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Cœleftes acies, atque in certamine cœlum,

Et

cœleftes pugna

deceret agros!

quæ
Quantus in æthereis tollit fe Lucifer armis!

Atque ipfo graditur vix Michaele minor!
Quantis, & quàm funeftis concurritur iris,
Dum ferus hic ftellas protegit, ille rapit!
Dum vulfos montes, ceu tela reciproca, torquent;
Et non mortali defuper igne pluunt;
Stat dubius cui fe parti concedat Olympus ;
Et metuit pugnæ non fupereffe fuæ.
At fimul in cœlis MESSIÆ infignia fulgent,
Et currus animes, armaque digna DEO;
Horrendúmque rotæ ftrident, & fæva rotarum
Erumpunt torvis fulgura luminibus;

Et flammæ vibrant, & vera tonitrua rauco
Admiftis flammis infonuere polo:

Excidit attonitis mens omnis, & impetus omnis,
Et caffis dextris irrita tela cadunt.

Ad pœnas fugiunt, & (ceu foret Orcus asylum!)
Infernis certant condere fe tenebris.

Cedite Romani Scriptores, cedite Graii,

Et

quos Fama recens, vel celebravit anus: Hæc quicunque leget, tantùm ceciniffe putabit

Mæonidem Ranas, Virgilium Culices.

SAM. BARRO w, M. D.

Spectatiffimo Viro,

GUILIELMO BENSON Armigero,

Sereniffimo Mag. Britann. Regi

A Rationibus Publicis ;

Literarum Patrono,

Erudito, Candido, Munifico;

Hanc

Eximii Poematis

A MILTONO Suo conscripti

Interpretationem,

Sub Ipfius Aufpiciis fufceptam

Summâ cum Obfervantiâ,

D. D. D.

GUILIELMUS DOBSON.

PARADISUS AMISSUS.

P

LIBER PRIMU S.

RIMAM Hominis Noxam, vetitâque ex Arbore fœtus
Avulsos, morsu quæ degustata nefando

Humanæ genti mortem & genus omne malorum
Intulit, & miferos Edeni fedibus egit,

Donec Progenies Humano ab femine Major
Reftituat lapfos, lætifque reponat in arvis,
Diva canas: Tu, fecreto quæ vertice quondam
Orebi, Sina-ve jugis, præcordia fancto

Paftori afflabas, quem lecta ab origine Proles
Audiit ingentis primordia dicere mundi,
Emerfafque Chao terras cœlumque profundum.
Seu tibi fit Sion cordi magis, & Siloa fons
Celfa DEI tacito lambens Oracula rivo,

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Ritè tuam pofcentis opem præfentior audi
Inde preces, non vulgari qui carminis alâ
Aonium fpernit montem, impavidoque volatu
Ardua molitur, nulli fermone foluto

Dicta priùs, nulli veterum celebrata camœnæ.
Tuque adeò, qui, templorum penetralibus altis
Pofthabitis, purum pectus fanctofque receffus
Cafti animi colis; O fari da, SPIRITUS alme,
Scis etenim & memorare potes; Tu semina mundi
Prima fovens, alifque, parentis more columbæ,
Expanfis fuper incumbens, immane Profundum
Vi fœcundabas genitali: Tu mihi lustra
Corda bonus; lucem cæco, invalidoque vigorem
Suffice, ut ingenti non impar Argumento
Confurgam; legefque DEI venerandaque jura
Defendens, pandam dictis quàm numine justo
Torquet res Hominum, atque æquis moderatur habenis.
Fare age, namque patent fuperas tibi cuncta per oras
Perque altos Erebi tractus, quæ Caufa Parentes

Invoke thy aid to my advent'rous Song,
That with no middle flight intends to foar
Above th' Aonian Mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in Profe or Rhime.
And chiefly Thou, O SPIRIT, that doft prefer
Before all temples th' upright heart and pure,
Inftruct me, for Thou know'ft: Thou from the first
Waft prefent, and with mighty wings outfpread

Dove-like fat'ft brooding on the vast Abyss,
And mad'ft it pregnant: What in Me is dark,
Illumine; what is low, raife and support;
That to the height of this great Argument
I may affert Eternal Providence,
And juftifie the ways of GOD to Men.

Say firft, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view,
Nor the deep Tract of Hell; fay first what Cause

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