LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Edward Johnson, Esq. Mile-End Ingram, Esq. K. Mr. M'Nair, Glasgow Mr. Kelk, Compton-street L. P. The Honorable George Pitt - Petrie, Esq. Portland-place Mr. Lepard, Newgate-street R. C. Paul, Esq. Great Ormond-street Charles Piggott, Esq. Lincoln's-Inn. The Rev. Mr. Parker, Brentford Mr. Penfold, Castle-street, Falcon-square The Rev. Mr. Lucas, Casterton, Rutland Mrs. Pearson Mr. Wm. Langdale, Red Lion-street Mr. George Prince, Arundel street John Latouche, Esq. Dublin - Prevost, Esq. Red Lion-square Lowden, Esq. Temple Mr. J. G. Perry, Oxford-road Capt. John Lambe Geo. Pocock, Esq. Great George-street Mr. Parker, Fleet-street Mr. S. Petit, Bank Mr. G. Pettitt, Brewer-street Earl Moira Mr. Purripont, Stamford Lady Eliz. Moncrieffe, Stamford Mr. Parbury, Holborn Mr. Place, Southampton Mrs. Pyke, Luton, Bedfordshire Mr. Pearkes, Richmond-buildings R. Her Grace the Duchess of Rutland Major Metcalfe, Portland-place His Grace the Duke of Roxburgh George Martin, Esq. Gracechurch-street The Earl of Radnor M. Mitchell, Esq. Beaufort-buildings The Marchioness of Rockingham Miss Monckton, Fineshade, Northamptonshire Lady Rich , Mr. Marriott, Lamb's Conduit-street Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. Portland-place Mr. Thomas Marston, ditto George Romney, Esq. Cavendish-square Mr. H. Morreau, Lambeth Terrace Mr. R. N. Richardson, Stratfield, Hants Mr. Maud, St. Clement's Church-yard Mr. Railton, Cheapside Mr. H. Mist, Long-acre Mr. Rankin, ditto Mr. Middleditch, Great Newport-street Mr. Rogers, King-street, Westminster Mr. Marshall, ditto Charles Mainwaring, Esq. Lincoln S. Mr. B. Miller, Bank The Most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury Wm. Moffat, Esq. Queen-square The Marchioness of Stafford The Earl of Shaftsbury Earl Stanhope Sir John Smith, Bart. Sydling, Dorsetshire J. Nicolay, Esq. St. James's-palace Sir John Skynner, George-street LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. W. Sackville, Esq. St. James's-street Scrope, Esq. Bath T. U & V. The Earl of Wemyss Academy Walker, Esq. Conduit-street Mr. Whitaker, Castle-street Walker, Esq. King-street, Golden-square Wills, Esq. Harley-street Walker, Esq. Rotheram, Yorkshire Y, John Yenn, Esq. R. A. Treasurer of the Roya! Academy Mr. Yate, Borough THE ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. 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 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 battel, 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. Pandæmonium the palace of Satan rises, suddenly built out of the deep: the infernal peers there sit in council. |