PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. THE ARGUMENT. This 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, 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 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 prophecy, and what to determine 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 Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark And justify the ways of God to men. 30 Say first for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, To set himself in glory above his peers, 40 Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. The dismal situation waste and wild. 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 With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. 60 70 One next himself in power, and next in crime, 80 And thence in Heaven called SATAN, with bold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began :— "If thou beest he-but Oh 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, Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 90 From what highth fallen: so much the stronger proved Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, 100 And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? And study of revenge, immortal hate, 110 |