PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. 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, 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 a 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. OF Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer And justify the ways of God to men. Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell; say first, what cause Moved our grand Parents, in that happy state, Favour'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? The 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 cast him out from Heaven, with all his host Of rebel Angels; by whose aid aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, ''Siloa :' a small brook flowing near the Temple of Jerusalem. He trusted to have equall'd the Most High, A dungeon horrible on all sides round, 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 With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed: As far removed from God and light of Heaven, As from the center thrice to the utmost pole. And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words If thou beest he; but O, how fallen! 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 mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 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 highth fallen; so much the stronger proved The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power opposed In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, 1 'Beelzebub :' see 2 Kings i. 2. And study of revenge, immortal hate, Who now triumphs, and, in the excess of joy So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, |