THE ARGUMENT. The first book proposes, first, in brief, the whole subject, man's disobedience, 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 command 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 fallen 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 angels lying on the burning lake, thunder-struck 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; their numbers, array of battle, their chief leaders named, according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan, and the countries 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 proph ecy, and what to determine thereon, he refers to a full council. What his associates then attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rises, suddenly out of the deep: the infernal peers there sit in council. PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. OF man's first disobedience, and the fruit That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd Fast by the oracle of God; I thence Invoke thy aid to my advent'rous song, pursues Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. And justify the ways of God to man. Say first, (for Heaven hides nothing from thy view Nor the deep tract of Hell,) say first, what cause B Mov'd our grand parents, in that happy state, revenge, The mother of mankind, what time his pride 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 though immortal: but his doom Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes 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 wo, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell; hope never comes If thou be he; but O how fallen! how chang'd And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd In equal ruin! Into what pit thou seest, From what heighth fallen; so much the stronger proved He with his thunder: and till then who knew The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Nor what the potent victor in his rage Can else inflict, do I repent or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, That durst dislike his reign; and, me preferring, |