels, ever since the rebellious hosts, bereft of the 85 light, had relinquished heaven.  Behind them stood in grandeur their seats rich in glorious workmanship, teeming with blessings in God’s kingdom, bright and perennially bountiful,—­but all devoid of occupants, ever since the 90 miserable spirits had gone to their place of punishment, their vile prison.  Then our Lord bethought him, in meditative mood, how he might people again, and with a better race, his high creation, the noble seats and glory- 95 crowned abodes which the haughty rebels had left vacant, high in heaven.  Therefore Holy God willed by his plenteous power that under the circle of the firma-ment the earth should be established, with sky above and 100 wide water, a world-creation in place of the foes whom in their apostasy he hurled from bliss.

As yet there was nothing at all created here, except shadows, but this broad earth stood deep and dim, idle 105 and useless, alien even to God himself; on it the King whose purpose never falters turned his eyes and beheld the place void of joy; he saw dark clouds, black under the firmament, throng in the eternal night, dun and 110 waste, until this world-creation came to pass through the word of the King of Glory.  First the everlasting Lord, protector of all things, created heaven and earth; as the almighty King put forth the firmament and with 115 victorious might established this ample world.  The earth was as yet unadorned by vegetation:  the ocean covered it far and wide, turbid waves in the eternal night.  Then was the glorious Spirit of heaven’s guardian 120 borne over the sea with sovereign virtue.  For the King of the angels commanded Light, dispenser of life, to come forth over the broad expanse:  quickly was the Arch-King’s mandate fulfilled, and Holy Light appeared 125 over the waste spaces, as the Creator had ordained it.  The Wielder of Victory next sundered light from darkness, shadow from radiance, over the surge of the sea.  Then he formed the two names of the dispensers of life:  light was first called “Day” by the word of the Lord, a 130 beauteous creation.  This period of creation greatly pleased God, in the beginning:  the first day saw the dark shadows duskily flee away over the wide earth.