54 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 
the locality known as Hell, the place of torment, where the rebellious 
angels were driven and shut in after their expulsion from Heaven— 
“* As far removed from God and light of Heaven 
As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole.” 
The new universe, which included the earth and al! the orbs of 
the firmament known as the starry heavens, was created out of 
‘Chaos, and hung as if suspended by a golden chain from the Empy- 
rean above, and although its magnitude and dimensions were incon- 
ceivable, yet according to the Ptolemaic theory it was enclosed by 
the tenth sphere, or Primum Mobile. 
In his description of the creation, the earth is formed first, then 
the sun, followed by the moon, and afterwards the stars, all of which 
are described as being in motion round the earth. In this he 
closely follows the traditional understanding of the Mosaic cos- 
mogony. Allusion is made to this ancient system in several 
prominent passages, and in the following lines there is a distinct 
reference to the various revolving spheres : 
“* They pass the planets!seven, and pass the fixed, 
And that crystalline sphere whose balance weighs 
The trepidation talked, and that first moved.”—-Book T//., 48r. 
The seven planetary spheres are mentioned, then the eighth 
sphere—that of the fixed stars—then the ninth or crystalline, which 
was believed to cause a shaking or ‘‘ trepidation,” to account for 
certain irregularities in the motion of the stars, and lastly the tenth 
sphere, or Primum Mobile, called the “ first moved” because it set 
the other spheres in motion. 
It is much to be doubted if Milton’s clear mind, with that 
poetic insight that discerns truth, ever accepted the Ptolemaic 
theory, although adopted as a poetic convenience. As if he were 
watchful of his reputation and to keep himself right with posterity, 
we find that he first makes an incidental allusion to the theory of 
Copernican in Book IV., 590-8, and further on in the 8th Book he 
introduces a discussion between Adam and Raphael, and we may 
with good reason take it that Adam’s reasoning represented Milton’s 
own view. By a bold poetic liberty he endows Adam, the first of 
men (according to the traditional belief) with a prophetic insight 
which stretched through many future centuries in propounding as 
