The force of suns had waned beyond recall.

Chaos was re-established over all,

Where lifeless atoms through forgetful deeps

Fled unrelated, cold, immusical.

Above the tumult heaven alone endured;

Long since the bursting walls of hell had poured

Demon and damned to peace erstwhile denied,

Within the Abyss God’s might had not immured.

(He could but thwart it with creative mace.***)

And now it rose above the heavenly base,

Mordant at pillars rotten through and through

Of Matter’s last, most firm abiding-place.

Bastion and minaret began to nod,

Till all the pile, unmindful of His rod,

Dissolved in thunder, and the void Abyss

Caught like a quicksand at the feet of God!