PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. The first Book proposes, first in brief, the whole subject, Man's dis obedience, and the loss thereupon of Paradise wherein he was placed Then touches the prime cause of his Fall, the Serpent, or rather Satan in the Serpent; who, revolting from God, and drawing to his side many legions of Angels, was, by the com mand of God, driven out of Heaven, with all his crew, into the great deep. Which action passed over, the Poem hastens into the midst of things, presenting Satan with his Angels now falling into Hell, described here, not in the centre (for Heaven and Earth may be supposed as yet not made, certainly not yet accursed,) but in a place of utter darkness fitliest called Chaos: Here Satan with his Augels lying on the burning lake, thunderstruck and astonished, after a certain space recovers, as from confusion, 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 same manner confounded. They rise; thei- numbers; array of battle; their chief leaders named, ac cording to the idols known afterwards in Canaan and the coun tries adjoining. To these Satan directs his speech, comforts them with hope yet of regaining Heaven, but tells them lastly 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 visible 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 ful! council. What his associates thence attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rises, suddenly built out of the deep: The infernal peers there sit in council. Or Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Sing, heavenly Muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar 10 15 Above the Aönian mount, while it pursues And madest it pregnant: What in me is dark, I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. 20 25 Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell; say first, what cause Moved our grand Parents, in that happy state, Favour'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? The infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceived The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host 35 Of rebel Angels; by whose aid, aspiring He trusted to have equal'd the Most High, 40 If he opposed; and, with ambiticus aim 45 To bottomless perdition; there to dwell In adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms. Nine t'mes the space that measures day and night 50 To mortal men, he with his horrid crew Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal: But his doom Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness, and lasting pain, 55 Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, Mix'd with obdurate pride and steadfast hate 60 At once, as far as Angels ken, he views A dungeon horrible on all sides round As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames No light; but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 65 That comes to all; but torture without end With ever burning sulphur unconsumed For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with bold words 20 70 If thou be he; but O, how fallen! how changed From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads though bright! If he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd 75 133 80 85 In equal ruin! Into what pit thou seest, From what height fallen; so much the stronger proved The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Can else inflict, do I repent or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, 95 100 That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power opposed And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, 106 And study of revenge, immortal hate, 110 Doubted his empire; that were low indeed, That were an ignominy, and shame beneath 115 This downfal: since, by fate, the strength of Gods And this empyreal substance cannot fail; Since through experience of this great event In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, 120 We may with more successful hove resolve So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers, 125 That led the embattled Seraphim to war 130 Fearless endanger'd Heaven's perpetual king, And put to proof his high supremacy, Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; Too well I see and rue the dire event, That with sad overthrow, and foul defeat, 135 Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host In horrible destruction laid thus low, As far as Gods and heavenly essences : Can perish for the mind and spirit remains 140 Though all our glory extinct, and happy state But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now Of force believe Almighty, since no less Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours) Have left us this our spirit and strength entire 146 Strongly to suffer and support our pains, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, 150 What can it then avail, though yet we feel To undergo eternal punishment? 155 Whereto with speedy words the Archfiend replied. Fallen cherub! to be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, To do aught good never will be our task, But ever to do ill our sole delight, 160 As being the contrary to his high will Whom we resist. If then his providence 165 |