But if fuch Decorations are justly due to the minor Poets, they cannot furely, without extreme injustice, be denied to MILTON, who takes his rank by the fide of HOMER and VIRGIL. Among the tribe of poets, these ftand proudly pre-eminent; and ought, as acknowledged princes, when they appear in public, to be clothed in gorgeous vestments, adequate to their dignity. Under this perfuafion, and in compliance with the present taste, the Proprietors of this Edition have decorated it in a manner which requires only to be infpected in order to be approved. They have still retained it in a fize not too large for the pocket, and at a price which may render its reception general. Their firft endeavour has been to prefent the Text in a correct state; and they hope it will be found, that the Prefs of BENSLEY is no lefs remarkable for accuracy than elegance. THE ARGUMENT. This first book proposes first (in brief) the whole fubject, Man's difobedience, and the lofs thereupon of Paradise wherein he was plac'd; then touches the prime cause of his fall-the Serpent, or rather Satan in the serpent; who, revolting from God, and drawing to his fide many legions of Angels, was, by the command of God, driven out of Heaven, with all his crew, into the great deep. Which action pafs'd over, the poem haftes into the midst of things; prefenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into Hell, defcrib'd here not in the centre (for Heaven and Earth may be suppos'd as yet not made, certainly not yet accurs'd), but in a place of utter darkness, fitlieft called Chaos: Here Satan, with his Angels lying on the burning lake thunder-struck and astonish'd, after a certain space recovers, as from confufion, calls up him who next in order and dignity lay by him; 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 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, 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, he refers to a full council. What his affociates thence attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rifes, fuddenly built out of the deep; the infernal peers there fit in council. PARADISE LOST. BOOK I. Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chofen feed, Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook, that flow'd Inftru&t me, for Thou know'ft; Thou from the first And justify 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 ftate, Favour'd of Heav'n fo highly, to fall off From their Creator, and tranfgrefs his will For one restraint, lords of the world befides? Who first feduc'd them to that foul revolt? Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had caft him out from Heav'n with all his hoft Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, afpiring To fet himself in glory' above his peers, He trufted to have equall'd the Moft High, 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, With hideous ruin and combuftion, down To bottomlefs perdition, there to dwell In adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durft defy th' Omnipotent to arms. |