Above th Aonian Mount, while it pursues [ 15 ]

Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause

Before all Temples th upright heart and pure,

Who first seducd them to that foul revolt?

Illumin, what is low raise and support;

That with no middle flight intends to soar

With loss of Eden, till99lib.net one greater Man

OF Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit

Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast

Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread [ 20 ]

Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss

Had cast him out from Heavn, with all his Host

Movd our Grand Parents in that happ九九藏书y State,

Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime.

Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceivd [ 35 ]

Fast by the Oracle of God; I thence

Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire

Instruct me, for Thou knowst; Thou from the first

Favourd of Heavn so highly, to fall off [ 30 ]

From thir Creator, and九_九_藏_书_网 transgress his Will

And justifie the wayes of God to men.

He trusted to have equald the most High, [ 40 ]

That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed,

Delight thee more, and Siloas Brook that flowd

To set himself in Glory above his Peers,

And madst it pregnant: What in me is dark

Th ihttp://www.99lib.netnfernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile

Rose out of Chaos: Or if Sion Hill [ 10 ]

Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,

Say first, for Heavn hides nothing from thy view

Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring

Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, [ 5 ]

For one restraint, Lords of t

九_九_藏_书_网

he World besides?

Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song,

That to the highth of this great Argument

Sing Heavnly Muse,that on the secret top

And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer

The Mother of Mankind, what time his Pride

In the Beginning how the Heavns and Earth

I may assert Eternal Providence, [ 25 ]