and aftonish'd, after a certain Space recovers, as from Confufion, calls up him. who next in Order and Dignity lay by bim; they confer of their miferable Fall. Satan awakens all his Legions, who lay 'till then in the fame manner confounded: They rife; their Numbers, Array of Battel, their chief Leaders nam'd, according to the Idols known afterwards in Canaan and the Countries adjoining. To thefe Satan directs his Speech, comforts them with Hope yet of regaining Heaven, but tells them laftly 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 vifible Creation, was the Opinion of many ancient Fathers. To find out the Truth of this Prophecy, and what to determine thereon, be refers to a full Council. What bis Affociates thence attempt. Pandemonium, the Palace of Satan, rifes, fuddenly built out of the Deep: The infernal Peers there fit in Council.

OF

F Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tafte

Brought Death into the World and all our

woe,

With lofs of Eden, 'till one greater Man
Reftore us, and regain the blisful Seat,
Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didft inspire

That Shepherd, who firft taught the chofen Seed,
In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth
Rofe out of Chaos: Or if Sion Hill

Delight thee more, and Siloa's Brook that flow'd
Faft by the Oracle of God; I thence
Invoke thy Aid to my adventrous Song,
That with no middle flight intends to foar
Above th' Aonian Mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in Profe or Rhime.
And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that doft prefer
Before all Temples th' upright Heart and pure,
Inftru&t me, for Thou know'ft; Thou from the first
Waft prefent, and with mighty Wings out-spread
Dove-like fat'ft brooding on the vast Abyss
And mad'ft it pregnant: What in me is dark
Illumine, what is low raise and support;
That to the height of this great Argument
I may affert Eternal Providence,
And juftifie the ways of God to Men.

Say firft, 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 fo highly, to fall off
From their Creator, and tranfgrefs his Will
For one Reftraint, Lords of the World befides?
Who firft feduc'd them to that foul revolt?

Th' Infernal Serpent: He it was, whose guile,

Stirr'd

Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd

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The Mother of Mankind, what time his Pride

Had caft him out from Heav'n, with all his Hoft
Of Rebel Angels, by whofe aid aspiring

To fet himself in Glory above his Péers,

Hetrufted to have equall'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 attempt. Him the Almighty Power
Hurl'd headlong flaming from th' Etherial Skie,
With hideous ruin and combuftion down
To bottomlefs perdition: there to dwell

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45

In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire,

Who durft defie th' Omnipotent to Arms.

Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night
To mortal Men, he with his horrid Crew

Lay vanquish'd, rowling in the fiery Gulf,

Confounded though immortal: But his Doom

Referv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought
Both of loft happiness and lafting pain

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Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes
That witness'd huge affliction and difmay,

Mix'd with obdurate pride and ftedfaft hate:
At once as far as Angels kenn he views
The difmal Situation wafte and wild,

A Dungeon horrible, on all fides round,

As one great Furnace, flam'd, yet from thofe flames
No light, but rather Darkness Visible

Serv'd only to discover fights of woe,

Regions of forrow, doleful shades, where peace

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And reft can never dwell, hope never comes

That comes to all; but torture without end