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 hastes 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, thunder-struck 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 thém lastly of a new world, and new kind of creature to be created ; according to an ancient prophecy 1 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 Hurl'd headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, 45 With hideous ruin and combustion, down In adamantine chains and penal fire, 5 Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms. To mortal nien, he with his horrid crew 51 10 Reserv'd him to more wrath : for now the thought Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd Both of lost happiness, and lasting pain, 55 Fast by the oracle of God; I thence Torments him. Round he throws his baleful eyes, That witness'd huge affliction and dismay, Mix'd with obdurate pride, and steadfast hate, The dismal situation waste and wild : 60 A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, And rest can never dwell! hope never comes, Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd! 25 Such place eternal justice had prepard 70 And justify the ways of God to men. For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd, In utter darkness; and their portion set With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, One next himself in power, and next in crime, “If thou beest he-But how fallin! how chang'd He trusted to have equall'd the Ňost High, 40 From him, who in the happy realms of light 85 If he oppos'd: and with ambitious aim Cloth'd with transcendent brightness, didst out. Against the throne and monarchy of God shine Rais'd impious war in heaven, and battle proud, Myriads though bright! If he, whom mutual league. With vain attempt. Him the Almighty power United thoughts and counsels, equal hope d That durst dislike his reign: and me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd, In dubious battle on the plains of heaven, 100 106 110 And shook his throne. What tho' the field be lost? 115 120 Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains Invincible, and vigour soon returns, .30 135 140 [ours) Though all our glory extinct, and happy state, 150 155 Whereto with speedy words th' arch-fiend replied: As being the contrary to his high will 170 To bellow through the vast and boundless deep, 185 What reinforcement we may gain from hope; 190 Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate, 195 200 205 So stretch'd out huge in length the arch-fiend lay, 230 255 (sole "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," Said then the lost archangel "this the seat, That we must change for heaven? this mournful gloom 255 For that celestial light? be it so! since he 245 260 265 390 Lie thus astonish'd on th' oblivious pool, Came like a deluge on the south, and spread And call them not to share with us their part Beneath Gibralter to the Libyan sands. 555 In this unhappy mansion: or once more Forth with from every squadron, and each band, With rallied arms to try, what may be yet The heads and leaders thither haste where stood Regain'd in heaven, or what more lost in hell ?" 270 Their great commander ; godlike shapes and forms Excelling human, princely dignities, So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub And powers! that erst in heaven sat on thrones; Thus answer'd : " Leader of those armies bright, Though of their names in heavenly records now 361 Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foild ! Pe no memorial; blotted out and raz d, If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge By their rebellion, from the books of life. Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft 275 Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 361 In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Got them new names; 'till wand'ring o er the eart), Of battle when it rag'd, in all assaults Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, Their surest signal, they will soon resume By falsites and lies the greatest part Glory of him that made them, to transform 370 No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height !" Oft to the image of a brute, adorn'd With gay religions full of pomp and gold, He scarce had ceas'd, when the superior fiend And devils to adore for deities: Was moving toward the shore; his pond'rous shield, Then were they known to men by various names, Etherial temper, massy, large, and round, 285 And various idols through the heathen world. 375 Behind him cast; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Say, Muse, their names then known; who first, Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views who last, At ev'ning from the top of Fesole, Rous'd from the sumber, on that fiery couch, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 290 At their great emperor's call, as next in worth Rivers, or mountains, on her spotty globe. Came singly where he stood, on the bare strand, His spear, (to equal which the tallest pine While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof? 380 Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast The chief were those who, from the pit of hell Of some great admiral, were but a wand) Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix He walk with, to support uneasy steps 295 Their seats long after next the seat of God Over the burning marle (not like those steps Their altars by his altar, gods ador'd On heaven's azure !) and the torrid clime Among the nations round, and durst abide 38 Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. Jehovah thund'ring out of Sion, thron'd Nathless he so endur'd, till on the beach Between the cherubim; yea, often plac'd Of that inflamed sea he stood and call'd 300 Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, His legions, angel-forms, who lay entranc'd, Abominations! and with cursed things Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks His holy rites and solemn feasts profan'd, In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades, And with their darkness durst affront his light. High over-arch'd imbower; or scattered sedge First Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm'd 305 Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; Hath vex'd the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'er- Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, Busiris, and his Memphian chivalry, (threw Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd