- Title: Heaven - The Rivers of Bliss
- Author: John Martin
- Date: 1824-25
- Medium: Mezzotint
- Condition: Excellent
- Inches: 10 3/4 x 7 1/2 [Image]
- Centimeters: 27.31 x 19.05 [Image]
- Product ID: 100279
From The Paradise Lost of John Milton (pub. 1846), Book 3, Line 365
Foreseeing that man will fall at the hand of Satan, God proclaims to the Heavenly host that His new creation will be doomed to perish. However, the Son volunteers himself as a sacrifice on mankind's behalf; God praises the Son for his willingness to offer himself up, and the angels of Heaven begin to sing with joy.
"No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but all
The multitude of Angels with a shout
Loud as from numbers without number, sweet
As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung
With Jubilee, and loud Hosanna's filld
Th' eternal Regions: lowly reverent
Towards either Throne they bow, and to the ground
With solemn adoration down they cast
Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold,
Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once
In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life
Began to bloom, but soon for mans offence
To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows,
And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life,
And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn
Rowls o're Elisian Flours her Amber stream;
With these that never fade the Spirits elect
Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams,
Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the bright
Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon
Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd.
Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took,
Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by thir side
Like Quivers hung, and with Præamble sweet
Of charming symphonie they introduce
Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;
No voice exempt, no voice but well could joine
Melodious part, such concord is in Heav'n" (Paradise Lost III.344-71).