V. . - - - • - 334 Testimonia le auctore . - - 350 In proditionem bombardicam 366 In eandem . - • * • - - In obitum procancellarii Medici 368 In obitum praesulis Eliensis. 374 Page Psalm CXIV. (graece) . . . . . 379 Philosophus ad Regem quendam (graece) . . 380 In effigiei ejus sculptorem (graece) . - - Ad Salsillum poetam Rom. . . . . . Mansus . . . . . . . . 381 Epitaphium Damonis . . . . O . 383 Ad Joan. Rousium . . . . . . * : 388 Ad Christinam, Suecor. Reginam . . . 390 ITALIAN POEMS. Sonnet I, II. - - o s - - - 391 Canzone - - • w Sonnet III. IV. V. - - s - - - 392 The first Book proposes, first in brief, the whole subject, Man's disobedience, aid 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 o: Which action passed over, the oem hastens into the midst of things, presenting Satan, with is angels, now falling into hell, described here, not in the center (for heaven and earth may be ;"|..." as yet not made, certainly not yet accursed), but in a place of utter darkness, fitliest called "Chaos : here Satan, with his #o lying on the burning lake, thunderstruck and astonished, after a certain space recovers, as from confusion, calls up him who neart 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; arra 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 .#. 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 #a: 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 theré sit in council. Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, 20 Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast abyss, And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark, Illumine; what is low, raise and support; That to the highth of this great argument I may assert eternal Providence, 25 And justify the ways of God to men. Say first, for heav'n hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of hell; say first, what cause Mov’d our grand parents. in that happy state, Favour'd of heav'n so highly, to fall off ... From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduc’d them to that foul revolt? Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd 35 The mother of mankind, what time his pride 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 Against the throne and monarchy of God, Rais'd impious war in heav'n, and battle proud, With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power Hurl’d headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, 45 With hideous ruin and combustion, down To bottomless perdition; there to dwell In adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durst defy th’ Omnipotent to arms. Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 To mortal men, he with his horrid crew Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal: but his doom Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 55 Torments him : round he throws his baleful eyes, That witness'd huge affliction and dismay, 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 No light, but rather darkness visible Serv'd 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 Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd : Such place eternal Justice had prepar’d 70 For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd In utter darkness, and their portion sct As far remov’d from God and light of heav'n, O, how unlike the place from whence they fell! -75 . " There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelm'd |