thro tire While with perfidious hatred they pursu'd To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite 396 The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld Worshipp'd in Rabba, and her watery plain, From the safe shore their floating carcasses, 310 In Argob, and in Basan, to the stream And broken chariot wheels: so thick bestrown, Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood, Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 400 Under amazement of their hideous change. Of Solomon he led by fraud, to build He call'd so loud, that all the hollow deep His temple right against the temple of God, Of hell resounded : “Princes, Potentates, 315 On the opprobrious hill; and made his grove Warriors, the flower of heaven! once yours, now The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence If such astonishment as this can seize [lost, And black Gehenna called, the type of hell. 405 Eternal spirits : or have ye chosen this place Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons After the toil of battle to repose From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 320 Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon To slumber here, as in the vales of heaven? And Horonaim, Seon's realm, beyond Or in this abject posture have ye sworn The flowery dale of Sibma, clad with vines; 410 T'adore the conqueror? who now beholds And Eleale to th' Asphaltic pool : Cherub and seraph rolling in the flood, Peor his other name, when he entic'd With scatter'd arms and ensigns; till anon 325 Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, His swift pursuers from heaven-gates discern To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. Th' advantage, and descending iread us down Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarg'd 415 Thus drooping; or with linked thunderbolts Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf. Of Moloch homicide; lust hard by hate; Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" 330 Till good Josiah drove them thence to hell. With these came they, who from the bordring flood They heard, and were abash'd, and up they Of old Euphrates, to the brook that parts 420 sprung Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names Upon the wing; as when men wont to watch of Baalim, and Ashtaroth; those male, On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, These feminine : (For spirits when they please Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. Can either sex assume, or both; so soft Nor did they not perceive the evil plight 335 And uncompounded is their essence pure; 425 In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Not tied or manacled with joint or limb, Yet to their general's voice they soon obey'd, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Innunierable! As when the potent rod Like cumbrous tlesh; but in what shape they choose, Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, Dilated or condens'd, bright or obscure, Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 340 Can execute their airy purposes, 430 Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, And works of love or enmity fulfil.) His righteous altar, bowing lowly down Of despicable foes. With these in troop Of their great sultan waving to direct Came Astoreth, whom the Phenicians call'd In Sion also not unsung, where stood A 2 455 By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large, His mighty standard : that proud honour claim'd Beguild by fair idolatresses, fell 415 Azazel as his right, a cherub tall; To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Who forth with from the glittering staff unfurl'd 535 Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanc'd, The Syrian damsels, to lament his fate Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, In am Tous ditties all a summer's day; With gems and golden lustre rich emblaz'd, While smooth Adonis from his native rock 450 Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Ran purple to the sea, suppos'd with blood Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: 540 of Thammuz yearly wounded the love-tale At which the universal host up sent Infected Sion's daughters with like heat; A shout that tore hell's concave; and beyond Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, All in a moment through the gloom were seen His eyes survey'd the dark idolatries Ten thousand banners rise into the air, 545 Of alienated Judah. Next came one With orient colours waving: with them rose Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopp'd off Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array, In his own temple, on the grunsel edge, 460 of depth immeasurable: anon they move Where he fell flat, and sham'd his worshippers ; In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood 550 Dagon his name; sea-monster! upward man Of flutes, and soft recorders; such as rais'd And downward fish: yet had his temple high To height of noblest temper heroes old Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Arming to battle; and instead of rage, Of Palestine, in Gath, and Ascalon, 465 Deliberate valour breath'd, firm, and unmov'd And Acoaron, and Gaza's frontier bounds. With dread of death to flight, or foul retreat; 555 Him follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful seat Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage, Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase Of Abbana, and Pharphar, lucid streams ! Anguish, and doubt, and fear, and sorrow, and pain, He also against the house of God was bold: 470 From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king, Breathing united force, with fixed thought 560 Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew Mov'd on in silence to soft pipes, that charm'd God's altar to disparage, and displace, Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil: and now For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn Advanc'd in view, they stand, a horrid front His odious off rings, and adore the gods 475 Of dreadful length, and dazzling arms, in guise Whom he had vanquish'd. After these appear'd Of warriors old with order'd spear and shield, 565 A crew who under names of old renown, Awaiting what command their mighty chief Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train, Had to impose : he through the armed files With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverse Fanatic Egypt, and her priests, to