PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. The ARGUMENT. This first book proposes, firft in brief, the whole fubject, man's disobedience, and the lefs thereupon of Paradife wherein be was placed. Then touches the prime caufe of his fall, the ferpent, or rather Satan in the ferpent; who revolting from God, and drawing to his fide many legions of Angels, was by the command of God driven out of heaven with all his crew into the great deep. Which action pafs'd over, the Poem haftes into the midft of things, prefenting Satan with bis Angels now fallen into hell, defcrib'd here, not in the centre (for heav'n and earth may be fuppos'd as yet not made, certainly not yet åccurs'd) but in a B place of utter darkness, fitlieft call'd Chaos: Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning lake, thunder-ftruck and aftonish'd, after a certain space recovers, as from confufion, calls up him who next in order and dignity lay by him: they confer of their miferable fall. Satan awakens all his legions, who lay 'till then in the fame manner confounded: they rife; their numbers, array of battel, their chief leaders nam'd, according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan, and the countries adjoining. To thefe Satan directs his fpeech, comforts them with hope yet of regaining heaven: but tells them laftly of a new world, and new kind of creature to be created; according to an antient prophecy or report in heaven: for that Angels were long before this vifible creation, was the opinion of many ancient Fathers. To find out the truth of this prophecy, and what to determine thereon, he refers to a full council. What his affociates thence attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rifes, fuddenly built out of the deep: the infernal peers there fit in council. F Man's firft difobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal tafte That fhepherd, who first taught the chofen feed, 15 Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd And juftifie the ways of God to men. 25 Say firft, (for heav'n hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of hell) say firft what cause Mov'd our grand Parents, in that happy state 30 35 Favour'd of heav'n fo highly, to fall off 40 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 55 That witness'd huge affliction and dismay, 69 The difmal fituation wafte and wild : A dungeon horrible, on all fides round, As one great furnace, flam'd: yet from thofe flames No light, but rather darkness visible, Serv'd only to discover fights of woe, Regions of forrow! doleful shades! where peace 65 ༡༠ For those rebellious; here their prifon ordain'd, 80 (And thence in heav'n call'd Satan) with bold words Breaking the horrid filence thus began. 85 If thou beeft He-- But O how fall'n! how chang'd From him, who in the happy realms of light Cloath'd with tranfcendént brightness, didst out-shine Myriads tho' bright! If He, whom mutual league, United thoughts and counfels, equal hope, And hazard in the glorious enterprize, |