This first book propofes, firft in brief, the whole fubject, man's difobedience, and the lofs thereupon of Paradife wherein he was plac'd. 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 pass'd over, the Poem haftes into the midft of things, prefenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into hell, defcrib'd here, not in the centre (for heaven and earth may be fuppos'd as yet not made, certainly not yet accurs'd) but in a place of utter darkness, fitlieft call'd Chaos: Here Satan, with his Angels, lying on the burning lake, thunder-ftruck and aftonifh'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 battle, 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 antient 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. Pandæmonium, the palace of Satan, rifes, fuddenly built out of the deep: the infernal Peers there fit in council. PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. O F Man's firft difobedience, and the fruit That fhepherd, who first taught the chofen feed, 5 IO 16 15 AND chiefly thou, O SPIRIT! that dost prefer Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, B 4 Inftruct |