seek 480 The whole battalion views, their order due, Their wand'ring gods disguis'd in brutish forms, Their visages and stature as of gods; 570 Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape Their number last he sumns. And now his heart Th' Infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd Distends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king Glories: for never since created, man Doubled that sin in Bethel, and in Dan, 485 Met such imbodied force, as nam'd with these Lik"ning his Maker to the grazed ox, Could merit more than that small infantry 575 Jehovah! who in one night, when he pass'd Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd, Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Belial came last, than whom a spirit more lewd 490 Mix'd with auxiliar gods: and what resounds Fell not from heaven, or more gross to love In fable or romance of Uther's son, 580 Vice for itself: to him no temple stood, Begirt with British and Armoric knights; Or altar smok'd; yet who more oft than he And all who since, baptiz'd or infidel, In temples, and at altars, when the priest Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who fill'd 495 Damasco, or Morocco, or Trebisond; With lust and violence the house of God? Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore, 585 In courts and palaces he also reigns, When Charlemain with all his peerage fell And in luxurious cities, where the noise By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd Stood like a tower : his form had not yet lost Less than archangel ruin'd, and th' excess Expos'd a matron, to avoid worse rape. 505 Of glory obscur'd as when the sun new-risen Looks through the horizontal misty air, 595 These were the prime, in order and in might; Shorn of his beams; or from behind the moon, The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds Th' Ionian gods, of Javan's issue held On half the nations, and with fear of change Gods, yet confess'd later than heaven and earth, Perplexes monarchs; darken'd so, yet shone Their boasted parents. Titan, (heaven's first-born, Above them all th' archangel: but his face 600 With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'd 511 Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd, and care By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows (His own and Rhea's son,) like measure found; Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Crete, Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast And Ida known; thence on the snowy top 515 Signs of remorse and passion, to behold 605 Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air, The fellows of his crime, the followers rather, Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, (Far other onoe beheld in bliss !) condemn'd Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds For ever now to have their lot in pain; Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old Millions of spirits, for his fault amerc'á Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields, 520 Of heaven, and from eternal splendours flung 610 And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles. For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood, Their glory wither'd: as when heaven's fire All these and more came flocking, but with looks Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines, Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appear'd With singed top their stately growth, though bare, Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd 615 chief To speak, whereat their doubled ranks they bend Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 523 From wing to wing, and half inclose him round In loss itself; which on his count'nance cast With all his peers: attention held them mute:' Like doubtful hue : but he his wonted pride Thrice he assay'd, and thrice in spite of scorn, Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth ; at last 620 Semblance of worth, not substance, gently rais'd Words interwove with sighs found out their way. Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. 530 Then straight commands that at the warlike sound “O myriads of immortal spirits ! O powers Of trumpets loud, and clarions, be uprear'd Matchless, but with th' Almighty, and that strife 625 630 Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, 635 640 Henceforth his might we know, and know our own; New war, provok'd. Our better part remains 645 655 665 He spake: and to confirm his words out flew Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs Of mighty cherubim: the sudden blaze Far round illumin'd hell; highly they rag'd Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war, Hurling defiance toward the vault of heaven. There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 670 Were always downward bent; admiring more 681 Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 685 Ransack'd the centre, and with impious hands Equall'd in all their glories, to inshrine Belus, or Serapis, their gods; or seat 720 [doors 725 730 Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove By all his engines, but was headlong sent 740 745 750 755 761 Meanwhile the winged heralds' by command Of sov'reign power, with awful ceremony And trumpets' sound, throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held At Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers: their summons call'd, From every band and squared regiment, By place or choice the worthiest, they anon With hundreds, and with thousands, trooping came Attended: all access was throng'd, the gates And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall (Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldan's chair Defied the best of Panim chivalry To mortal combat, or career with lance) Thick swarm'd, both on the ground, and in the air, Brush'd with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees In spring time, when the sun with Taurus rides, Pour forth theír populous youth about the hive 770 In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, (The suburb of their straw-built citadel,) New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd Swarm'd and were straiten'd; till the signal And digg'd out rihs of gold. (Let none admire 690 700 710 Behold a wonder! they but now who seem'd In bigness to surpass earth's giant sons, Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room 780 785 Throng numberless, like that pygmean race END OF BOOK FIRST. A 3 795 |