PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. 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 com mand 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:- 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 infornal peer there sit in council. Or Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, 5 10 Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd Fast by the oracle of God; I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar 15 Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues And justify the ways of God to men. 20 25 30 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, deceived 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, 35 He trusted to have equal'd the Most High, 40 If he opposed; and, with ambitious aim 45 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 Confounded, though immortal: But his doom 55 Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, Mix'd with obdurate pride and steadfast hate At once, as far as Angels ken, he views As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames -60 Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 65 And rest can never dwell; hope never comes That comes to all; but torture without end With ever burning sulphur unconsumed. 70 For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd As far removed from God and light of Heaven And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with bold words 75 80 Speech If thou be he; but O, how fallen! how changed From him, who, in the happy realms of light, 85 Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Mads 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 height fallen; so much the stronger proved The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Can else inflict, do I repent or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, 95 100 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, 106 And study of revenge, immortal hate, 110 Doubted his empire; that were low indeed, That were an ignominy, and shame beneath 115 This downfal: since, by fate, the strength of Gods And this empyreal substance cannot fail; Since through experience of this great event In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, 120 We may with more successful hope resolve Who now triumphs, and, in the excess of joy So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers, answer 125 |