Paradise Lost and Its Sequel, Paradise Regained (Illustrated Edition). Джон Мильтон

       Paradise Lost

      Table of Contents

      Book I

      The Argument

      Table of Contents

      This first Book proposes first in brief the whole Subject, Mans disobedience, and the loss thereupon of Paradise wherein he was plac’t: 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 past over, the Poem hasts into the midst of things, presenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into Hell, describ’d here, not in the Center (for Heaven and Earth may be suppos’d as yet not made, certainly not yet accurst) but in a place of utter darknesse, fitliest call’d 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 nam’d, according to the Idols known afterwards in Canaan and the Countries adjoyning. 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 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 Councell. What his Associates thence attempt. Pandemonium the Palace of Satan rises, suddenly built out of the Deep: The infernal Peers there sit in Counsel.

      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,

      Sing Heav’nly 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 Heav’ns and Earth

      Rose out of Chaos: or if Sion Hill

      Delight thee more, and Siloa’s Brook that flow’d

      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

      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

      Dove-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 Eternal Providence,

      And justifie the wayes of God to men.

       Him the Almighty Power Hurld headlong flaming from th’ Ethereal Skie.

      Say first, 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 so highly, to fall off

      From their Creator, and transgress his Will

      For

Скачать книгу