Book I.
Paradiſe loſt.
Above th' Aonian Mount, while it purſues
Things unattempted yet in Proſe or Rhime.
And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that doſt prefer
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
20Dove-like ſatſt 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 th’ Eternal Providence,
And juſtifie the wayes of God to men.
Say firſt,for Heav’n bides nothing from thy view
Nor the deep Tract of Hell, ſay firſt what cauſe
Mov’d our Grand Parents in that happy State,
30 Favour’d of Heav’n ſo highly, to fall off
From their Creator, and tranſgreſs his Will
For one reftraint. Lords of the World beſides
Who firſt ſeduc’d them to that fowl revolt
Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was, whoſe guile
Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv’d
The Mother of Mankinde, 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,’
40He truſted to have equal’d the moſt High,
If he oppos’d; and with ambitious aim
Againſt the Throne and Monarchy of God
Rais'd impious War in Heav’n and Battel proud
With vain attpempt. Him the Almighty Power
Hurld headlong flaming from th Etheral Skie
With hideous ruine and combuſtion down
Things unattempted yet in Proſe or Rhime.
And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that doſt prefer
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
20Dove-like ſatſt 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 th’ Eternal Providence,
And juſtifie the wayes of God to men.
Say firſt,for Heav’n bides nothing from thy view
Nor the deep Tract of Hell, ſay firſt what cauſe
Mov’d our Grand Parents in that happy State,
30 Favour’d of Heav’n ſo highly, to fall off
From their Creator, and tranſgreſs his Will
For one reftraint. Lords of the World beſides
Who firſt ſeduc’d them to that fowl revolt
Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was, whoſe guile
Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv’d
The Mother of Mankinde, 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,’
40He truſted to have equal’d the moſt High,
If he oppos’d; and with ambitious aim
Againſt the Throne and Monarchy of God
Rais'd impious War in Heav’n and Battel proud
With vain attpempt. Him the Almighty Power
Hurld headlong flaming from th Etheral Skie
With hideous ruine and combuſtion down
To
