PARADISE LOS T. BOOK L 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 falling into hell, described here, not in the center 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 be fore 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 place of Satan, rises, suddenly built out of the deep: the infernal peers there sit in council. Or man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, 5 Sing, heav'nly muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed, In the beginning how the heav'ns and earth 10 Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flɔw'd 15 A Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, Say first, for heav'n hides nothing from thy view, 20 25 30 35 Had cast him out from heav'n, with all his host Of rebel angels; by whose aid, aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, He trusted to have equall'd the Most High, 40 If he oppos'd; and, with ambitious aim Rais'd impious war in heav'n, and battle proud, 45 Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms. Nine times the space that measures day and night Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, Mix'd with obdurate pride and stedfast hate: At once, as far as angels ken, he views The dismal situation waste and wild; 60 A dungeon horrible on all sides round, As one great furnace flam'd; yet from those flames Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 65 And rest can never dwell; hope never comes With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd: 70 For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd As far remov'd from God and light of heav'n, -75 80 And thence in heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words 'If thou beest he; but O, how fall'n! 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, 85 Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd In equal ruin! Into what pit thou seest He with his thunder: and till then who knew 90 From what highth fall'n, so much the stronger prov'd 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, 95 100 And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? And study of revenge, immortal hate, That glory never shall his wrath or might 110 Doubted his empire; that were low indeed, That were an ignominy, and shame beneath 115 This downfall: 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 advanc'd, We may with more successful hope resolve 120 Who now triumphs, and, in th' excess of joy So spake th' apostate angel, though in pain, 125 |