BOOK I. THE ARGUMENT. This first Book proposes, first in brief, the whole subject, Man's die 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 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 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 2 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 comer 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, ac cording 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 deter mine thereon, he refers to a full 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. (F Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, In the beginning how the heav'ns and earth Rose out of Chaos: Or if Sion hill 10 Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd • Fast by the oracle of God; I thence And justify the ways of God to Men. 30 Say first, 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, Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduc'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 4Q Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his host Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes, A dungeon horrible on all sides round 60 As one great furnace flam'd, yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible Serv'd only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes Thit comes to all; but torture without end 70 For those rebellious, here their pris'on ordain'd 80 If thou beest he; but O how fall'n! how chang'd From him, who in the happy realms of light, Cloth'd with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads though bright! If he whom mutal league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd go In equal ruin into what pit thou seest : From what height fall'n, so much the stronger prov'd 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, 143 Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, 100 That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, And study of revenge, immortal hate, Since through experience of this great event We may Irreconcileable to our grand foe, 120 Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy VOL. I. N |