PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. Or 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 And chiefly Thou, O SPIRIT! that dost prefer Illumine! what is low, raise and support! That to the height of this great argument 25 I may assert eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. Say first, for heav'n hides nothing from thy view, From their Creator, and transgress his will The infernal Serpent. He it was, whose guile, 50 Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms. Nine times the space that measures day and night Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, 55 Both of lost happiness, and lasting pain, Torments him. Round he throws his baleful eyes, 60 The dismal situation waste and wild: A dungeon horrible on all sides round As one great furnace flam'd; yet from those flame Serv'd only to discover sights of woe! 65 Regions of sorrow! doleful shades! where peace With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd! 70 Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd As far remov'd from God and light of heaven, Beelzebub. To whom th' arch-enemy, And thence in heav'n call'd Satan,—with bold words "If thou be'st he,-but O, how fall'n! how chang'd 85 "From him, who, in the happy realms of light, "Cloth'd with transcendent brightness, didst outshine 90 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 "From what height fall'n! so much the stronger prov'd 95 Nor what the potent victor in his rage "Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, "Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, "And high disdain, from sense of injur'd merit, "That with the Mightiest rais'd me to contend; 100" And to the fierce contention brought along "Innumerable force of spirits arm'd, "That durst dislike his reign; and, me preferring, 66 His utmost pow'r with adverse pow'r oppos'd "In dubious battle on the plains of heav'n, 105" And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? "All is not lost; th' unconquerable will, "And study of revenge, immortal hate, And what is else not to be overcome,110" That glory never shall his wrath, or might, "Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace "With suppliant knee, and deify his power, "Who, from the terror of this arm, so late "Doubted his empire! That were low indeed! 115 "That were an ignominy, and shame beneath "This downfal! since, by Fate, the strength of gods "And this empyreal substance cannot fail; 120 125 66 Since, through experience of this great event,- "Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy "O Prince! O chief of many throned Powers! "And put to proof his high supremacy, "Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; "Too well I see, and rue the dire event, 135 "That with sad overthrow and foul defeat "Hath lost us heaven; and all this mighty host "As far as gods and heav'nly essences "Can perish; for the mind and spirit remains 140"Invincible, and vigour soon returns, 145 "Though all our glory extinct, and happy state "Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours) 66 Strongly to suffer and support our pains, "That we may so suffice his vengeful ire; "Or do him mightier service, as his thralls 150 "By right of war, whate'er his business be, "Here in the heart of hell to work in fire, "Or do his errands in the gloomy deep? "What can it then avail, though yet we feel 155 160 66 Strength undiminish'd, or eternal being, "To undergo eternal punishment?" Whereto with speedy words th' arch-fiend replied: "Fall'n Cherub! to be weak is miserable, "Doing, or suff'ring; but of this be sure, "As being the contrary to His high will, 170 "Back to the gates of heav'n: the sulph'rous hail, |