ARGUMENT of Book I. This First Book propofes, firft, in brief, the whole fubject, Man's difabedience, and the lofs thereupon of Paradife wherein he was placed: Then touches the prime cause 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, inte the great deep. Which action passed over, the Poem haftes into the midst of things, prefenting Satan, with his angels, now fallen into hell, described here, not in the centre, (for heaven and earth may be supposed aš yet not made, certainly not yet accurfed) but in a place of utter darkness, fitlieft called Chaos. Here Sa-tan, with his angels lying on the burning lake, thunder-ftruck and aftonished, after a certain space recovers, as from confufion, calls up him who next in order and dignity lay by him: They confer of their miserable 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 named, according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan and the countries adjoining. To thefe Satan directs his Speech, comforts them with hope yet of regaining beaven; but tells them, laftly, of a new world, and new kind of creature to be created, according to an ancient 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. Pandamonium, the palace of Satan, rises, fuddenly built out of the deep: The infernal peers there fit in council.. PARADISE PARADISE LOST. ΒΟΟΚ Ι. O' F man's firft difobedience, and the fruit. With lofs of Eden, till one greater Man That shepherd, who first taught the chofen feed, Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd 5 10 15 20 I may affert eternal Providence, 25 30 Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of hell; fay first what cause Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state, Favour'd of heav'n fo highly, to fall off From their Creator, and tranfgrefs his will, For one reftraint, lords of the world befides? Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt? Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whofe guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had caft him out from heav'n, with all his hoft Of rebel angels; by whofe aid afpiring 35 To fet himself in glory' above his peers, He trufted to have equall'd the Most High, 40 If he oppos'd; and, with ambitious aim Rais'd impious war in heav'n, and battle proud, 45 Nine times the space that measures day and night se Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, 55 Torments him. Round he throws his baleful eyes, 60 The difmal fituation wafte and wild; A dungeon horrible on all fides round As one great furnace flam'd, yet from thofe flames Serv'd only to difcover fights of woe, Regions of forrow, doleful fhades, where peace For thofe rebellious, here their pris'n ordain'd And thence in heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words 65 70 75 80 If thou beeft he; but O how fall'n! how chang'd From him, who in the happy realms of light 85 Cloth'd with tranfcendent brightnefs didft outshine Myriads tho' bright! if he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counfels equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprize, Join'd with me once, now mifery hath join'd ༡༠ From what height fall'n, fo much the stronger prov'd H Nor what the potent victor in his rage Though chang'd in outward luftre, that fix'd mind, That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, 95 100 106 110 And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? 'So spake th' apostate angel, though in pain; Vaunting aloud, but rack'd with deep despair: And him thus anfwer'd foon his bold compeer, O Prince, O Chief of many throned powers, That led th' imbattl'd Seraphim to war 115 120 125 |