， Paradise Lost Ⅰ1 the argument this first book proposes； first in brief； the whole subject； mans disobedience； and the loss thereupon of paradise wherein he was plact： 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 mand of god driven out of heaven with all his crew into the great deep。 which action past over； the poem hasts into the midst of things； presenting satan with his angels now fallen into hell； describd here； not in the center （for heaven and earth may be supposd as yet not made； certainly not yet accurst） but in a place of utter darkness； fitliest calld chaos： here satan with his angels lying on the burning lake； thunder…struck and astonisht； after a certain space recovers； as from confusion； calls up him who next in order and dignity lay by him； they confer of thir miserable fall。 satan awakens all his legions； who lay till then in the same manner confounded； they rise； thir numbers； array of battel； thir chief leaders namd； according to the idols known afterwards in canaan and the countries adjoyning。 to these satan directs his speech； forts 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 prophesie 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 prophesie； and what to determin thereon he refers to a full councel。 what his associates thence attempt。 pandemonium the palace of satan rises； suddenly built out of the deep： the infernal peers there sit in councel。 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅰ2 ^生。网！ of mans first disobedience； and the fruit of that forbidden tree； whose mortal tast brought death into the world； and all our woe； with loss of eden； till one greater man restore us； and regain the blissful seat； ＇ 5 ＇ sing heavnly muse；that on the secret top of oreb； or of sinai； didst inspire that shepherd； who first taught the chosen seed； in the beginning how the heavns and earth rose out of chaos： or if sion hill ＇ 10 ＇ delight thee more； and siloas brook that flowd fast by the oracle of god； i thence invoke thy aid to my adventrous song； that with no middle flight intends to soar above th aonian mount； while it pursues ＇ 15 ＇ 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 knowst； thou from the first wast present； and with mighty wings outspread ＇ 20 ＇ dove…like satst brooding on the vast abyss and madst it pregnant： what in me is dark illumin； what is low raise and support； that to the highth of this great argument i may assert eternal providence； ＇ 25 ＇ and justifie the wayes of god to men。 say first； for heavn hides nothing from thy view nor the deep tract of hell； say first what cause movd our grand parents in that happy state； favourd of heavn so highly； to fall off ＇ 30 ＇ from thir creator； and transgress his will for one restraint； lords of the world besides？ who first seducd them to that foul revolt？ th infernal serpent； he it was； whose guile stird up with envy and revenge； deceivd ＇ 35 ＇ the mother of mankind； what time his pride had cast him out from heavn； with all his host of rebel angels； by whose aid aspiring to set himself in glory above his peers； he trusted to have equald the most high； ＇ 40 ＇ …… Paradise Lost Ⅰ3 ｛小｝｛说｝｛网｝ if he opposd； and with ambitious aim against the throne and monarchy of god raisd impious war in heavn and battel proud with vain attempt。 him the almighty power hurld headlong flaming from th ethereal skie ＇ 45 ＇ with hideous ruine and bustion down to bottomless perdition； there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal fire； who durst defie th omnipotent to arms。 nine times the space that measures day and night ＇ 50 ＇ to mortal men； he with his horrid crew lay vanquisht； rowling in the fiery gulfe confounded though immortal： but his doom reservd him to more wrath； for now the thought both of lost happiness and lasting pain ＇ 55 ＇ torments him； round he throws his baleful eyes that witnessd huge affliction and dismay mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate： at once as far as angels kenn he views the dismal situation waste and wilde； ＇ 60 ＇ a dungeon horrible； on all sides round as one great furnace flamd； yet from those flames no light； but rather darkness visible servd onely to discover sights of woe； regions of sorrow； doleful shades； where peace ＇ 65 ＇ and rest can never dwell； hope never es that es to all； but torture without end still urges； and a fiery deluge； fed with ever…burning sulphur unconsumd： such place eternal justice had prepard ＇ 70 ＇ for those rebellious； here thir prison ordaind in utter darkness； and thir portion set as far removd from god and light of heavn as from the center thrice to th utmost pole。 o how unlike the place from whence they fell！ ＇ 75 ＇ there the panions of his fall； orewhelmd with floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire； he soon discerns； and weltring by his side one next himself in power； and next in crime； m。 Paradise Lost Ⅰ4 生？ long after known in palestine； and namd ＇ 80 ＇ beelzebub。 to whom th arch…enemy； and thence in heavn calld satan； with bold words breaking the horrid silence thus began。 if thou beest he； but o how falln！ how changd from him； who in the happy realms of light ＇ 85 ＇ clothd with transcendent brightness didst out…shine myriads though bright： if he whom mutual league； united thoughts and counsels； equal hope and hazard in the glorious enterprize； joynd with me once； now misery hath joynd ＇ 90 ＇ in equal ruin： into what pit thou seest from what highth falln； so much the stronger provd he with his thunder： and till then who knew the force of those dire arms？ yet not fo