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. Brought death into the World, and all our woe, Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed ΙΟ Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. 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, The infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host He trusted to have equalled the Most High, Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms. 20 30 40 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. At once, as far as Angel's ken, he views A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames 60 |