This first Book proposes, first in brief, the whole fubject, Man's disobedience, and the lofs thereupon of Paradife wherein he was plac'd: Then touches the prime cause of his fall, the Serpent, 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 midst of things, prefenting Satan with his Angels now falling into Hell, defcrib'd here, not in the center (for Heaven and Earth may be fuppos'd as yet not made, certainly not yet accurs'd) but in a place of utter darkness, fitliest call'd Chaos: Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning lake, thunder-ftruck and aftonish'd, after a certain fpace 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 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 determin 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. [s] PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. F Man's firft difobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With lofs of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Sing, heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top That shepherd, who first taught the chofen feed, Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd Invoke thy aid to my adventrous fong, B 3 Illumin, Illumin, what is low raise and support; That to the height of this great argument I may affert eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to Men. Say firft, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell, say first what cause Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state, Favor'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world befides? Who first feduc'd them to that foul revolt? Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose 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 aspiring To fet himself in glory' above his peers, He trusted to have equal'd the most High, If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim Against the throne and monarchy of God Rais'd impious war in Heav'n and battel proud With vain attempt. Him the almighty Power Hurl'd headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, With hideous ruin and combustion, down To bottomlefs perdition, there to dwell In adamantin chains and penal fire, Who durft defy, th' Omnipotent to arms. Nine times the space that measures day and night To mortal men, he with his horrid crew Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded Confounded though immortal: But his doom Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes, A dungeon horrible on all fides round As one great furnace flam'd, yet from those flames Serv'd only to discover fights of woe, Regions of forrow, doleful fhades, where peace Breaking the horrid filence thus began. If thou beeft he; but O how fall'n! how chang'd From him, who in the happy realms of light Cloth'd with transcendent brightness didft outshine Myriads though bright! If he whom mutual leagué, United thoughts and counfels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd In equal ru'in: into what pit thou seest From what highth fall'n, so much the ftronger prov'd Can elfe inflict, do I repent or change, Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, That durft dislike his reign, and me preferring, In dubious battel on the plains of Heaven, And study of revenge, immortal hate, grace Who |