the Scripture, others from the British or Scottish hiftories: and of the latter the laft mentioned is Macbeth, as if he had an inclination to try his ftrength with Shakespear; and to reduce the play more to the unities he propofes beginning at the arrival of Malcolm at Macduff; th "matter of Duncan may be expreffed by the appearin "of his ghoft." These manuscripts of Milton were foun by the learned Mr. Profeffor Mason among fome oth old papers, which, he says, belonged to Sir Henry Ne ton Puckering, who was a confiderable benefactor tot library: and for the better prefervation of fuch truly luable reliques, they were collected together, and har fomely bound in a thin folio by the care and at the cha of a perfon, who is now very eminent in his profell: and was always a lover of the Mufes, and at that tim fellow of Trinity College, Mr. Clarke, one of his Maje counfel. This first book proposes, first in brief, the whole fubject, Man's difobedience, and the lofs thereupon of Paradife wherein he was plac'd: Then touches the prime cause of his fall, the Serpent, or rather Satan in the ferpent; 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 pass'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 center (for Heaven and Earth may be fuppos'd as yet not made, certainly not yet accurs'd) but in a place of utter darkness, fitlieft call'd Chaos: Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning lake, thunder-ftruck and aftonifh'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 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 lafly 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 determin 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. F Man's first disobedience, and the fruit OF Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal tafte That fhepherd, who first taught the chosen seed, 5 10 15 'Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd And And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark,. I may affert eternal Providence, 25 And justify the ways of God to Men. 30 Say firft, (for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view, He trusted to have equal'd the most High, 35 40 45 Who durft defy th'Omnipotent to arms. |